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Free CBM calculator

Know your CBM before you ask for a quote

Enter each carton size and how many you're shipping to get total cubic meters, cubic feet and gross weight, a rough container fill and the volumetric weight for air freight.

Free, no sign-upRuns in your browserYour numbers never leave your device
Calculate CBM See pricing
100 cartons of 50 × 40 × 30 cm and 50 of 60 × 40 × 40 cm: 10.8 m³, about 39% of a 20 ft container
100 cartons of 50 × 40 × 30 cm and 50 of 60 × 40 × 40 cm: 10.8 m³, about 39% of a 20 ft container
Free · runs in your browser

CBM Calculator

No sign-up. What you type never leaves your device.

Units
Container estimate

Approximate usable volume per container. These are commonly cited figures, not the internal size. Change them to match your forwarder’s numbers.

m³
m³
m³
Air freight

The starting numbers are only an example. Measure the outside of each packed carton. Container figures are a rough guide: real loading depends on carton sizes, stacking, pallets and weight limits, so confirm with your forwarder before you book.

Total volume
–
Cubic feet–
Cartons–
Gross weight–
Air volumetric weight–
Air chargeable weight (higher of the two)–
Weight per m³ (density)–
Rough container fill
TypeUsableFullNeededFill bar
By carton size
CartonQtym³Weight
How it’s calculated
  • CBM per carton = length × width × height in meters. In centimeters, divide by 1,000,000: 50 × 40 × 30 cm = 0.06 m³.
  • Total CBM = CBM per carton × number of cartons, added up over every row.
  • Inches are converted at exactly 2.54 cm and pounds at exactly 0.45359237 kg.
  • Cubic feet = CBM ÷ 0.028316846592, since 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly.
  • Container fill = total CBM ÷ usable CBM. “Needed” rounds up and ignores weight limits.
  • Air volumetric weight = length × width × height (cm) ÷ divisor per carton, times the number of cartons. Airlines and forwarders charge the higher of this and the actual weight.

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Features

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Several carton sizes

Add up to 20 carton sizes, each with a quantity and weight.

CBM and cubic feet

Total volume in cubic meters and cubic feet, in centimeters or inches.

Rough container fill

How full a 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft HQ container would be. Usable volumes are editable.

Air freight weight

Volumetric and chargeable weight with a divisor you can change.

Gross weight

Total weight in kilograms and pounds, and weight per cubic meter.

Copy results

Copy the totals to send to your forwarder.

How it works

Done in 3 steps

01

Enter your cartons

Length, width and height of each packed carton, how many, and the weight of each.

02

Check the settings

Container usable volumes and the air divisor, if your forwarder uses different ones.

03

Read the totals

CBM, cubic feet, weight, container fill and air volumetric weight.

FAQ

Questions about cbm calculator

Is the CBM calculator free?
Yes. It's free with no sign-up.
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Your numbers never leave your device.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height in meters, then by the number of cartons. In centimeters, divide by 1,000,000: a 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 0.06 m³, so 100 of them are 6 m³.
How many CBM fit in a container?
The tool starts with commonly cited usable volumes of about 28 m³ for a 20 ft, 58 m³ for a 40 ft and 68 m³ for a 40 ft high cube. These are approximate. Real loading depends on carton sizes, stacking, pallets and weight limits, so you can change them, and your forwarder should confirm before you book.
What divisor is used for air freight?
6,000 cm³ per kg is common, but forwarders, airlines and couriers use different divisors, such as 5,000 for some express services. Check with your forwarder and change the divisor to match.
Why is my chargeable weight higher than the actual weight?
Air freight is charged on the higher of actual and volumetric weight. Light, bulky cartons bill on their volume.
Should I measure the box or the product?
Measure the outside of each packed carton, including any bulge. Round up to the next whole centimeter or inch if you're unsure.
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