CBM & Volumetric Weight Calculator

CBM (Cubic Meter) is the standard unit of volume for international shipping. It is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height of a package in centimetres, then dividing by 1,000,000: CBM = (L cm × W cm × H cm) ÷ 1,000,000 Sea freight (LCL) is typically priced per CBM, while air freight uses volumetric weight.

Volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight or DIM weight) is a pricing technique used by air freight carriers to account for the space a package occupies relative to its actual weight. A large but light package occupies as much space as a heavy one, so carriers charge for whichever is greater — actual weight or volumetric weight. Formula: Vol. Weight (kg) = L × W × H (cm) ÷ divisor

Different carriers set different divisors based on their cargo density assumptions. DHL Express and FedEx typically use ÷5000, which results in a higher volumetric weight (meaning you pay more for bulky items). UPS and TNT often use ÷6000, which is slightly more lenient. Always verify with your carrier — rates may vary by service type, origin, and destination. Amazon FBA uses ÷5000 for air shipments.

Chargeable weight is the weight your carrier uses to calculate your freight cost. It is always the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. If your package weighs 5 kg but has a volumetric weight of 8 kg, the carrier charges for 8 kg. This calculator highlights the chargeable weight in amber so you can immediately see which factor is driving your cost.

Standard containers have the following usable internal volumes (accounting for wall thickness and practical loading space):

20ft GP: ~25–28 m³ (max ~28,000 kg)
40ft GP: ~55–60 m³ (max ~26,500 kg)
40ft HC (High Cube): ~67–76 m³ (max ~26,500 kg)

The container fill bars in this calculator use conservative estimates (25 / 55 / 67 m³) as planning references. Actual loadable volume depends on box shape and stacking efficiency.