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VolumeCalcKit
Shipping & Freight

CBM Calculator

Calculate shipment CBM from carton length, width, height and quantity. Enter dimensions in cm, mm, meters, inches or feet and get total cubic meters and cubic feet instantly.

Instant results
Real-time calculation
Accurate & reliable
Standard SI formulas
Free to use
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Height (H)Width (W)Length (L)
Technical Dimension Schematic100% Vector

Input Dimensions

Enter carton dimensions and quantity to calculate total volume.

cm
cm
cm
Instant Dynamic Calculation

Calculation Results

Total volume and equivalent measurements.

Calculated instantly
Total Volume
0.576m³
Cubic meters (CBM)
Cubic Feet (CFT)
20.3412 ft³
Litres
576.0 L
Air Freight (1:6000)
96 kg
Courier (1:5000)
115.2 kg
Container Load & Pallet FitUsable Capacity
20ft Ocean Container (28 m³)2.1% (Fits)
40ft Ocean Container (58 m³)1.0% (Fits)
Standard US Pallet (48×40″):~1 pallet
Euro Pallet (1200×800 mm):~1 pallet
CBM Calculator Formula
Standard Base Formula (Dimensions in Meters):CBM = Length(m) × Width(m) × Height(m) × Quantity
Dimensions in Centimeters:(L_cm × W_cm × H_cm × Qty) ÷ 1,000,000
Dimensions in Inches:(L_in × W_in × H_in × Qty) ÷ 61,023.74
CBM to Cubic Feet (CFT):CFT = CBM × 35.3147
CFT to CBM:CBM = CFT ÷ 35.3147
Worked Example: 20 Master Cartons in Centimeters

Shipment: 20 master cartons measuring 60 cm Length × 40 cm Width × 35 cm Height.

1. Volume per carton in cm³: 60 × 40 × 35 = 84,000 cm³

2. CBM per carton: 84,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.0840 m³ (CBM)

3. Total CBM for 20 cartons: 0.0840 × 20 = 1.6800 CBM

4. Total Cubic Feet (CFT): 1.6800 × 35.3147 = 59.33 cu ft

Common Use Cases
  • Carton Bulging & Void Factor: In real-world shipping, cardboard cartons bulge slightly when stacked. Freight forwarders recommend adding an 8%–10% buffer to theoretical CBM.
  • Pallet Dimensions: If goods are shipped on standard wooden pallets (120 × 80 cm Euro or 120 × 100 cm US), include the 15 cm wooden pallet base in total height measurements.
  • Cubic Meters vs CBM: 1 CBM is identical to 1 cubic meter (1 m³). For non-shipping solids or general volume calculations, see our Cubic Meter Calculator (m³) and Volume Calculator.
  • Container Planning: Standard 20ft containers hold ~28–30 CBM of usable cargo, while 40ft containers hold ~58–62 CBM. Check our Container CBM Calculator for detailed container loading estimates.

What is CBM and How to Calculate Shipping Volume

What is CBM?

In international freight forwarding, ocean cargo, and air shipping, CBM stands for Cubic Meter (m³). It measures the three-dimensional physical space occupied by cartons, crates, or palletized cargo. Freight carriers use CBM alongside gross scale weight to calculate freight rates based on whichever produces the higher billing value (Revenue Ton).

How to Calculate CBM in Centimeters

When dimensions are measured in centimeters (cm), multiply length, width, and height in cm, divide by 1,000,000, and multiply by carton quantity:

CBM = (Length cm × Width cm × Height cm × Quantity) ÷ 1,000,000

How to Calculate CBM in Inches

When dimensions are measured in inches (in), calculate cubic inches and divide by 61,023.74 (since 1 m³ = 61,023.74 in³):

CBM = (Length in × Width in × Height in × Quantity) ÷ 61,023.74

How to Calculate CBM in Millimeters

When dimensions are in millimeters (mm), multiply the three dimensions and divide by 1,000,000,000 (1 billion):

CBM = (Length mm × Width mm × Height mm × Quantity) ÷ 1,000,000,000

CBM for Multiple Cartons

For consignments containing mixed box sizes, calculate the CBM for each carton line individually (Length × Width × Height × Quantity per line) and add all line CBM totals together.

→ CBM vs Cubic Feet (Convert CFT to CBM)→ CBM and Container Space (20ft, 40ft & 40HC Fit)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CBM mean?
CBM stands for Cubic Meter (m³). It is the standard metric measurement of three-dimensional volume used globally in ocean freight, air transport, courier logistics, and container shipping.
How do I calculate CBM?
Convert carton dimensions to meters (Length in meters × Width in meters × Height in meters) and multiply by the total number of cartons: CBM = L(m) × W(m) × H(m) × Quantity.
How do I calculate CBM when dimensions are in centimeters?
Multiply Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) × Quantity, then divide the result by 1,000,000. For example, 10 boxes measuring 50 × 40 × 30 cm equal (50 × 40 × 30 × 10) ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.60 CBM.
Can I calculate CBM from inches?
Yes. Multiply Length (in) × Width (in) × Height (in) × Quantity and divide by 61,023.74. For example, a box of 20 × 16 × 14 inches is (4,480) ÷ 61,023.74 = 0.0734 CBM.
How do I calculate CBM in millimeters?
Multiply Length (mm) × Width (mm) × Height (mm) × Quantity and divide by 1,000,000,000 (1 billion). For example, a 500 × 400 × 300 mm carton is 0.060 CBM.
How do I calculate CBM for multiple cartons?
Calculate the CBM for each group of cartons with matching dimensions separately, then add all individual CBM figures together to get the total consignment CBM.
Is CBM the same as cubic meters?
Yes. CBM is simply the international commercial abbreviation for cubic meter (1 m³ = 1 CBM). Both represent a cube with dimensions of 1 meter length, 1 meter width, and 1 meter height.
How many cubic feet are in 1 CBM?
There are approximately 35.3147 cubic feet (CFT) in 1 CBM. To convert CBM to CFT, multiply by 35.3147. To convert CFT to CBM, divide by 35.3147.
Is CBM the same as volumetric weight?
No. CBM is the physical cubic volume of your cargo. Volumetric (dimensional) weight is a billing weight calculated from volume by applying an air or courier divisor (e.g., 1 CBM = 167 kg for air cargo, 1 CBM = 200 kg for courier).
What is the difference between CBM and CFT?
CBM is metric cubic meters (m³), while CFT is imperial cubic feet (ft³). 1 CBM equals 35.3147 CFT. CBM is standard in international ocean shipping, whereas CFT is frequently used in domestic US freight.
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