Three numbers decide what you pay.
CBM per item
A 62 × 62 × 18 cm carton is 0.069 CBM. Multiply by quantity for the line total. Drums and rolls are measured by their bounding box.
Weight or measure
Consolidators charge on whichever is higher, volume or metric tons. Dense cargo pays on weight; light cargo pays on space.
Space and payload
A container must hold both your volume and your weight. Heavy cargo like tiles often fills the payload of a 20' long before it fills the space.
10 cartons at 60 × 40 × 50 cm
Working in metres? Multiply L × W × H and you have CBM directly. In centimetres, divide the result by 1,000,000 (100 × 100 × 100 cm in one cubic metre).
From carton sizes to a loading plan in six steps.
Choose FCL or LCL
FCL shows which containers fit your cargo and how it loads. LCL shows the volume and weight you are likely to be charged on.
Add a product
Pick the package type: box, barrel, roll, sack, big bag, pallet or a custom shape. The preview redraws to match.
Enter dimensions and weight
Use centimetres, millimetres, metres or inches, and kilograms or pounds. Dimension lines on the preview update as you type.
Set quantity and stacking
Enter how many units you are shipping, and switch off stacking for goods that must stay floor-loaded.
Add the rest of the shipment
Add, edit or duplicate lines for every product. Totals update with each change.
Review the result
Check total packages, CBM and gross weight. In FCL, compare containers, adjust the count and open the 3D loading plan with top, side and door views.
Your own container, or a share of one.
Cargo volume is one input when choosing between the two. Route, rates, cargo type, handling needs and service terms matter just as much, so use the numbers here to start the conversation with your forwarder, not to end it.
One shipper, one container
The container is booked for your cargo alone. You pay per container, so the question is whether your volume and weight use enough of it to make sense against LCL.
- Usually priced per container, not per CBM
- Packed and sealed for one consignee
- Payload limits matter as much as space
Shared space, consolidated
Your cargo shares a container with other shipments, consolidated at a freight station. Charges are commonly based on W/M, the higher of CBM or metric tons, though terms vary.
- Often priced per W/M, sometimes with a minimum
- Extra handling at origin and destination
- Transit can be longer than FCL
Switch between FCL and LCL at the top of the calculator to see both results for the same cargo.
Typical internal sizes.
Why 33 CBM of cargo rarely fits in a 33 CBM container.
CBM measures geometric volume. Usable space is always less, because real cargo has to be packed, stacked, secured and kept within the payload. These are the factors that close the gap.
Package dimensions
Small differences per carton add up across hundreds of units, and the way cartons line up against the walls decides how much floor is lost.
Package quantity
A part-filled last row or layer leaves voids, even when the total CBM looks comfortable.
Weight
Dense cargo like tiles, steel or liquids reaches the payload limit long before the space runs out.
Packaging and pallets
Pallets add height and footprint and stop cartons from packing tightly. Include them in your dimensions.
Irregular shapes
Drums, rolls and bags are measured by the box around them. The space between round items can’t be used.
Stacking limits
Fragile or crushable goods may only go one or two layers high, which leaves the top of the container empty.
Container limits
Internal size, door opening and maximum payload differ by container type, line and age.
Loading and securing
Weight distribution, dunnage, lashing and forklift access all take space the formula doesn’t count.
Sized the cargo? Now classify it.
CBM & cargo calculator
Total volume, weight, chargeable W/M and a container recommendation.
Back to calculator ↑HSN code checker
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Check HSN code →Questions we hear from shippers.
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