Shipping guide
How to calculate cubic metres
Measure the packed shipment, then add the volume of every package group.
Length × width × height × quantity
0.50 × 0.40 × 0.30 × 3
= 0.180 m³
Three cartons, measured in metres after packing.
Calculate your cargo volumeThe formula
Cubic metres (CBM) = length × width × height in metres × quantity. For measurements in centimetres, divide the product by 1,000,000.
A worked example
Three cartons, each 50 × 40 × 30 cm, occupy 0.06 m³ each. Multiply by three to get 0.18 m³. If another carton has a different size, calculate it separately and add it to the total.
Measure the outside
Include packaging, pallet height and protrusions. Do not substitute product dimensions for packed dimensions. Tell the forwarder about irregular shapes and non-stackable items because occupied space may differ from a simple box calculation.
Volume is not a price
A cubic-metre result helps describe the shipment. It does not determine handling, minimum charges, container suitability or the total freight cost.
Calculate your shipment volume ↗Your next step
Use the CBM calculator