What is CBM?
CBM (cubic meter) expresses the space a shipment occupies. In sea LCL and road freight, the freight rate is often based on this volume.
How it is calculated
Take the dimensions in meters:
m³ = length (m) × width (m) × height (m) × quantity
If the dimensions are in centimeters, divide the product by 1,000,000. Note that 1 m³ = 35.315 ft³.
Example
- Carton: 60 × 40 × 40 cm, quantity: 50
- One carton: 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 m³
- Total: 0.096 × 50 = 4.8 m³
Practical tip
Always use the outer dimensions of the packaging, including the pallet if you ship on one. Rounding up rather than down helps you avoid surprises on a freight quote. Ertaş Global Logistics can help prepare a quote for your shipment.
When planning an order, calculate the volume of a single carton first, then the total. Comparing this value with container capacity and the per-m³ rate in quotes helps you decide between LCL and a full container. For cartons of different sizes, calculate each size separately and add them up.
