Free calculator
CBM calculator for export cartons
CBM is length × width × height in meters, times the number of cartons. Enter each carton size below, in centimeters or inches, and get the total cubic meters, cubic feet, gross weight and air chargeable weight, plus a hint on whether the load suits LCL or a full container.
Row 1: 6 m³
- Total volume
- 6 m³
- Cubic feet
- 211.9 ft³
- Gross weight
- 1,200 kg2,645.5 lb
- Cartons
- 100
- Air volumetric weight
- 1,000 kgat 1:6,000 (IATA)
- Air chargeable weight
- 1,200 kgbilled on actual weight
Suits LCL. 6 m³ is a small load: a shared container (LCL) billed per m³ or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater, is usually cheaper than a full box.
Planning estimate. The carrier's tariff and the measured cargo decide the bill. Container capacities are typical nominal values.
How it is calculated
How CBM is calculated
Multiply the outside length, width and height of one carton in centimeters, divide by 1,000,000 to get cubic meters, then multiply by the number of cartons.
CBM per carton = L (cm) × W (cm) × H (cm) ÷ 1,000,000CBM per carton = L (in) × W (in) × H (in) ÷ 61,024Cubic feet = CBM × 35.315Total CBM = sum of (CBM per carton × number of cartons) for every rowExample: a 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 60,000 cm³, or 0.06 m³. One hundred of them make 6 m³, which is about 211.9 cubic feet.
Measure the packed carton at its widest points, not the size printed on the box. If the cartons ship on a pallet, measure the whole loaded pallet as one piece and include the pallet in the gross weight.
Good to know
Air freight: volumetric and chargeable weight
Airlines bill the higher of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is the volume in cubic centimeters divided by 6,000, the IATA standard ratio for general air cargo.
Volumetric weight (kg) = L × W × H (cm) × cartons ÷ 6,000Chargeable weight = the higher of gross weight and volumetric weight, rounded up to the next 0.5 kgAt 1:6000 one cubic meter counts as about 166.7 kg. Cargo lighter than that per cubic meter bills on volume; denser cargo bills on its actual weight. Express and courier services often use a smaller divisor, such as 5,000, so check the divisor in your quote.
Example: ten 60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons at 8 kg each weigh 80 kg but take 0.96 m³. Their volumetric weight is 960,000 ÷ 6,000 = 160 kg, so the airline bills 160 kg.
Good to know
Ocean freight: LCL or a full container
Small loads go LCL (less than container load) and are billed per cubic meter or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. Once a load passes roughly 13 to 15 m³, a 20ft container is often worth pricing as well.
The container hint uses typical nominal capacities: 33.2 m³ for a 20ft, 67.7 m³ for a 40ft and 76.3 m³ for a 40ft High Cube. Cartons never fill every gap, so a load close to a box's capacity may not go in. Check the real count with the container load calculator.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate CBM for a carton?
Multiply the carton's length, width and height in centimeters and divide by 1,000,000. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 0.06 m³. Multiply by the number of cartons for the shipment total: 100 such cartons are 6 m³.
How do I calculate CBM from inches?
Multiply length, width and height in inches and divide by 61,024, the number of cubic inches in a cubic meter. For cubic feet, divide the cubic inches by 1,728 instead. A 24 × 18 × 12 inch carton is 5,184 in³: 3 cubic feet, or about 0.085 m³.
What is the volumetric weight formula for air freight?
Length × width × height in centimeters, divided by 6,000. That is the IATA standard ratio for general air cargo, so one cubic meter counts as about 166.7 kg. The airline bills whichever is higher, the volumetric weight or the actual gross weight, rounded up to the next half kilo.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?
Nominal capacity is about 33.2 m³ for a 20ft, 67.7 m³ for a 40ft and 76.3 m³ for a 40ft High Cube. Cartons leave gaps against the walls and ceiling, so the volume you can actually load is lower. The container load calculator counts how many of your cartons fit.
When should I ship LCL instead of a full container?
LCL is billed per revenue ton: the greater of the volume in cubic meters and the weight in metric tons. It usually costs less for small loads. Above roughly 13 to 15 m³, ask for an LCL price and a 20ft price and compare, because a full container is priced per box and is handled less on the way.
Should I measure the product or the carton?
The packed carton, at its outside edges. Carriers and warehouses measure what arrives, including bulges, pallets and overhang, and bill gross weight including packaging. Accurate figures at booking avoid re-measure charges later.
Want a firm price for this shipment?
Send us the figures and we will confirm the container, the routing and a quote from India to the USA.
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