CBM calculator
How much cargo fits in your container.
Enter the dimensions and quantity of your cartons, pallets or loose cargo to calculate the total cubic metres (CBM), see how much of a standard container it fills, and get the volume weight for ocean and air freight.
Carton / item dimensions
Container fill
Weight & volume weight
About CBM and container volumes
What is CBM?
CBM stands for cubic metre (m³). It is the standard unit for measuring cargo volume in international shipping. One CBM is a cube one metre long, one metre wide and one metre tall.
Freight rates for ocean shipping (LCL) are usually quoted per CBM or per tonne, whichever is greater. Knowing your CBM helps you compare quotes and plan how to load a container.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply the length, width and height of one carton or item in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons:
CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) × Quantity
If your measurements are in centimetres, divide each by 100 first. If they are in inches, multiply each by 0.0254.
How much fits in a standard container?
| Container | Internal (L × W × H) | Capacity | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft (TEU) | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33.2 CBM | ≈ 28 200 kg |
| 40 ft (FEU) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67.7 CBM | ≈ 26 680 kg |
| 40 ft High Cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 76.3 CBM | ≈ 26 460 kg |
These are internal dimensions. Usable volume is typically 85–90% of the capacity because of pallet gaps and stacking limits.
What is volume weight?
Volume weight (also called dimensional weight or volumetric weight) converts the physical size of a shipment into an equivalent weight. Carriers charge whichever is higher: actual weight or volume weight.
Ocean LCL: 1 CBM = 1 000 kg (1:1 000 ratio)
Air freight: 1 CBM = 167 kg (1:6 000 ratio, i.e. 6 000 cm³ per kg)
If your cargo is light but bulky (e.g. furniture, textiles), volume weight will usually exceed actual weight and become the chargeable weight.
CBM to cubic feet and cubic inches
1 CBM = 35.3147 cubic feet
1 CBM = 61,023.7 cubic inches
The calculator above converts automatically.