CBM means cubic metre. Ocean LCL is billed per CBM, and if the CBM is wrong, the whole quote is wrong. This article teaches you to measure accurate CBM in three minutes.
What CBM is
CBM = Cubic Meter, also written as "CBM" in the industry.
Ocean LCL is billed per CBM, while FCL is billed per container.
It measures how much space volume is taken up, not weight.
1 CBM = 1 CBM, the standard unit for LCL quotations.
The CBM directly determines the level of LCL freight, and is also the basis for judging whether to ship LCL or FCL.
Formula: convert to metres first, then multiply the three sides
CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m)
Total CBM = CBM per carton × number of cartons
| Variable | Meaning | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Length / Width / Height | The three sides of the outer carton, in metres | Multiplying directly in centimetres, giving a result off by a factor of 1,000,000 |
| Number of cartons | The total number of cartons of the same size | Forgetting to count the volume of pallets and stretch wrap |
| Total CBM | The billable CBM for the whole shipment | Forgetting to calculate different carton sizes separately and then add them up |
Let's work through it step by step
Example: one shipment with an outer carton of 60×40×30cm, 200 cartons in total.
Step one, convert to metres: 0.6m × 0.4m × 0.3m.
Step two, calculate per carton: 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.3 = 0.072 CBM.
Step three, multiply by the number of cartons: 0.072 × 200 = 14.4 CBM.
The billable CBM for this shipment is 14.4 CBM.
What container can 14.4 CBM fit into
| Container type | Internal volume (approx.) | Can this shipment fit |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 33 CBM | Yes, with room to spare |
| 40GP | 67 CBM | Yes, with plenty of room |
| 40HQ | 76 CBM | Yes, with even more room |
Note: the internal volume is a theoretical value. In actual loading you need to leave gaps for stacking, so you usually cannot load to the full figure.
Weight must be calculated too
LCL commonly uses a "per CBM or per tonne, whichever is greater" pricing method.
Industry conversion convention: 1 CBM to 1000kg.
In the example above, the total Actual Weight is 18 × 200 = 3600kg, converting to 3.6 tonnes.
3.6 is less than 14.4, so this shipment is billed at 14.4 CBM.
For heavy cargo such as stone and hardware, it may instead be billed per tonne.
How to convert to cubic feet
1 CBM ≈ 35.31 cubic feet (cuft).
US domestic truck delivery is sometimes quoted per cubic foot or per pallet position.
14.4 CBM ≈ 508.6 cuft, and this figure is used when quoting to the trucking company.
It doesn't matter if you can't remember the conversion; just switch units in the tool. The key is not to mix the two units when filling in.
CBM after palletising must be recalculated
Stretch wrap and palletising make the overall dimensions larger, and the CBM increases accordingly.
The pallet itself takes up volume; one standard pallet is about 0.1–0.2 CBM.
Measure the three sides along the outer edge of the pallet, not along the carton.
How to combine different carton sizes when calculating CBM
A shipment often has several carton sizes, which must be calculated separately and then added up.
Example: carton A 60×40×30cm, 100 cartons in total, 0.072 × 100 = 7.2 CBM.
Carton B 50×40×40cm, 60 cartons in total, 0.5 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.08 CBM, 0.08 × 60 = 4.8 CBM.
Total 7.2 + 4.8 = 12 CBM, which is the billable CBM for the whole shipment.
The more carton sizes there are, the more you should list them and calculate item by item, rather than estimating a rough figure.
Two common misconceptions
Misconception one: mixing units. A figure calculated in centimetres must be divided by 1000000 to get CBM.
Misconception two: assuming the spare capacity can be filled. Loading has stacking losses, so setting the container type by the theoretical value easily crushes the cargo.
