Free shipping tool · Yiwu, China
CBM Calculator for Container Shipping
See total CBM, weight and container fit.
Free CBM calculator for FCL shippers. Add carton sizes in cm, mm, inch or feet and check 20GP, 40GP and 40HQ.
- Free, no sign-up
- cm, mm, inch or feet
- 20GP · 40GP · 40HQ
02 / Calculator
CBM Calculator: Carton Size to Container Fit
Add each carton size you ship to the CBM calculator. Measure the packed outer carton, not the product.
Planning estimate. Practical loading is 85 to 90% of a container's rated volume. We confirm the final load at loading in Yiwu.
Use numbers above 0.
03 / Formula
How to Calculate CBM: Formula and Example
CBM means cubic metre. To calculate CBM, multiply length by width by height in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. The CBM calculator above does this for you.
Shortcut for your unit
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cm
L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000
60 × 40 × 50 = 120,000 → 0.12
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mm
L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000,000
600 × 400 × 500 → 0.12
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inch
L × W × H ÷ 61,024
20 × 20 × 20 = 8,000 → 0.131
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ft
L × W × H × 0.0283
2 × 2 × 2 = 8 → about 0.23
Worked examples
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12 CBM
Cartons
100 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm. 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.5 = 0.12 CBM per carton.
0.12 × 100 = 12 CBM
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1.8 CBM
Pallet
One pallet 120 × 100 × 150 cm = 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 = 1.8 CBM
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0.233 CBM
Drum (cylinder)
Drum 58 cm across, 88 cm high: 3.1416 × 0.29 × 0.29 × 0.88 = 0.233 CBM
04 / Capacity
Container CBM Capacity: 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ
A 20ft container holds 33.2 CBM, a 40ft holds 67.7 CBM and a 40HQ holds 76.3 CBM by internal volume. Plan on less, because gaps and carton shapes use the rest. The CBM calculator above checks your load against these figures.
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20GP
33.2 CBM
20ft standard
Practical load: 28 to 30 CBM
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40GP
67.7 CBM
40ft standard
Practical load: 58 to 61 CBM
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40HQ Most space
76.3 CBM
40ft high cube
Practical load: 65 to 68 CBM
| Container | Inside size (m) | Rated CBM | Practical CBM | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP20ft standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 33.2 | 28 to 30 | 28,130 kg |
| 40GP40ft standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 67.7 | 58 to 61 | 28,750 kg |
| 40HQ40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 | 76.3 | 65 to 68 | 28,600 kg |
Practical CBM allows for 85 to 90% loading efficiency. Weight can reach the payload limit before the container is full.
Sources: Hapag-Lloyd specifications for the 20' Standard (opens in a new tab), 40' Standard (opens in a new tab) and 40' Standard High Cube (opens in a new tab); practical loading from Epic Sourcing and PledgeBox container guides.
05 / Weight
CBM to KG: Is 1 CBM 1,000 kg?
CBM measures space and kg measures weight, so 1 CBM is not always 1,000 kg. Enter carton weight in the CBM calculator to see both side by side.
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Shared container (LCL)
1 CBM = 1,000 kg
Billed on the greater of CBM or weight, with 1 CBM counted as 1,000 kg.
Example: 5 CBM weighing 2,000 kg is billed as 5 CBM.
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Your own container (FCL) What we book
Pay per container
CBM picks the size, and the weight must stay under the payload: 28.1 to 28.8 tonnes.
Check both: volume and weight must fit.
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Air freight Not offered
1 CBM = 167 kg
1 CBM counts as 167 kg. Al Fajar ships by sea only.
Why it matters: do not use the air rule for sea cargo.
Weight limit of a 40HQ
430 kg per CBM
The density at which a 40HQ reaches its weight limit before it is full (28,600 kg ÷ 66 CBM).
Space fills firstLight, bulky cargo. Fill the container to its practical CBM.
Weight limit firstHeavy cargo. The payload is reached before the space is.
Source: IceCargo chargeable weight guide (opens in a new tab) (LCL 1 m³ = 1,000 kg; air 1 m³ = 167 kg).
06 / Box count
How Many Boxes Fit in a 40ft Container?
A 40ft container takes about 1,600 cartons of 40 × 30 × 30 cm, or about 480 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm. Your carton size changes the answer, so enter it in the CBM calculator for an exact count.
| Carton size | CBM per carton | 20GP | 40GP | 40HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 × 30 × 30 cm | 0.036 | 770 | 1,610 | 1,800 |
| 50 × 40 × 40 cm | 0.080 | 350 | 720 | 810 |
| 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 0.096 | 290 | 600 | 670 |
| 60 × 40 × 50 cm | 0.120 | 230 | 480 | 540 |
| 70 × 50 × 50 cm | 0.175 | 160 | 330 | 370 |
| 80 × 60 × 60 cm | 0.288 | 97 | 200 | 220 |
Estimates by volume only, using the low end of practical CBM and rounded down. Carton strength, stacking height and weight can lower the count.
Standard pallets
20 to 21 in a 40GP23 to 24 in a 40HQ
07 / Booking
From CBM Calculator to FCL Booking in 4 Steps
Al Fajar books full containers only: FCL from Ningbo and Shanghai, with loading supervised in Yiwu.
Measure the packed cartons.
Use the outer size with packaging, not the product size.
Add every carton size.
Enter each one in the CBM calculator, then add a 5 to 10% buffer for gaps and awkward stacking.
Pick the container.
Around 15 CBM or more, a full container is often cheaper per unit than LCL.
Send your CBM.
Add supplier city and destination port. A written quote arrives within 24 hours.
08 / FAQ
CBM Calculator FAQs: Container Size, Formula and Weight
Straight answers on CBM, container capacity and weight.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. A 60 × 40 × 50 cm carton is 0.12 CBM, so 100 cartons are 12 CBM. Use the CBM calculator above if your sizes are in cm, mm, inches or feet.
What size is 1 CBM?
1 CBM is one cubic metre: a space 1 m long, 1 m wide and 1 m high, which equals 1,000 litres. A pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm is 1.8 CBM.
How many CBM in a 20ft container?
A 20ft container holds 33.2 CBM by internal volume (5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m). Practical loading is 28 to 30 CBM, because gaps, pallets and carton shapes use the rest. Maximum payload is 28,130 kg.
How many CBM in a 40ft container?
A 40ft standard container holds 67.7 CBM and a 40ft high cube (40HQ) holds 76.3 CBM. Plan on 58 to 61 CBM for a 40GP and 65 to 68 CBM for a 40HQ. Check weight too: payload is 28,600 to 28,750 kg.
What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40HQ container?
Both are 12.03 m long and 2.35 m wide. The 40HQ is taller, 2.70 m inside against 2.39 m, so it holds 8.6 more CBM (76.3 against 67.7). It suits light, bulky cargo.
Is 1 CBM 1,000 kg?
No. CBM measures volume and kg measures weight. Only LCL (shared container) freight counts 1 CBM as 1,000 kg and bills the greater of volume or weight. In FCL you pay per container, so what matters is that your CBM and kg both fit.
How do I calculate CBM from cm, inches or mm?
Convert to metres first: divide cm by 100, mm by 1,000, inches by 39.37 and feet by 3.281. Or use the shortcut: cm × cm × cm ÷ 1,000,000, or inches × inches × inches ÷ 61,024.
How many boxes fit in a 40ft container?
It depends on carton size. By volume, a 40GP takes about 1,600 cartons of 40 × 30 × 30 cm or about 480 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm. Weight, stacking strength and pallets can lower this. Use the table above or enter your sizes in the calculator.
How do I calculate CBM for air freight?
For air freight, 1 CBM counts as 167 kg, and the airline charges the greater of actual or volumetric weight. Al Fajar ships by sea only, so this CBM calculator is built for container shipping.
When should I ship FCL instead of LCL?
As a rule of thumb, once a shipment passes about 15 CBM, a full container often costs less per unit than shared LCL. Below that, LCL can be cheaper. Al Fajar books FCL only: 20GP, 40GP and 40HQ from Ningbo and Shanghai.
Know your CBM?
Get your FCL quote within 24 hours.
Send your CBM, supplier city and destination port. One team handles booking, loading in Yiwu and China export documents.
- Send your CBMFrom the calculator, plus supplier city and port
- Get a written quoteOcean freight and China-side charges listed separately, truck or rail stated
- We book and loadLoading checked in Yiwu, documents prepared before sailing
Request a quote
Reply within 24 hoursWhat to send us
- Total CBM and kg (from the calculator)
- Supplier city in China
- Destination port or delivery location
Written quote. Charges listed separately.
or talk to us directly