CBM calculator.Shipping from China.

How to calculate CBM

CBM means cubic metres. Multiply the length, width and height of one carton in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. A carton of 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 m³. One hundred of them is 9.6 m³.

Which container do you need?

Option	Usable volume (approx.)	Good for
LCL (shared container)	Pay per m³	Small orders, roughly under 15 m³
20′ container	About 25–28 m³	Medium orders, heavy goods
40′ container	About 55–58 m³	Large orders
40′ high cube	About 65–68 m³	Light, bulky goods

Usable volume is lower than the container’s internal size because cartons never stack perfectly. Treat these as planning figures and confirm with your forwarder.

What is chargeable weight?

Air and express carriers charge for whichever is higher: the real weight or the volumetric weight. Air freight commonly uses length × width × height in cm divided by 6,000; express couriers commonly divide by 5,000. Light, bulky products often cost more than their real weight suggests.

Frequently asked questions

When does a full container make more sense than LCL?

As a rough rule, once you’re above about 15 m³ it’s worth comparing an LCL quote with a 20′ container, as the full container can work out cheaper and faster.

Do you consolidate orders from several suppliers?

Yes. We collect goods from different factories, check them and ship them together in one shipment.