CBM Calculator
Work out the cubic metres (CBM) of a shipment from its carton size and quantity — the figure forwarders quote LCL sea and air cargo on.
How CBM is calculated
CBM is simply volume in cubic metres: length × width × height, with every dimension in metres, multiplied by the number of cartons.
Measuring in centimetres? Divide each side by 100 first. A carton of 120 × 100 × 80 cm is 1.2 × 1.0 × 0.8 = 0.96 m³. Ten of them is 9.6 CBM.
Why CBM matters
LCL (less-than-container-load) sea freight is priced per revenue ton — whichever is greater, the weight in tonnes or the volume in CBM. For most manufactured goods, volume wins, so your CBM is what you actually pay for.
It also sets how much fits in a container: a 20ft holds about 33 usable CBM, a 40ft around 67, and a 40ft High Cube about 76.
Frequently asked questions
What is CBM in shipping?
CBM stands for cubic metre — the volume a shipment occupies. It is the standard unit for quoting LCL sea freight and for working out how much cargo fits in a container.
How do I calculate CBM from centimetres?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres, then divide by 1,000,000 to convert cm³ to m³. For example 120 × 100 × 80 cm = 960,000 cm³ = 0.96 CBM.
How many CBM are in a 20ft container?
A 20ft standard container has roughly 33 CBM of usable space, a 40ft about 67 CBM, and a 40ft High Cube about 76 CBM. Real loadable volume is a little lower once you account for pallets and packaging.
Is CBM the same as volumetric weight?
No. CBM is pure volume. Volumetric (dimensional) weight converts that volume into a billable weight using a carrier divisor, so light but bulky cargo pays for the space it takes.