Free tool
CBM and chargeable weight calculator
Enter your carton sizes, weights and quantities to get the total volume in cubic metres, the gross weight, the chargeable weight for air and express, and which ocean container your shipment needs.
- Ocean
- Priced by CBM or container
- Air freight
- cm³ ÷ 6,000 = kg
- Express
- cm³ ÷ 5,000 = kg
Updated
Calculate your shipment
Your cartons
How CBM is calculated
CBM — cubic metres — is length × width × height of each carton in metres, multiplied by the number of cartons. If you measure in centimetres, multiply the three dimensions and divide by 1,000,000.
LCL ocean freight is charged per CBM, or per 1,000 kg if the cargo is heavier than one tonne per cubic metre — whichever gives the larger figure. Most services charge a minimum of 1 CBM.
How chargeable weight works for air and express
Air carriers charge for whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is the volume in cubic centimetres divided by 6,000 for air freight, or by 5,000 for most express couriers. In other words, one CBM counts as 167 kg on air freight and 200 kg on express.
Light, bulky goods are therefore much more expensive to fly than their weight suggests. Reducing carton size is often the easiest saving — see air freight.
Which container do you need?
| Your volume | Usual choice |
|---|---|
| Under about 15 CBM | LCL — share a container |
| 15–28 CBM | 20ft container |
| 28–58 CBM | 40ft container |
| 58–68 CBM | 40ft high cube |
| Over 68 CBM | Several containers |
These are realistic loads, not the containers' full internal volume, which is never completely usable. Heavy cargo may hit the weight limit first — see container sizes and weight limits.
FAQ
CBM calculator: common questions
The questions importers ask us before the first booking. If yours is not here, ask us directly — a real coordinator replies, not an auto-responder.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply each carton’s length, width and height in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. In centimetres, multiply the three dimensions and divide by 1,000,000.
How many kg is 1 CBM in air freight?
167 kg. Air freight uses a volumetric divisor of 6,000, so one cubic metre is charged as at least 167 kg. Express couriers use 5,000, or 200 kg per CBM.
When should I use LCL instead of FCL?
Below about 15 CBM, LCL is usually cheaper. Above that, a 20ft container often costs less than the equivalent LCL charges and arrives faster.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft container?
The internal volume is about 33 CBM, but a realistic load is 25–28 CBM once packing gaps are allowed for.