CBM Calculator
CBM (cubic meters) is the unit every ocean and LCL freight quote starts from. Enter your carton dimensions and quantity to get the volume per carton and the total for your shipment — instantly, in your browser.
How CBM is calculated
CBM equals length × width × height, with all three measured in centimeters and divided by 1,000,000 to convert to cubic meters. Multiply by the number of cartons for the shipment total. For LCL ocean freight, carriers bill on whichever is greater: CBM or weight in tonnes (1 CBM is treated as 1,000 kg). Knowing your CBM up front is the fastest way to sanity-check a forwarder's quote.
How do I calculate CBM for shipping?
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Multiply the carton length, width and height in centimeters, then divide by 1,000,000 to get cubic meters. Multiply that by the number of cartons for your total shipment volume. Example: a 60 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 0.072 CBM; 100 of them is 7.2 CBM.
Is CBM the same for air and sea freight?
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The CBM figure is the same, but it is used differently. Sea LCL bills on the greater of CBM or weight. Air freight converts volume into volumetric weight using a divisor (usually 6000) and bills on the greater of actual or volumetric weight — use our volumetric weight calculator for that.