How do I calculate CBM (cubic meters) for shipping?+
CBM = Length × Width × Height (in meters) × Quantity. For inches divide by 39.37, for feet divide by 3.2808, for centimetres divide by 100. Our shipping CBM calculator does the conversion automatically for cm, m, inches, feet and yards.
How do I calculate CBM in inches?+
Multiply length × width × height in inches, then divide by 61,023.744 to convert cubic inches into cubic meters. Multiply by quantity for total CBM. Example: 40 × 30 × 24 in ÷ 61,023.744 = 0.472 CBM per carton.
What is the CBM formula?+
The standard CBM formula is CBM = L × W × H (in meters). For other units: divide each side by 100 (cm), 39.37 (inches), or 3.2808 (feet) before multiplying.
What does CBM mean in shipping and logistics?+
CBM stands for Cubic Meter (m³) — the volume of cargo. It is the global standard for pricing ocean LCL, FCL and cross-border freight, and is a key input for container loading and chargeable weight.
What is volumetric (dimensional) weight and how is it calculated?+
Volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ divisor. The divisor is 5000 for air freight and international courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) and 6000 for some domestic services. Carriers bill the higher of gross weight and volumetric weight — the chargeable weight.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft container?+
A 20ft standard container holds ~33.2 CBM theoretically and around 28 CBM usable once you account for pallets and stacking gaps. Internal dimensions: ~5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m.
How many CBM fit in a 40ft container?+
A 40ft standard container holds ~67.7 CBM theoretical / ~58 CBM usable. A 40ft High Cube (40HC) holds ~76.4 CBM thanks to the extra 30 cm of internal height.
What are the internal dimensions of a 40HC container?+
40ft High Cube internal dimensions are approximately 12.00 m × 2.35 m × 2.69 m, giving ~76.4 CBM of cargo volume.
What is the difference between CBM and CFT?+
CBM is cubic meters (m³); CFT is cubic feet (ft³). 1 CBM = 35.3147 CFT. Ocean and LCL freight is quoted per CBM; some US domestic carriers quote per CFT.
How do I convert inches to CBM?+
Divide cubic inches by 61,023.744. So 1,000 in³ = 0.0164 CBM. Our CBM converter handles this automatically when you select 'in' as the unit.
How do I convert cm to CBM?+
Divide cubic centimeters by 1,000,000. Example: a 100 × 50 × 40 cm carton = 200,000 cm³ ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.2 CBM.
Can I calculate CBM in inches, feet, cm, meters or yards?+
Yes. Switch the unit selector at the top of the calculator — the cubic meter calculator instantly converts and recalculates total CBM, weight and container fit.
Is this CBM calculator really free and online?+
Yes — 100% free, unlimited calculations, no signup, no paywall, no export limits. Use it from any browser on desktop or mobile.
Can I export the CBM calculation as a PDF?+
Yes. Download your CBM breakdown as a JPEG snapshot or a PDF report — useful for quotes, invoices, packing lists and customs paperwork.
Who uses cbmchecker.com?+
Freight forwarders, NVOCCs, 3PLs, importers, exporters, e-commerce sellers, Amazon FBA shippers and individual movers — over 50,000 shipping professionals use the tool every month.
Is the CBM calculation accurate?+
Yes — calculations use IEEE-754 double-precision math and are accurate to 3 decimal places. Container capacity figures follow ISO 668 internal-dimension standards.
