The formula
CBM = length × width × height, with each measurement in metres. Multiply by the number of cartons to get the total.
Example: a carton of 50 × 40 × 30 cm is 0.5 × 0.4 × 0.3 = 0.06 CBM. One hundred of them is 6 CBM.
Weight vs volume
For LCL sea freight, charges are commonly based on whichever is greater: the volume in CBM, or the weight in tonnes (1,000 kg counted as 1 CBM). This is often called W/M (weight or measurement).
Tips
- Measure the outer carton, including packaging
- Round up slightly — cartons rarely stack perfectly
- Pallets add height and volume
