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A CBM calculator converts package dimensions into cubic metres — the standard unit for pricing sea freight, air cargo, and warehouse storage. Enter the length, width, and height of a package, multiply by the number of packages, and the tool returns the total volume in CBM. For ecommerce sellers importing stock from suppliers on Alibaba, shipping inventory to Amazon FBA warehouses, or sending bulk orders across Southeast Asia, knowing your exact CBM is the first step to getting accurate freight quotes.
The formula is straightforward. Measure each package in centimetres, then:
CBM = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1,000,000
For example, a box measuring 60 × 40 × 30 cm has a volume of 72,000 cm³, which equals 0.072 CBM. If you are shipping 50 of these boxes, the total shipment volume is 3.6 CBM.
If you measure in inches, convert first: 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Or use the unit toggle above and the calculator handles the conversion automatically.
Sea freight is priced by CBM (volume). Air freight and couriers use volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight) — whichever is greater between actual weight and volumetric weight determines the chargeable weight. The divisor varies by shipping method:
| Method | Divisor | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Air Freight | 6,000 | (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6,000 |
| Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 5,000 | (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 5,000 |
| Sea Freight | 1,000,000 | (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 1,000,000 = CBM |
Light, bulky products (like pillows or lampshades) often have a volumetric weight far higher than their actual weight — meaning you pay based on volume, not mass. Heavy, compact goods (like machinery or canned food) are charged by actual weight. This calculator shows both so you can see which one your shipment will be billed on.
If you are booking a full container load (FCL), you need to know how much volume fits inside. Here are the standard container capacities:
| Container | Internal Dimensions (L × W × H) | Max Volume (CBM) | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33.2 CBM | 28,200 kg |
| 40 ft | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67.7 CBM | 26,700 kg |
| 40 ft HC | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 76.3 CBM | 26,460 kg |
For cross-border ecommerce sellers importing from China, a 20 ft container is the most common for small to mid-volume shipments. Pair this with our landed cost calculator to work out the per-unit import cost including freight, duties, and taxes. Use our pallet calculator to plan how boxes stack on pallets inside the container.
Freight forwarders quote sea freight prices per CBM — typically $30–$80 per CBM for routes from China to Southeast Asia, and $50–$150 per CBM for routes to the US or Europe. Knowing your exact CBM helps you:
If you sell on Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop and regularly import inventory, calculating CBM accurately before each purchase order prevents surprises when the freight invoice arrives.
A standard 20 ft shipping container has a maximum capacity of approximately 33.2 CBM. In practice, you can typically load 25–28 CBM once you account for pallet space, stacking gaps, and loading clearance.
CBM (cubic metres) is a pure volume measurement used for sea freight pricing. Volumetric weight converts volume into a weight equivalent using a divisor (6,000 for air freight, 5,000 for couriers). Carriers charge whichever is greater — actual weight or volumetric weight — so both matter for cost calculations.
Convert inches to centimetres first by multiplying each dimension by 2.54, then use the standard formula: (L cm × W cm × H cm) ÷ 1,000,000 = CBM. Or simply switch to inches mode in the calculator above — the conversion is automatic.
Yes. CBM stands for Cubic Metre (or Cubic Meter). It is the international standard unit for measuring cargo volume in shipping and logistics. One CBM equals the volume of a cube measuring 1 metre on each side, or 1,000,000 cubic centimetres.