CBM Calculator (Cubic Meters and Volumetric Weight)

Turn carton dimensions into cubic meters and volumetric weight for freight planning. No account needed.

By Tibeau De Grauwe, FounderUpdated September 2026

  • 25 products free
  • No credit card
  • 10-min setup

CBM (cubic meters) is the volume of your shipment. Freight forwarders use it to quote sea freight and to check how much of a container your goods will fill.

Enter the outer carton dimensions in centimeters and the number of identical cartons. The calculator returns total CBM and the volumetric weight using the common 6,000 divisor for air freight.

Always use outer dimensions including packaging, and confirm the volumetric divisor with your carrier: some use 5,000 or a different value. For mixed cartons, calculate each size separately and add the results.

CBM Calculator

cm
cm
cm
cartons

Total volume

4.8 CBM

Volumetric weight: 800 kg

How the calculation works

CBM per carton = (length × width × height in cm) ÷ 1,000,000. Total CBM = CBM per carton × number of cartons.

Example: a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is 96,000 cm³ = 0.096 CBM. 50 cartons = 4.8 CBM.

Volumetric weight (kg) = (length × width × height in cm) ÷ 6,000, per carton. In the example that is 16 kg per carton, or 800 kg for 50 cartons. Air freight is charged on the greater of this and actual weight.

See also: Landed cost calculator, Stock Cover Calculator.

Embed this calculator on your site

Copy this code into your page. The calculator runs in the visitor's browser and includes a link back to StockFlow.

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What our customers say

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Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate CBM?
Multiply length, width and height of the carton in centimeters and divide by 1,000,000 to get cubic meters. Multiply by the number of cartons for the total.
What is volumetric weight?
A billing weight based on the space your parcel takes, calculated as volume in cm³ divided by a carrier-specific divisor, often 6,000 for air freight. You are charged the greater of actual and volumetric weight.
How many CBM fit in a container?
Usable capacity depends on the container type and how the goods stack. Ask your forwarder for the loadable volume of the specific container before planning.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser; nothing is sent to or stored on a server.

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