Practical tools for measured work
CBM Calculator
Calculate cubic meters (CBM) for one or more cartons, with a scaled cuboid visualization.
How it works
How to use it: enter each distinct carton size as its own cargo line - length, width, height in centimetres and quantity - then use Add cargo line for another size. The total CBM adds every line together, so a mixed shipment doesn't need a separate calculation per size.
Formula. A cubic metre is 100 × 100 × 100 = 1,000,000 cubic centimetres, so each line's volume is Each CBM = (L × W × H) / 1,000,000, Line total = Each CBM × quantity, and Total CBM = sum of every line's total.
Worked example. With the default single line (60 × 40 × 35 cm, quantity 10): volume = 60 × 40 × 35 = 84,000 cm³, so each carton = 84,000 / 1,000,000 = 0.0840 m³, and total = 0.0840 × 10 = 0.8400 m³. Adding a second line - say 30 × 30 × 30 cm, quantity 20 - contributes (30×30×30)/1,000,000 = 0.0270 m³ each, × 20 = 0.5400 m³, for a combined total of 0.8400 + 0.5400 = 1.3800 m³ across both lines.
Limitations
This treats each carton as a solid rectangular box using its outer (exterior) dimensions. If your cartons are irregular or the outer packaging isn't a plain box, measure the smallest rectangular box that fully encloses it.
No rounding is applied. Freight quotes from a carrier or forwarder often round each line's CBM (or the total) up to a fixed precision, or apply a minimum billable volume - this tool gives the raw arithmetic result, so your quote may differ slightly. CBM alone doesn't determine what you'll be charged - carriers typically compare volume against actual weight using their own weight-per-CBM conversion to find the chargeable figure. The cargo list is capped at 12 lines in this interface to keep the page responsive.
Frequently asked questions
What is CBM used for in shipping?
CBM (cubic metres) is the standard volume unit for sea and air freight quoting, especially for LCL (less-than-container-load) ocean shipments, which are commonly priced per CBM.
Can I mix different carton sizes in one shipment total?
Yes - that's what cargo lines are for. Add one line per distinct carton size and quantity; the total CBM sums every line, matching how a mixed shipment is actually quoted.
How does CBM relate to dimensional weight?
They're both ways of pricing by volume rather than by scale weight, but they're calculated differently and used by different modes - CBM is a raw volume figure common in ocean freight, while dimensional weight (see the Dimensional Weight Calculator) converts volume into an equivalent kilogram figure for comparison against actual weight, more common in air and parcel freight.
Related tools
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Compare shipment CBM with its weight basis to estimate LCL revenue tons and base freight.
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LDM Calculator
Calculate loading metres for road freight from cargo footprint, quantity and stack layers.
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Calculate dimensional (volumetric) weight from carton size and a configurable divisor.