CBM Calculator
Add up the cubic metres of one or more cartons measured in cm, mm, metres, inches or feet, see cubic feet and the share of a 20 or 40 foot container, and get the LCL revenue ton.
Runs in your browser — nothing is uploadedAdd up the cubic metres of your cargo
CBM, or cubic metres, is how ocean and air freight measure volume. Enter the length, width and height of each carton with how many you are shipping, in centimetres, millimetres, metres, inches or feet, and the calculator totals the volume in cubic metres and cubic feet. Add as many carton sizes as you need.
Give each carton a weight and it works out the LCL revenue ton: for a less-than-container-load shipment, carriers bill on the greater of the volume in cubic metres and the weight in tonnes. It also shows how much of a 20-foot, 40-foot or high-cube container the volume would take.
What CBM Calculator gives you
Many carton sizes
Add a row for each box size; the total covers them all, with each row’s share.
Any unit in
Measure in cm, mm, metres, inches or feet, and weigh in kilograms or pounds.
The LCL revenue ton
Enter weights and see whether volume or weight is being billed.
Container share
See the volume as a share of 20-foot, 40-foot and high-cube inside space.
Runs in your browser
Nothing you type is sent to a server.
How to use CBM Calculator
Pick the units
The unit you measured in and the weight unit.
Enter each carton
Length, width, height and quantity, one row per size.
Read the totals
Total CBM, cubic feet, the revenue ton and the container share.
Other names for this tool
People also look for this as cubic meter calculator, cbm to cft converter, shipping volume calculator, carton cbm calculator, lcl cbm calculator, cubic metre calculator and cargo volume calculator. It is the same tool on this page.
Looking for the opposite job? Volumetric Weight Calculator.
Limitations
- Volume only; the container load planner checks how boxes actually fit.
- The revenue ton needs weights, and a carrier’s rounding rules may differ.
Questions about CBM Calculator
What is CBM?
Cubic metres: length times width times height in metres. For cartons measured in centimetres, divide each side by 100 first, or let this calculator do it and multiply by the quantity.
What is the LCL revenue ton?
For less-than-container-load sea freight, carriers charge on the greater of the volume in cubic metres and the weight in metric tonnes. Enter weights and the calculator shows which one applies.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length by width by height in metres. If your cartons are in centimetres, divide each side by 100 first, then multiply by the number of cartons. The calculator does this for every row and adds them up.
How many CBM are in a shipping container?
Inside, a standard 20-foot container holds about 33.2 cubic metres, a 40-foot about 67.8 and a 40-foot high cube about 76.3. Real cargo rarely fills every corner, so treat these as ceilings, not as a promise that a load will fit.
What is the difference between CBM and the revenue ton?
CBM is pure volume. The revenue ton, used for LCL sea freight, is the greater of the CBM and the weight in tonnes, because carriers charge for whichever costs them more to carry.
How do I convert CBM to cubic feet?
Multiply cubic metres by 35.3147, or divide cubic feet by the same number to go back. The calculator shows both figures together, so a quote in either unit can be checked at a glance.
Can I mix different box sizes?
Yes. Add a separate row for each carton size with its own dimensions and quantity, and the calculator sums the volume and weight across every row.
Can I measure in inches?
Yes. Choose inches or feet as the dimension unit and pounds as the weight unit. Every figure is converted with the exact definitions: 25.4 millimetres to the inch and 0.45359237 kilograms to the pound.