Free CBM Calculator — Cubic Meter, Volumetric Weight & 20ft / 40ft / 40HC Container Calculator for Shipping and Freight
The fastest CBM Calculator on the planet.
Units
Units
Container Type
Container
Enter Dimensions
Item 01
—m³
#
Length
Width
Height
Qty
Weight
Volume
Add
01
cm
cm
cm
kg
—m³
Σ 1items
Subtotal
0.00 kg
0.000 m³
Totals
Items
1
Weight
0.00kg
Volume
0.000m³
Volume
0.000m³
Volume
0.00ft³
Weight
0.00kg
Weight
0.00lbs
Advertisement
About the CBM Calculator
What is a CBM Calculator?
A CBM Calculator (Cubic Meter Calculator) tells you the total shipping volume of your cargo so you can quote freight, choose the right container and avoid surprise volumetric weight charges. The free CBM Calculator on cbmchecker.com lets you enter the length, width, height, quantity and weight of every carton — in cm, m, in or ft — and instantly see the result in m³ and ft³, plus how much of a 20ft, 40ft, 40ft High Cube or 45ft High Cube container you've filled.
CBM formula
CBM = (Length × Width × Height) × Quantity — with all dimensions in meters. Our CBM Calculator handles the unit conversion automatically, so you can mix cm and inches without doing the math by hand.
Why use cbmchecker.com?
100% free CBM Calculator — no signup, no limits.
Real-time container fit for 20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC and 45ft HC.
Multi-row support for mixed cartons and SKUs.
Export your CBM calculation as JPEG or PDF in one click.
Container reference
Standard shipping container sizes
Use these internal dimensions and CBM capacities as a quick reference when planning a load. Real usable volume is typically 80–90% of the theoretical CBM after stacking, pallets and dunnage.
Container
Internal L × W × H (m)
Volume (CBM)
Max payload
20ft Standard
5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39
33 m³
28,200 kg
40ft Standard
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39
67 m³
26,700 kg
40ft High Cube
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69
76 m³
26,500 kg
45ft High Cube
13.56 × 2.35 × 2.69
86 m³
27,600 kg
1
Enter carton dimensions
Length, width and height per SKU in cm, m, inches or feet — mix units freely, we convert on the fly.
2
Set quantity & weight
Add carton count and gross weight per row. Stack as many rows as you need for mixed shipments.
3
Read your CBM & fit
Get total CBM in m³ and ft³ plus container fill % for 20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC and 45ft HC instantly.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
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.
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 are approximately 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m.
What are 40ft and 40HC container dimensions?+
40ft standard: 12.00 × 2.35 × 2.39 m, ~67.7 CBM. 40ft High Cube (40HC): 12.00 × 2.35 × 2.69 m, ~76.4 CBM — about 9 extra CBM thanks to the 30 cm extra height.
What is the difference between CBM and CFT?+
CBM is cubic meters (m³) and 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.
What does CBM mean in logistics and shipping?+
CBM stands for Cubic Meter — the volume of cargo in m³. It is the global standard for pricing ocean LCL, FCL and cross-border freight, and a key input for container loading and chargeable weight.
Can I calculate CBM in inches, feet, cm, meters or yards?+
Yes. Switch the unit selector at the top of the cargo CBM calculator to inches, feet, cm, meters or yards — the cubic meter calculator instantly converts and recalculates total CBM, weight and container fit.
Is cbmchecker.com really a free online CBM calculator?+
Yes — unlimited calculations, no signup, no paywall, no export limits. Our freight CBM calculator is 100% free for importers, exporters, 3PLs and individuals.
Can I export the CBM calculation result?+
Yes. Download your CBM breakdown as a JPEG snapshot or a PDF report directly from the shipment volume calculator — useful for quotes, invoices and customs paperwork.
cbmchecker.com is a free online CBM calculator built for importers, exporters, freight forwarders, 3PLs and e-commerce sellers. Use it to calculate cubic meters, volumetric weight and container fit for any shipment — by sea, air, road or courier. Whether you need a shipping CBM calculator, a cargo CBM calculator, or a freight CBM calculator, this tool delivers accurate results in seconds with support for cm, m, inches, feet and yards.
For air freight, courier and express, use our volumetric weight calculator to compute dimensional weight using the standard 5000 divisor. The chargeable weight — the larger of gross and volumetric — is what DHL, FedEx, UPS and most carriers actually bill.
Learn more about CBM
New to shipping? Read what is CBM in shipping or our guide on how to measure CBM — the easiest way to understand cubic meter measurement, logistics terminology and how shipping companies calculate CBM for export and import.
CBM Checker is an internet-based tool for reference only. We do not claim responsibility for any shipping or container-loading decisions made using our calculator — please verify all results independently before booking freight.
