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Ocean Freight CBM Calculator — Container Fill & Chargeable Weight

Calculate cubic metres (CBM), container fill percentage and chargeable weight for ocean freight shipments. Essential for FCL and LCL cargo planning.

Quick answer: CBM = Length(m) × Width(m) × Height(m). Chargeable weight = MAX(actual weight, CBM × 1,000kg). A 20ft container holds ~25 CBM; a 40ft holds ~67 CBM.

🚢 Ocean Freight CBM Calculator

Total CBM
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Container Fill %
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Chargeable Weight
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How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter carton/pallet dimensions — in centimetres — length, width and height.
  2. Enter quantity — number of identical pieces to multiply the CBM.
  3. Enter actual weight — total weight in kg to determine whether actual or volumetric weight is chargeable.
  4. Select container type — to see what percentage of container space your cargo occupies.

Worked Example

50 cartons, each 80×60×50 cm, weighing 18 kg each. Shipping in a 40HC container.

  1. CBM per carton: 0.80 × 0.60 × 0.50 = 0.24 CBM
  2. Total CBM: 0.24 × 50 = 12.0 CBM
  3. Container fill: 12.0 ÷ 76 = 15.8%
  4. Actual weight: 18 × 50 = 900 kg
  5. Vol weight: 12.0 × 1,000 = 12,000 kg
  6. Chargeable: MAX(900, 12,000) = 12,000 kg (vol weight applies)

This LCL cargo is light and bulky — volumetric weight dominates. At 15.8% container fill, it would move as LCL (groupage) unless combined with other cargo.

Frequently Asked Questions

CBM (Cubic Metre) is the standard volume measurement in international ocean and air freight. It's calculated as length × width × height in metres. LCL (groupage) shipments are typically priced per CBM or per tonne, whichever is greater (W/M — weight or measure).

FCL (Full Container Load) is when you book an entire container for your exclusive use. LCL (Less than Container Load) or groupage is when your cargo shares a container with other shippers. FCL offers lower per-CBM rates, better security and faster transit. LCL is cost-effective for smaller shipments under ~15 CBM.

A 20ft container holds 25 CBM / ~28,000 kg payload. A 40HC holds 76 CBM / ~26,500 kg payload. If your cargo exceeds 15 CBM but is under 25 CBM, a 20ft may be cheaper than LCL. If you need more than 25 CBM, a 40ft is more economical than two 20ft containers.