Free Tool
CBM Calculator
Work out cubic metres, total shipment volume and the chargeable weight your forwarder will actually bill — for sea LCL, air freight and express. Add as many carton types as your packing list needs.
Carton details
Chargeable weight settings
Divisors apply to cm³. 6,000 is the IATA standard for air cargo; DHL, FedEx and UPS normally use 5,000. Check your own rate sheet — some carriers use 4,000 for certain lanes.
Shipment total
Total volume
0.000 CBM
Total cartons
0
Gross weight
0.0 kg
Cubic feet
0.0 ft³
Chargeable weight
1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater
Volumetric 0.0 kg vs actual 0.0 kg
Volumetric 0.0 kg vs actual 0.0 kg
CBM questions importers ask
What is CBM?
CBM stands for cubic metre — the volume one carton occupies. It is calculated as length × width × height, with all three measured in metres. Freight forwarders quote LCL sea freight per CBM, so it is usually the first number you need when comparing shipping costs.
How do I calculate CBM from centimetres?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres, then divide by 1,000,000. A 60 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 72,000 cm³, which is 0.072 CBM. Multiply by the carton count for the shipment total.
Why is my chargeable weight higher than the actual weight?
Carriers charge on whichever is greater: the real weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight of the space your cargo occupies. Light, bulky goods get charged on volume. Air freight normally divides cm³ by 6,000 and express couriers by 5,000.
How is sea LCL freight charged?
LCL is quoted on a weight-or-measure basis (W/M): one revenue ton equals 1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is larger. So a 3 CBM shipment weighing 800 kg is charged as 3 revenue tons.