Cubic Meter Calculator for Shipping & Instant Rates
CBM Calculator for Shipping
If you aren’t accurately tracking your freight volume when shipping, you’re probably paying too much. CBM for shipping allows you to pay for cargo by the volume it takes up.
Luckily, there’s a free tool that you can use to calculate the volume. If your shipping ocean freight (FCL or LCL), our calculator will help you choose the correct size container for your shipment.
TOOLS
CBM Calculator
VOLUME CALCULATOR
The CBM formula and how to calculate CBM
To calculate your shipment’s CBM measurement, you need to multiply three things: width, height, and length. The resulting number is the cubic volume that fits in your shipment.
Follow these four easy steps to find the CBM of your shipment
- Decide on the measurement unit, either centimeters or inches.
- Enter the measurements for your box, pallet, or package into the calculator.
- Confirm the calculator matches the unit of measurement you used.
- The resulting number displayed is the cubic volume of your shipment.
If you have multiple items in your shipment, run each item’s measurements through the calculator. Then add up the resulting numbers for your total shipment volume.
How to calculate CBM for irregularly shaped packages?
Many carriers will square the circle. To do this, the diameter of the circle becomes the width and height. Otherwise, you’ll need to multiply the radius by Pi, then by 2, and then by the length.
Container Loadability: How many CBMs in a container?
| 20 ft Container | 40 ft Container | 40 ft High Cube Container |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Now that you have your shipment volume, you can choose the right container. This isn’t a simple volume comparison. The rule of thumb is to assume that just over 80% full is maximum capacity. The final container used will define the freight cost. If you need deeper information about container types, you can click on types of containers to learn more.
The usable space of a container depends on the size and shape of your items.
| Container Type | Length | Width | Height | Capacity | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' | 589 cm | 234 cm | 238 cm | 26-26 CBM | 33 CBM |
| 40' | 1200 cm | 234 cm | 238 cm | 56-58 CBM | 66 CBM |
| 40' HC(High Cube) | 1200 cm | 234 cm | 269 cm | 60-68 CBM | 72 CBM |
| 45' HC(High Cube) | 1251 cm | 245 cm | 269 cm | 72-78 CBM | 86 CBM |
If your freight has a volume under 15 CBM, then you should use LCL as the most cost-effective option.
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