Modes and equipment
CBM (cubic metre)
A cubic metre, the unit used to measure cargo volume and to price LCL sea freight.
In four languages
One CBM is a space of 1 m x 1 m x 1 m. To work out the volume of a shipment, multiply the length, width and height of one carton in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. Forwarders use CBM to choose between LCL and a full container, to plan loading, and to calculate LCL charges. Measure the packed cartons, not the product, and include pallets if the goods are palletised. Example: 120 cartons of office chairs, each 0.60 x 0.40 x 0.50 m, are 0.12 CBM per carton, so the shipment is 14.4 CBM. That is a typical LCL shipment, while about 25 to 28 CBM would fill a 20GP and about 65 to 68 CBM a 40HQ.
Questions
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply carton length x width x height in metres, then multiply by the number of cartons. For example, 50 cartons of 0.5 x 0.4 x 0.3 m equal 3 CBM.
Is CBM measured on the product or the carton?
On the outer packed carton or pallet, because that is the space the cargo actually takes in the container.