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CBM Calculator

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Calculate cubic meters, container loadability, and pallet configurations for ocean freight

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CBM Calculator

Cubic Meter Volume & Container Loadability

Calculate the cubic meter volume of your cargo and determine optimal container utilization. Our advanced calculator helps you plan shipments efficiently, estimate costs accurately, and maximize container space utilization for ocean freight logistics.

Ocean Freight
Volume Calculation
Container Loadability
Multi-Modal Support
Cargo Dimensions
Enter the dimensions of your cargo to calculate CBM and container loadability

Enable if cargo can be stacked for better space utilization

CBM Results
0.4800
CBM per piece
4.8000
Total CBM
Dimensions (m):1.00 × 0.80 × 0.60 m
Total Items:10 pieces
Quick Container Match
20' Standard
30 pcs43.4% eff.
40' Standard
72 pcs51% eff.
40' High Cube
96 pcs60.4% eff.
Container Loadability
How many pieces fit in each container type based on your cargo dimensions
20' Standard
1 container
Capacity
33.2 CBM
Fits
30 pcs
Efficiency
43.4%
14.5% filled18.8 CBM remaining
40' Standard
1 container
Capacity
67.7 CBM
Fits
72 pcs
Efficiency
51%
7.1% filled33.14 CBM remaining
40' High Cube
1 container
Capacity
76.3 CBM
Fits
96 pcs
Efficiency
60.4%
6.3% filled30.22 CBM remaining
45' High Cube
1 container
Capacity
86.1 CBM
Fits
104 pcs
Efficiency
58%
5.6% filled36.18 CBM remaining
20' Refrigerated
1 container
Capacity
27.9 CBM
Fits
30 pcs
Efficiency
51.6%
17.2% filled13.5 CBM remaining
Pallet Configuration
Estimated pallet loading options for different pallet standards
Euro Pallet
1 per layer × 3 layers
3 pcs
1.440 CBM
Standard Pallet
1 per layer × 3 layers
3 pcs
1.440 CBM
US Pallet (48x40)
1 per layer × 3 layers
3 pcs
1.440 CBM
Asian Pallet
1 per layer × 3 layers
3 pcs
1.440 CBM
What is CBM?

CBM (Cubic Meter) is the standard unit of measurement for volume in international shipping. It represents the space your cargo occupies and is crucial for calculating freight costs, especially for Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments.

One cubic meter equals the volume of a cube with each side measuring 1 meter (1m × 1m × 1m). Understanding CBM helps you optimize container space utilization and accurately estimate shipping costs.

Calculation Formula
CBM = Length × Width × Height
All dimensions in meters
Example: 100cm × 80cm × 60cm
= 1.0m × 0.8m × 0.6m = 0.48 CBM

Always convert to meters before calculating: cm ÷ 100 = m

Standard Containers
20' Standard33.2 CBM
40' Standard67.7 CBM
40' High Cube76.3 CBM
45' High Cube86.1 CBM

High Cube containers are 30cm taller than standard containers.

Pro Tips
  • Round up your CBM calculations to account for pallet spacing
  • For LCL, freight is charged on CBM or weight (whichever is greater)
  • Consider 10-15% loss for practical loading (air gaps, securing)
  • Use High Cube containers for voluminous cargo
  • Stackable goods can nearly double space efficiency
Common Mistakes
  • Forgetting to convert units (cm to m) before calculating
  • Not accounting for packaging in dimensions
  • Assuming 100% container fill is achievable
  • Ignoring weight limits (payload vs. volume capacity)
  • Not considering cargo handling requirements
Frequently Asked Questions

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