Ocean and volume
CBM Calculator
This calculator converts each cargo row to cubic meters and totals mixed cartons, pallets, or crates. CBM = quantity x length x width x height after converting every dimension to meters. It follows a cited NIST source record captured 2026-08-12.
Calculate cubic meters, cubic feet, pieces, and optional density for a mixed cargo manifest.
Enter shipment details
Planning result
0.96 m3 total cargo volume
- Cubic feet
- 33.9 ft3
- Total pieces
- 1
- Entered weight
- Not entered
- Density
- Not calculated
Use external packaged dimensions. Actual container use also depends on shape, dunnage, orientation, and load constraints.
Need quote requests too? Add this calculator to your logistics website and receive complete quote requests.
What this calculator returns
Use this CBM calculator to total cubic meters, cubic feet, pieces, and optional density for a mixed cargo manifest. It is intended for exporters, importers, warehouse teams, and forwarders preparing volume information for LCL, air freight, storage, or container planning while keeping the calculation transparent and local to the browser.
How this is calculated
For metric entries, each row length, width, and height in centimeters are multiplied and divided by 1,000,000 to convert cubic centimeters to cubic meters. For imperial entries, cubic inches are divided by 61,023.744094. Quantity is applied to each row before every row is added to the shipment total.
Optional gross weight is converted to kilograms and divided by total cubic meters to show aggregate density. The calculator also converts final cubic meters to cubic feet using the published SI conversion relationship.
CBM = quantity x length x width x height after converting every dimension to meters.
Variable definitions
- L, W, H
- Greatest outside packaged dimensions of one cargo piece in centimeters or inches.
- Q
- Quantity of identical pieces represented by a row.
- CBM
- Total cubic meters, equal to converted L times W times H times Q for all rows.
- Density
- Optional total gross kilograms divided by total cubic meters.
Worked example
One crate measuring 120 by 80 by 100 centimeters occupies 960,000 cubic centimeters. Dividing by 1,000,000 produces 0.960 cubic meters. The same volume is approximately 33.90 cubic feet.
If three identical crates are entered, total volume is 2.880 CBM. At 200 kilograms per crate, gross weight is 600 kilograms and aggregate density is 208.33 kilograms per cubic meter. Freight billing rules, container fit, and loadability remain separate decisions.
How to interpret the result
CBM is an outside-envelope volume, not a promise of usable container capacity. Rectangular volume is appropriate for quoted package dimensions even when a crate or pallet has voids inside its envelope.
Use separate rows for pieces with different dimensions. For palletized cargo, measure the final wrapped pallet load rather than adding the nominal cartons if the finished load is larger, irregular, or overhanging.
What to measure
Use the outside packaged dimensions as the shipment will be tendered. Include pallets, skids, cartons, wrapping, overhang, and projections. Weigh the complete packaged unit, not only its contents. When pieces differ, create a separate row or calculation for each size and weight combination.
Assumptions and limitations
External packaged dimensions determine occupied volume. Space lost to irregular shapes, dunnage, and loading constraints is separate.
- It does not perform a three-dimensional packing plan or determine container quantity.
- It does not account for dunnage, pallet gaps, irregular shapes, orientation, stackability, or cargo restrictions.
- It does not apply carrier rounding, minimum volume, revenue-ton, or chargeable-weight rules.
- Optional density is only as accurate as the entered gross packaged weights.
Rules and sources used
Frequently asked questions
What does CBM mean?
CBM means cubic meter. It is a unit of volume equal to a space one meter long, one meter wide, and one meter high.
How do I calculate CBM from centimeters?
Multiply length, width, and height in centimeters, multiply by quantity, then divide by 1,000,000.
Should I measure cartons or the pallet?
Use the outside packaged unit that will be tendered. For palletized cargo, measure the final wrapped pallet load including overhang and projections.
Is CBM the same as chargeable volume?
Not always. A carrier or forwarder can apply minimums, increments, weight-or-measure comparisons, or service-specific conversion rules.