CBM (cubic meter) measures your shipment's volume and drives LCL and air chargeable weight. Learn how to calculate it and why it matters.
What CBM means in one sentence
CBM stands for cubic meter (m³) — the volume your cargo occupies. For LCL sea freight and air cargo, CBM (or its weight equivalent) is the basis carriers charge on.
How to calculate CBM
Example: a carton 1.2 m × 0.8 m × 1.0 m = 0.96 m³. Ten cartons = 9.6 CBM.
- Measure the carton length × width × height in meters.
- Multiply to get one carton's volume in m³.
- Multiply by the number of cartons.
- Sum all carton volumes for total CBM.
Why CBM decides your cost
Carriers compare your shipment's CBM against its weight. You pay for whichever is greater — the volume or the weight equivalent. This is why dense cargo can cost more than its size suggests, and light bulky cargo is charged by volume.
Use our CBM calculator
Skip the math — our CBM calculator supports multiple box sizes, unit conversion and a chargeable-weight comparison so you can estimate before requesting a quote.
- CBM Calculator
- Chargeable Weight Calculator