CBM calculator for shipping from Dubai, UAEWork out your cargo volume.
This free CBM calculator from Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai, UAE, works out cargo volume in cubic metres for sea freight, air cargo and road shipments. Enter each carton or pallet size to see total CBM, cubic feet, LCL weight or measure, air volumetric weight and how much of a 20ft or 40ft container you will fill.
Enter your cartons or pallets
Add a line for each carton or pallet size. The calculator adds up the volume and shows how it is charged by sea, air and road.
Container bars use practical loading space of about 28, 58 and 68 CBM. Internal volumes are about 33, 67 and 76 CBM, but cartons rarely fill every gap.
How to calculate CBM
CBM means cubic metres. Measure each piece in metres, multiply length by width by height, then multiply by the number of pieces.
- 01
120 cm is 1.2 m. Measure the outside of the carton or pallet, including the pallet base.
- 02
1.2 × 0.8 × 1.0 m = 0.96 CBM per piece. Then multiply by the piece count.
- 03
Charged per W/M: 1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater.
- 04
1 CBM counts as 166.67 kg (divisor 6,000). Courier services often use 5,000, so 200 kg.
- 05
Many GCC road carriers count 1 CBM as 333 kg, a 1:3 ratio. Confirm with your quote.
- 06
Warehouses usually charge per pallet position or per CBM per day or month.
How many CBM fit in a container?
Internal volume is the total space. Practical capacity is what usually fits once cartons are stacked.
| Container | Internal size (L × W × H) | Internal volume | Practical load | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | About 33 CBM | 25 to 28 CBM | About 28,000 kg |
| 40ft standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | About 67 CBM | 55 to 58 CBM | About 26,500 kg |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | About 76 CBM | 65 to 68 CBM | About 26,500 kg |
Sizes vary slightly by container owner. Road weight limits at origin or destination can be lower than the container payload.
CBM and container questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsSend my cargo detailsMultiply length by width by height in metres. Then multiply the result by the number of pieces. For example, a carton of 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 m, which is 0.096 CBM. Fifty of those cartons add up to 4.8 CBM. Measure the outside of the packed carton or pallet.
- 1 CBM equals 35.315 cubic feet.
- Include the pallet base in the height.
For sea freight LCL, 1 CBM is treated as 1,000 kg. This is called weight or measure (W/M): the carrier charges on whichever is greater, the volume in CBM or the weight in tonnes. By air, 1 CBM counts as 166.67 kg. By road, many GCC carriers count 1 CBM as 333 kg.
- Heavy, compact cargo is charged on weight.
- Light, bulky cargo is charged on volume.
Divide 1 by the CBM of one carton. A carton of 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.096 CBM, so about 10 cartons make 1 CBM. A carton of 50 × 50 × 50 cm is 0.125 CBM, so 8 cartons make 1 CBM. Real loads fit slightly fewer, because cartons rarely stack without gaps.
- Measure the largest outside dimensions.
- Round carton sizes up, not down.
One CBM equals 166.67 kg in air freight. Airlines divide the volume in cubic centimetres by 6,000 to get volumetric weight. They then charge on the volumetric or the actual weight, whichever is higher. Courier and express services often divide by 5,000, which makes 1 CBM count as 200 kg.
- Use our chargeable weight calculator for air cargo.
- Airlines round up to the next half kilogram.