Tradloc
Trade Intelligence
MarketsTrade ToolsRoutesPortsCommoditiesGuides
Home/Market Intelligence Coverage/CBM Calculator
Packaging & Loading

CBM Calculator

Enter carton length, width, height and quantity to calculate total shipment volume in cubic metres, plus a recommended container size.

Export cartons being measured with a tape measure in a warehouse
Export cartons measured with a tape — carton dimensions converted into cubic metres.
CBM Calculator
Cubic metre volume and container recommendation.
Live Result
Volume / carton0.96 CBM
Total volume48 CBM

Recommended: 40ft container (up to 58 CBM)

Guide preview

How the CBM Calculator works

  • CBM = length × width × height in metres, multiplied by carton quantity.
  • Always measure external carton dimensions, not the product inside.
  • LCL shipments are charged on the greater of volume or weight.
  • Once you know total CBM, the container size follows directly.

Example: 500 cartons at 40 × 30 × 25 cm: that is 15 CBM, which fits comfortably in a 20ft container.

Read the full CBM Calculator guide — steps, worked examples and FAQs

Related tools & guides

Pallet Calculator

Boxes per pallet, layers per pallet and pallets per 20ft / 40ft container.

Container Loading Calculator

Maximum cartons per 20ft, 40ft and 40HC container with utilisation %.

Freight Cost Estimator

Market-average ocean freight per container and per MT for your lane.

Shipping Time Estimator

Port-to-port transit plus transshipment, customs and handling days.

Accurate volume for freight quotations

Container recommendation instantly

Avoid paying for wasted space

GCC container loading calculator diagram showing pallet arrangement and stacking inside a 40ft shipping container with length, width and height dimensions
Standard pallet arrangement inside a 40ft container — the loading pattern Tradloc's calculators model.

Related intelligence

Continue your trade research with related intelligence solutions.

Packaging & Loading
Container Loading Calculator

Maximum cartons per container and utilization percentage.

Packaging & Loading
Pallet Calculator

Boxes per pallet and pallets per container.

Shipping
Freight Cost Estimator

Ocean freight only — port-to-port rate per container and per MT.

Explore more on Tradloc

Import destinations

Popular shipping routes

Major ports & entry gateways

Need help from a trade expert?
Tradloc's GCC trade desk can source supplier references, freight offers and clearance support within one business day.