CBM Calculator
Enter the carton dimensions and quantity to calculate the total volume and weight of the shipment.
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How to Calculate CBM
CBM is an abbreviation for cubic meters, which is a measure of volume equal to a cube with the length, width, and height of one meter.
You can calculate CBM by multiplying the length times the width times the height in meters. If you have multiple packages, cartons, or pallets, then you’ll need to multiply the CBM by the quantity to get the total volume.
CBM = length [m] × width [m] × height [m] × carton quantity
You can use a conversion calculator to convert length measurements into meters to use in this formula.
Some freight providers prefer dimensions in cubic feet. In this case, try our cubic feet calculator.
How to Calculate Shipping Weight
You can calculate shipping weight by multiplying the carton weight by the total number of cartons. You can convert weight units using a weight converter.
total weight = weight × carton quantity
How to Calculate Volumetric Weight
Volumetric weight is a form of dimensional weight that is used to measure the weight of a carton based on the space it consumes based on its volume. For example, this would be used to see how much space it consumes in an airplane or shipping container.
Shippers often charge based on the space the shipment occupies, rather than purely based on volume or weight alone. You can calculate volumetric weight using a simple formula:
volumetric weight [kg] = length [cm] × width [cm] × height [cm] / 5,000
Thus, the volumetric weight in kilograms is equal to the height times the width times the height of a carton in centimeters, divided by 5,000.
Carriers such as UPS and FedEx also price shipments using dimensional shipping weight, though their formulas are slightly different.
Shipping Container Capacity Chart
| Container Size | Dimensions | Capacity | Suggested Load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft | 5.9 m x 2.35 m x 2.35 m | 32-33 CBM | 26-28 CBM |
| 40ft | 12.03 m x 2.35 m x 2.39 m | 67-68 CBM | 50-55 CBM |
| 40hq | 12.03 m x 2.35 m x 2.69 m | 76-77 CBM | 55-60 CBM |
| 45hq | 12.5 m x 2.45 m x 2.69 m | 82-83 CBM | 70-75 CBM |
You might also be interested in our freight class calculator.