CBM Calculator

Calculate CBM for ocean, air, and road freight, and estimate shipping costs for your shipments.
Compute volumetric weight using standard industry divisors for accurate freight cost calculations.

Mode of Transport

Basic Details

  • Centimeters (cm)
  • Meters (m)
  • Inches (in)
  • Feet (ft)
  • Kilograms (kg)
  • Pounds (lb)

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What is CBM?

CBM (Cubic Meter) is a fundamental unit of measurement in shipping used to calculate the volume of cargo.
This measurement is essential for assessing the space required in a cargo hold which inturn helps to calculate the cost of transport.

How to Calculate CBM ?

Formula for CBM calculation,

CBM ( m³ ) = Length (m) x Width (m) x Height (m)
Adjust the Conversion Factor based on the unit you want to calculate.

Conversion Factor

Meters (m)

1

Centimeters (cm)

100

Inches (in)

39.37

Feet (ft)

3.281

For multiple items, calculate the CBM for each item separately and sum them up to get the total volume.
For multiple items with same dimensions, just multiply the cbm calculated with the quantity of packages.
If the cargo has an irregular shape or requires special handling, additional space considerations may be necessary to ensure proper accommodation and safe transportation.
In such cases, the CBM is calculated using the longest measured length, width, and height to account for the maximum space the cargo occupies.

What is Chargeable Weight ?

Chargeable weight is the weight used by service providers to calculate freight costs.
The actual weight of your cargo, including any packaging, cushioning and pallets is gross weight.
Volumetric Weight, also referred to as Dimensional weight, represents the weight equivalent of a shipment's volume, used to determine freight charges based on the space it occupies.
Once you have both your gross weight and dimensional weight, your freight service provider will charge you on the basis of whichever of the two is greater.
Chargeable Weight = max ( Gross Weight , Volumetric Weight )

Formula for Volumetric Weight calculation

Volumetric Weight (kg)
=
Cubic Meter ( m³ ) x 10⁶
Volumetric Factor

Set the Volumetric Factor according to the freight you need to determine the Volumetric Weight for.

What is Volumetric Factor ?

The volumetric factor (also called the dimensional factor) is a coefficient used to convert a shipment's volume into a weight equivalent for freight calculations.
It helps carriers determine chargeable weight based on the space a package occupies rather than its actual weight.

Volumetric Factor

Air Freight

6000 cm³/kg

Ocean Freight

1000 cm³/kg

Road Freight

3000 cm³/kg

How to calculate Chargeable weight using CBM ?

Ocean Freight

Example 1

Package dimensions : 4 m x 4 m x 4 m
CBM = 4 x 4 x 4 = 64 m³
DIM factor : 1:1,000
So, Volumetric weight = 64 Ton
Gross weight : 200 kg (0.2 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 64 Ton

Example 2

Package dimensions : 2 m x 2 m x 1 m
CBM = 2 x 2 x 1 = 4 m³
DIM factor : 1:1,000
So, Volumetric weight = 4 Ton
Gross weight : 5,500 kg (5.5 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 5.5 Ton

Air Freight

Example 1

Package dimensions : 150 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm
CBM = 150 x 100 x 100 = 1.5 x 10⁶ cm³
DIM factor : 1:6,000
So, Volumetric weight = 1.5 x 10⁶ / 6000 = 250kg (0.25 Ton)
Gross weight : 200 kg (0.2 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 250kg (0.25 Ton)

Example 2

Package dimensions : 50 cm x 80 cm x 3 cm
CBM = 50 x 80 x 3 = 12000 cm³
DIM factor : 1:6,000
So, Volumetric weight = 12000 / 6000 = 2kg
Gross weight : 1,200 kg (1.2 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 1.2 Ton

Road Freight

Example 1

Package dimensions : 150 cm x 80 cm x 60 cm
CBM = 150 x 80 x 60 = 720 x 10³ cm³
DIM factor : 1:3,000
So, Volumetric weight = 720 x 10³ / 3000 = 240kg (0.24 Ton)
Gross weight : 200 kg (0.2 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 0.24 Ton

Example 2

Package dimensions : 2 m x 3 m x 2 m
CBM = 2 x 3 x 2 = 12 m
DIM factor : 1:3,000
So, Volumetric weight = 12 x 10⁶ cm³ / 6000 = 4000kg (4 Ton)
Gross weight : 1,200 kg (1.2 ton)
Chargeable Weight = 4 Ton