CBM calculator
CBM calculator: enter quantity and L×W×H to get cubic meters, cubic feet, air volumetric kilograms at 167 kg per CBM, and ocean W/M. Mixed lines in cm, in, m, mm or ft, compared with typical 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high-cube interiors.
Cargo items
Volume
| Container | Usable capacity | Your cargo fills |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft | ~33.2 CBM | 1.8% of 33.2 CBM |
| 40ft | ~67.7 CBM | 0.9% of 67.7 CBM |
| 40ft high cube | ~76.4 CBM | 0.8% of 76.4 CBM |
Default line: 10 cartons of 50 × 40 × 30 cm = 0.6 CBM. That is LCL, not a 20ft. Palletized cargo: build the pallet first on the pallet calculator, then count pallets into a box.
Formula
- CBM = (L × W × H in meters) × quantity.
- From cm: L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000 × qty.
- From inches: L × W × H ÷ 61,023.844502 × qty.
- Cubic feet = CBM × 35.3146667 (or in³ ÷ 1,728).
Worked examples
| Shipment | Calculation | CBM |
|---|---|---|
| 10 cartons, 50 × 40 × 30 cm | (0.5 × 0.4 × 0.3) × 10 | 0.6 |
| 100 cartons, 60 × 40 × 40 cm | (0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4) × 100 | 9.6 |
| 1 pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm | 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 | 1.8 |
| 250 cartons, 18 × 14 × 12 in | in³ / 61023.8 × 250 | ~12.4 |
Questions
Can I book a 20ft on 0.6 CBM?
No. 0.6 CBM is LCL / a few pallets, not an FCL. A 20ft is ~33.2 CBM rated; plan about 25–28 CBM of cargo. If this screen shows a few CBM, quote LCL W/M or palletize and count boxes — don’t bid a 20ft.
Do I send the air kg or the ocean W/M to the forwarder?
Air: use volumetric kg (1 CBM ≈ 167 kg) against actual kg — they bill the greater. Ocean LCL: use W/M (max of metric tons and CBM). This page shows both. FCL is a box rate; use the fill % against 20/40/40HC, not W/M.
Should I CBM this or palletize first?
CBM is for volume quotes and LCL. If the cargo ships on pallets, build the pallet first (TI-HI, height, weight) then count pallets into the box. CBM will overstate what actually fits when you leave aisle and pallet wood.
The fill % is under 10%. What next?
Stay LCL, or add lines until you approach ~25 CBM (20ft) / ~54 CBM (40ft) before shopping FCL. Open the container loading calculator if you have a carton size and want a floor count, not just cube.