CBM Calculator & Container Load Estimator

Enter carton dimensions in centimetres to get volume in cubic metres and a geometric estimate of cartons per container.

How the calculator works

Volume of one carton is CBM = L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000 when dimensions are in centimetres. Multiply by the carton count to get the shipment volume, which is what freight forwarders quote for LCL (less-than-container) cargo.

For the container estimate, the tool tests every orientation of the carton against the container's internal length, width and height, and for each one computes floor(CL ÷ a) × floor(CW ÷ b) × floor(CH ÷ c). It keeps the orientation that fits the most cartons. If you tick "keep upright", only the two orientations with the carton's height vertical are tested. It also checks payload: if weight runs out before space does, the weight limit wins.

Worked example

A carton of 60 × 40 × 35 cm has a volume of 60 × 40 × 35 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.084 m³. Two hundred cartons are 16.8 m³, so the shipment would be quoted as 16.8 CBM if sent LCL. In a 20GP (589.8 × 235.2 × 239.3 cm internal), standing upright the best fit is 9 × 5 × 6 = 270 cartons, so everything fits in one container with room left over.

Limitations

This is a simple block-stacking model: it does not mix orientations within one load, does not account for pallets, door clearance or the space lost to loading by hand, and internal dimensions vary slightly by container manufacturer. Treat the result as an upper bound and confirm with your forwarder before booking.

FAQ

How many CBM fit in a 20ft container?

The inner volume of a standard 20ft container is about 33 m³, but in practice cartons usually fill roughly 25–28 m³ because of carton sizes, gaps and loading method. This calculator gives a geometric maximum; your forwarder's load plan is the final word.

Is CBM the same as cubic metres?

Yes. CBM stands for cubic metre, the volume of a 1 m × 1 m × 1 m cube.