CBM Shipping Calculator
Calculate CBM per carton, total shipment volume, volumetric weight, and how many boxes fit in standard shipping containers.
What Is CBM in Shipping?
CBM (cubic meters) measures freight volume. Carriers use it to price light but bulky cargo and to plan container loading. One cubic meter equals about 35.31 cubic feet.
CBM and Volumetric Weight Formulas
Volume per carton in cubic meters when dimensions are in centimeters:
$$\text{CBM} = \frac{L \times W \times H}{1{,}000{,}000}$$Total shipment volume:
$$\text{Total volume} = \text{CBM} \times \text{quantity}$$Volumetric weight in kilograms:
$$\text{Volumetric weight} = \frac{L \times W \times H \times \text{quantity}}{\text{shipping factor}}$$Carriers often bill the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight under the weight-or-measurement (W/M) rule. Related tools: Cubic Feet Calculator and Bandwidth Delay Product Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate CBM from inches?
Convert inches to centimeters first (multiply by 2.54), then use the standard CBM formula. You can also divide cubic inches by 61,024 to get cubic meters directly.
What shipping factor should I use?
5,000 cm³/kg is the common metric air-freight divisor. Some carriers use 6,000 for road freight. Check your carrier quote for the exact factor.
When is volumetric weight used?
When volumetric weight exceeds actual weight, carriers bill by volume instead of scale weight. This protects them on low-density shipments like foam or empty boxes.
How many boxes fit in a 40-foot container?
Divide the container volume (about 66.6 m³ for a standard 40-foot dry box) by the CBM of one carton. Real loading may fit fewer due to pallet gaps and irregular stacking.
What is chargeable weight?
Chargeable weight is the greater of total actual weight and total volumetric weight. It is the value most freight invoices use for rating.
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