CBM calculator
Work out the cubic meters (CBM) of your shipment from carton dimensions, and see roughly how much of a 20', 40' or 40' high cube container it fills.
- Total pieces
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- Gross weight
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- Cubic feet
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- Total volume
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Estimates for planning. Final figures depend on the carrier's rules and the actual cargo.
How it's calculated
CBM (cubic meter) is the volume of your cargo: length × width × height in meters, multiplied by the number of pieces. With dimensions in centimetres, divide by 1,000,000. One cubic meter equals 35.315 cubic feet.
Containers never fill to their full internal volume: cartons don't tessellate perfectly and you need room to load. As a planning rule of thumb, about 28 m³ fits in a 20' container, 58 m³ in a 40' and 68 m³ in a 40' high cube. For an exact plan — weight limits, stacking and loading order — use a 3D load planner.
Worked example
40 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm: one carton = 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.5 = 0.12 m³; total = 40 × 0.12 = 4.8 m³ (169.5 ft³) — about 17% of a 20' container's usable space, a typical LCL shipment.
DO IT ALL SOFT calculates it inside the quote.
Chargeable weight, volume and the right equipment are worked out on every quote automatically — with your company's rules, in 3D when you need it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height of one piece in meters, then multiply by the number of pieces. From centimetres: (L × W × H) ÷ 1,000,000. From inches: (L × W × H) ÷ 61,024.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft and a 40ft container?
A 20' standard container has about 33 m³ of internal space and a 40' about 67 m³ (76 m³ for a 40' high cube). In practice plan on roughly 28, 58 and 68 m³ of cargo.
When is LCL cheaper than FCL?
It depends on the lane and the rates, but as a rough guide LCL usually makes sense below about 13–15 m³; above that a full 20' container is often cheaper and faster.
How many cubic feet is one CBM?
One cubic meter equals 35.315 cubic feet.
More reference
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