Conversion · Freight
CBM calculator.
Enter carton length, width, and height. CBM updates as you type, with cubic feet and cubic inches alongside. Multiply by carton count for total shipment volume.
Calculate carton CBM
Length·Centimetercm
Width·Centimetercm
Height·Centimetercm
Result
—
Cubic Metersm³
—
ft³·Cubic Feet
—
in³·Cubic Inches
To get total shipment CBM, multiply the result by the number of cartons in your order.
Standard carton & container reference
Common carton and container CBM values. Container volumes assume usable space; actual usable CBM varies by packing configuration and dunnage.
| Carton type | Dimensions | CBM |
|---|---|---|
| Small carton | 30 × 25 × 20 cm | 0.0150 m³ |
| Medium carton | 40 × 30 × 30 cm | 0.0360 m³ |
| Standard export | 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 0.0960 m³ |
| Large pallet layer | 80 × 60 × 40 cm | 0.1920 m³ |
| Full pallet (1.2 m) | 120 × 100 × 120 cm | 1.4400 m³ |
| 20 ft container | 590 × 234 × 239 cm | 3.2900 m³ |
| 40 ft container | 1203 × 234 × 239 cm | 67.3000 m³ |
Frequently asked
Common questions.
What does CBM stand for?+
CBM stands for cubic meter, the standard unit of volume used in international freight. A carton measuring 0.5 m × 0.4 m × 0.3 m has a CBM of 0.06. Freight forwarders and ocean carriers price sea shipments largely by CBM.
How do I convert centimeters to CBM?+
Multiply length by width by height in centimeters, then divide by 1,000,000. A carton that is 60 cm × 40 cm × 40 cm gives 96,000, divided by 1,000,000 is 0.096 CBM. The calculator handles this automatically regardless of which input unit you select.
How many cartons fit in a 20-foot container?+
A standard 20-foot container holds roughly 25 to 28 CBM of usable cargo space. At 0.096 CBM per carton, that is approximately 260 to 290 cartons. Actual count varies with packing configuration, pallet use, and carton shape.
What is chargeable weight in ocean freight?+
Carriers charge by whichever is greater: the actual gross weight of the cargo, or the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight for sea freight is roughly 1 CBM to 1,000 kg, though this varies by carrier. Empty packaging is light but bulky, so it often charges by volume rather than weight.
How many cubic feet are in 1 CBM?+
One cubic meter equals 35.315 cubic feet. Some US-based freight quotes still use cubic feet, particularly for LTL trucking and domestic warehouse storage. The calculator displays cubic feet alongside CBM for that reason.
Should I use inside or outside dimensions of the carton?+
Outside dimensions. Freight is calculated on the space the carton physically occupies, which is its exterior footprint. Inside dimensions describe the usable fill volume, a separate figure used for product pack-out planning.
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