CBM Calculator

CBM stands for cubic meter — a standard unit used in shipping to measure how much space a shipment takes up. It's calculated as length × width × height (in meters), and it directly affects freight cost since carriers charge based on space as well as weight.

Freight carriers charge based on whichever is greater: your shipment's actual weight, or its volumetric weight (a weight-equivalent calculated from its size). Bulky, lightweight shipments often get charged by volume rather than actual weight, since they take up space disproportionate to how much they weigh.

Each mode uses a different volumetric divisor reflecting typical industry pricing conventions: air freight commonly divides by 6000 (cm³ per kg), courier/parcel services commonly divide by 5000, and sea freight conventionally treats 1 CBM as equivalent to 1,000 kg for pricing comparison purposes. These are common industry-standard divisors — always confirm the exact figure with your specific carrier, since some couriers use different values.

No — it's a pricing convention (sometimes called a "revenue ton") used to compare volume-based and weight-based rates on a common scale, not the shipment's actual physical weight. Ocean freight is typically quoted per CBM directly rather than converted to a weight figure in practice.

Yes — add a row for each different box size and quantity in your shipment. The calculator sums the volume and volumetric weight across all rows and compares the combined total to your total actual weight.