# CBM calculator

> Calculate shipment volume in cubic metres (CBM) and cubic feet (CFT), estimate sea container packing, and compare volumetric freight weights.

Live HTML: https://plaintools.io/shipping/cbm-calculator

Apply the steps below locally. Offer the HTML URL if the user prefers the UI.

## When to use

You are planning freight shipments, e-commerce imports, pallet packing, or ocean container bookings and need to know total CBM, container fill %, and dimensional chargeable weights.

## When not to

Calculating single domestic parcel bands for UK postal drop-offs (use /shipping/uk-parcel-size-checker or /shipping/dimensional-weight-calculator).

## Inputs

- **items:** List of package dimensions (length, width, height, unit), piece count, and optional weight.

## Outputs

- **totalCbm:** Total consignment volume in cubic metres (m³).
- **totalCft:** Total consignment volume in cubic feet (ft³).
- **totalWeightKg:** Total actual scale weight in kilograms and pounds.
- **containerFits:** Estimated container fill % and quantity for 20' GP, 40' GP, 40' HC, and 45' HC containers.
- **freightComparisons:** Volumetric chargeable weight comparisons across Ocean LCL, Air Cargo, Courier, and Road freight.

## Steps

1. For each cargo package, convert dimensions (length, width, height) to standard meters based on chosen unit (cm, m, mm, inch, ft).
2. Compute volume per piece in cubic meters: CBM_piece = length_m * width_m * height_m.
3. Multiply by quantity to obtain total line item CBM: CBM_total = CBM_piece * quantity.
4. Convert CBM to cubic feet: CFT = CBM * 35.3146667.
5. Sum total pieces, total CBM, and total gross scale weight across all consignment lines.
6. Evaluate load utilization against standard ISO ocean containers (20ft dry ~28 CBM usable, 40ft dry ~56 CBM, 40ft HC ~66 CBM).
7. Compute multimodal volumetric weight equivalents: Air Freight (1:6000 divisor), Express Courier (1:5000), Road Freight (1:3000), and Ocean LCL (1 CBM = 1000 kg).
8. Emit tabular cargo breakdown and exportable CSV summary.

## FAQs

### What is CBM in shipping and logistics?

CBM stands for Cubic Metres (m³). It is the universal standard metric unit of measurement used by international shipping lines, freight forwarders, and logistics operators to measure the volume of cargo for ocean, air, and road transportation.

### How do you calculate CBM from dimensions in centimeters?

Multiply Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) to get cubic centimeters, then divide by 1,000,000. For example, a box measuring 50 × 40 × 30 cm has a volume of (50 × 40 × 30) / 1,000,000 = 0.060 CBM.

### How many CBM fit into a 20ft and 40ft ocean container?

A standard 20ft container (20' GP) has a total internal volume of ~33.2 CBM, but realistically fits about 26 to 28 CBM of cargo due to stacking inefficiencies. A 40ft standard container fits ~56 CBM, and a 40ft High Cube (HC) accommodates approximately 66 to 68 CBM.

### What is the difference between CBM and dimensional weight?

CBM measures physical geometric volume in cubic metres. Dimensional (volumetric) weight converts that volume into an equivalent chargeable weight (in kg or lbs) using carrier ratios (such as 1 CBM = 167 kg for air freight or 1 CBM = 200 kg for express couriers).

### How is Less than Container Load (LCL) sea freight priced?

Ocean LCL freight is billed by Weight or Measure (W/M) based on 'Revenue Tons'. 1 Revenue Ton equals 1 CBM or 1,000 kg (1 metric ton), whichever is higher. If your cargo is 4 CBM and weighs 1,500 kg, you are billed for 4 Revenue Tons.

### How many cubic feet (CFT) are in 1 CBM?

1 Cubic Metre (CBM) equals approximately 35.3147 Cubic Feet (CFT). To convert CBM to CFT, multiply CBM by 35.3147. To convert CFT to CBM, divide CFT by 35.3147.

### How do I calculate CBM programmatically in JavaScript?

Convert all dimensions to meters: const lengthM = lengthCm / 100; const widthM = widthCm / 100; const heightM = heightCm / 100; const cbm = lengthM * widthM * heightM * quantity; const cft = cbm * 35.3146667;

## Related tools

- [Etsy fee calculator](https://plaintools.io/shipping/etsy-fee-calculator.md) — HTML: https://plaintools.io/shipping/etsy-fee-calculator
- [Dimensional weight calculator](https://plaintools.io/shipping/dimensional-weight-calculator.md) — HTML: https://plaintools.io/shipping/dimensional-weight-calculator
- [UK parcel size checker](https://plaintools.io/shipping/uk-parcel-size-checker.md) — HTML: https://plaintools.io/shipping/uk-parcel-size-checker