Free CBM Calculator for Shipping
Calculate cubic meters (m³) and cubic feet for cartons, crates, pallets and LCL freight. Add multiple package sizes, mix centimeters, inches, feet or meters, and total the shipment automatically.
Shipment carton & package lines
Add a row for each package size or SKU. Each row can use a different measurement unit.
| Description / SKU | Length | Width | Height | Unit | Qty | Row CBM |
|---|
Convert CBM to cubic feet—or cubic feet to CBM.
Use this quick converter when you already know the shipment volume and only need the equivalent unit.
Useful CBM conversions
| 1 CBM | 35.3147 ft³ |
| 1 ft³ | 0.0283168 CBM |
| 1 CBM | 1,000 liters |
| 1 CBM | 1,000,000 cm³ |
CBM is a volume measurement. It does not by itself determine freight charges or dimensional weight.
Calculated the shipment volume? Keep it with the rest of the shipment.
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What the desktop software adds
Use total CBM to describe the space an LCL shipment occupies.
For less-than-container-load (LCL) freight, cubic meters are commonly used to describe shipment volume. For example, 20 cartons measuring 60 × 40 × 35 cm total 1.68 CBM.
0.084 CBM per carton × 20 cartons = 1.68 CBMYour freight forwarder may compare volume with shipment weight or apply minimums and other rating rules. The CBM result is the shipment volume—not a freight price.
After calculating CBM
Keep the same dimensions and package counts consistent across the shipping documents that describe the load.
Cubic meter formulas for common shipping dimensions.
| Dimensions entered in | Formula for one package |
|---|---|
| Centimeters | L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000 |
| Millimeters | L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000,000 |
| Inches | L × W × H × 0.000016387064 |
| Feet | L × W × H × 0.0283168466 |
| Meters | L × W × H |
For a mixed shipment, calculate each package type separately, multiply by its quantity, and add the row totals. The calculator above does that automatically.
CBM examples for cartons, pallets and mixed units.
Cartons in centimeters
One carton measuring 60 × 40 × 35 cm is 0.084 CBM. Twenty cartons are 1.68 CBM.
60 × 40 × 35 ÷ 1,000,000 × 20 = 1.68 m³Cartons in inches
One carton measuring 24 × 18 × 16 inches is about 0.1133 CBM. Ten cartons are about 1.133 CBM.
Pallet or crate in meters
A pallet load measuring 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.1 meters is 1.056 CBM.
Search terms this calculator covers
This tool can be used as a cubic meter calculator, shipping volume calculator, pallet cube calculator, carton CBM calculator, CBM calculator in inches, or CBM calculator in centimeters.
Common shipping-volume questions
How do I calculate CBM for multiple cartons?
Add each different carton size as its own row, enter the quantity for that row, and add the resulting cubic-meter totals. The calculator does this automatically.
Can I mix inches and centimeters?
Yes. Select the unit separately for every line. The final totals are normalized to cubic meters and cubic feet.
Should I use product dimensions or packed-carton dimensions?
For shipping volume, use the outside dimensions of the package, carton, crate or pallet that will actually move through the freight network.
Is CBM the same as dimensional weight?
No. CBM is a volume measurement. Dimensional weight applies a carrier or freight divisor to package dimensions to estimate billable weight. Use the DIM Weight Calculator for that calculation.
Keep working with the shipment.
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Compare dimensional and actual weight using common presets or your own divisor.
Calculate DIM weight →CalculatorPallet & Carton Calculator
Estimate cartons per pallet and pallet counts.
Calculate pallets →ConverterShipping Unit Converter
Convert common shipping weights, dimensions and cubic-volume units.
Convert units →