Cubic Meter (CBM) Calculator
Easily calculate your shipment’s volume and weight for air & sea freight.
📦 Container Capacity
📊 Calculation Results
CBM vs Volumetric Weight
Whereas CBM is used to estimate the space occupied by your cargo, airlines tend to charge you based on the volumetric weight.
Volumetric Weight Formula for Air Freight:
CBM × 167 = Volumetric Weight (Kg)
Sea Freight Formula:
1 CBM = 1,000 Kg (chargeable weight reference).
👉 Example:
- Cargo Size: 1.5 CBM
- Actual Weight: 300 Kg
- Volumetric Weight for Air: 1.5 × 167 = 250.5 Kg
Airlines charge 300kg (actual weight) since the higher value is being used. In the case of sea freight, the cost will be 1.5 CBM.
Container Sizes & Their CBM Capacity
| Container Type | Capacity (CBM) | Max Weight (Kg) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft Container | ~33.2 CBM | ~28,000 Kg | Medium loads, household items, small businesses |
| 40 ft Container | ~67.7 CBM | ~28,000 Kg | Larger shipments, e-commerce bulk orders |
| 40 ft HC (High Cube) | ~76.3 CBM | ~28,000 Kg | Bulky cargo like furniture, machinery |
CBM vs Volumetric Weight
CBM is used to measure the space occupied by your cargo, but airlines may use volumetric weight for charging purposes.
Volumetric Weight Formula for Air Freight:
CBM × 167 = Volumetric Weight (Kg)
Sea Freight Formula:
1 CBM = 1,000 Kg (chargeable weight reference).
👉 Example:
- Cargo Size: 1.5 CBM
- Actual Weight: 300 Kg
- Volumetric Weight for Air: 1.5 × 167 = 250.5 Kg
As airlines charge for higher weights, you will be charged 300 Kg (actual weight). In the case of sea freight, you will pay 1.5 CBM.
For Weight 75kg
- Example 1: Sofa
- Dimensions: 200 × 100 × 90 cm → 1.8 CBM.
- Weight: 75 Kg.
- Chargeable for air freight = 1.8 × 167 = 300.6 Kg.
For Weight 250kg
- Example 2: Electronics (20 Boxes)
- Dimensions per box: 50 × 40 × 30 cm = 0.06 CBM.
- Total for 20 boxes = 1.2 CBM.
- Weight: 250 Kg.