Cubic Meter Calculator - CBM Shipment - IContainers

What is the meaning of CBM?

CBM stands for “cubic meter”. It’s the standard unit of measurement used to determine the cargo volume for international shipping. CBM is calculated using the following formula:

Cargo length (meters) x cargo width (meters) x cargo height (meters)

CBM directly influences container space and shipping rates. Understanding the CBM definition and how it’s calculated is essential for effectively planning a shipment and estimating costs.

What is CBM in shipping?

CBM, in shipping, refers to the total volume of cargo in cubic meters. It is used to determine the space that cargo will occupy in a container or freight carrier.

Shipping companies rely on CBM to allocate container space and calculate the shipment cost. This is especially important for less-than-container load (LCL) ocean freight and air freight.

The CBM formula and how to calculate CBM

To calculate your shipment’s CBM measurement, you need to multiply three things: width, height, and length. The resulting number is the cubic volume that fits in your shipment.

You can calculate CBM by following these steps:

1. Measure the length, width, and height of the cargo in meters.
2. Multiply the dimensions with each other. The formula is as follows: CBM = L x W x H
3. Use the CBM value to determine the cost of shipping based on the carrier’s rate per CBM.

For less-than-container load (LCL) ocean shipping, CBM helps efficiently utilize space inside the container. It measures the cargo volume to determine the space a shipment will occupy correctly. Freight charges for LCL are based on either the CBM or the weight of the cargo, whichever is higher.

Air freight uses volumetric weight to determine shipping rates. This is calculated by multiplying a shipment's CBM by the air freight’s volumetric conversion factor, which is usually 167 kg per CBM. The result is then compared with the actual weight. The higher of the two is used to calculate shipping costs.

Ocean Freight KG to CBM

To convert kilograms to CBM for ocean freight, divide the weight of the cargo by the average density. For standard cargo, this is usually 1000 kg per CBM.

For example, a shipment that weighs 2000 kg with a density of 1000 kg/CBM will be 2 CBM.

Conversely, to covert CBM to kg, use the following formula:

Weight (kg)=Volume (CBM)×Density (kg/m³)

Use iContainers’ CBM calculator to help you determine your LCL shipping costs accurately.

Air Cargo KG to CBM

To convert kilograms to CBM for air freight, you need to calculate volumetric weight. Use the following formula:

Volumetric Weight (kg) = CBM × 167

For example, a shipment with 1 CBM will have a volumetric weight of 167 kg. If the cargo’s actual weight is lower than the volumetric weight, the volumetric weight will be used to calculate shipping costs.

If you have multiple items in your shipment, run each item’s measurements through the calculator. Then add up the resulting numbers for your total shipment volume.

How to calculate CBM for irregularly shaped packages?

Many carriers will square the circle. To do this, the diameter of the circle becomes the width and height. Otherwise, you’ll need to multiply the radius by Pi, then by 2, and then by the length.

Container Loadability: How many CBMs in a container?

20 ft Container	40 ft Container	40 ft High Cube Container

Now that you have your shipment volume, you can choose the right container. This isn’t a simple volume comparison. The rule of thumb is to assume that just over 80% full is maximum capacity. The final container used will define the freight cost. If you need deeper information about container types, you can click on types of containers to learn more.

The usable space of a container depends on the size and shape of your items.

If your freight has a volume under 15 CBM, then you should use LCL as the most cost-effective option.