Introduction
This free CBM calculator helps you find the volume of a box, carton, or package in cubic meters (m³). Just type in the length, width, and height, and the tool calculates the result right away. You can also enter the number of units to get the total volume for your whole shipment.
In Basic Mode, you get the volume per unit and the total volume in both cubic meters and cubic feet. Switch to Advanced Mode to see even more, like volumetric weight for air freight, sea freight, and courier shipping. It also shows how many units can fit inside a 20 ft, 40 ft, or 40 ft high cube container, and gives you a cost estimate based on your price per m³.
The calculator accepts six different length units (millimeters, centimeters, meters, inches, feet, and yards), so you never have to convert numbers by hand. If you pick feet, you can add extra inches too. A step-by-step solution breaks down every part of the math so you can check the work or learn how the formula works.
This m³ calculator gives you fast and clear answers when you are planning a shipment, estimating freight costs, or figuring out how much space something takes up.
How to Use Our CBM Calculator
Enter your package dimensions and shipment details below. The calculator will give you the total volume in cubic meters (m³), volumetric weight, container fit estimates, and shipping cost.
Basic or Advanced Mode: Click "Basic Mode" for volume results only. Click "Advanced Mode" to also see weight, container, and cost outputs.
Input Method: Pick "Length × Width × Height" if you know all three sides of your box. Pick "Area × Height" if you already know the base area and just need to multiply by height.
Length: Type the length of one package. Choose your unit (mm, cm, m, in, ft, or yd) from the dropdown. If you pick feet, an extra box appears where you can add inches.
Width: Type the width of one package and pick the unit. This works the same way as the length field.
Height: Type the height of one package and pick the unit. This works the same way as the length field.
Area (Area × Height mode only): Type the base area of your package. Choose the area unit (sq mm, sq cm, sq m, sq in, sq ft, or sq yd) from the dropdown.
Number of Units / Cartons: Enter how many identical packages are in your shipment. The calculator multiplies all totals by this number.
Weight per Unit (optional): Type the actual weight of one package. Pick kg, lb, or g. Leave this blank if you do not need weight-based results.
Price per m³ (optional): Type your freight rate or material cost per cubic meter. The calculator uses this to estimate your total shipping cost. Leave it blank if you do not need a cost estimate.
Click "Calculate" to see your results. Click "Reset" to clear all fields and start over.
What Is a Cubic Meter (CBM)?
A cubic meter (m³) is a unit that measures volume, or how much space something takes up. Picture a box that is 1 meter long, 1 meter wide, and 1 meter tall. The space inside that box is exactly one cubic meter. You may also see it written as CBM, which stands for cubic meter.
How to Calculate Cubic Meters
To find the volume of a box or carton in cubic meters, multiply its length × width × height. If your measurements are in centimeters, divide the result by 1,000,000. If they are in feet, multiply the result by 0.0283168. This calculator handles all of those conversions for you automatically.
Why CBM Matters in Shipping
Shipping companies use CBM to figure out how much space your goods take up inside a truck, container, or airplane. They charge based on either the actual weight or the volumetric weight of your shipment, whichever one is greater. This means a large but light package can cost more to ship than a small but heavy one.
Volumetric Weight
Volumetric weight is a way to turn the size of a package into a weight number. Different shipping methods use different formulas:
- Air freight (IATA): Multiply length × width × height in centimeters, then divide by 6,000.
- Courier and express: Multiply length × width × height in centimeters, then divide by 5,000.
- Sea freight: Multiply the total cubic meters by 1,000.
Shipping Container Sizes
Standard shipping containers come in three common sizes. Each has a set internal volume:
- 20 ft container: roughly 33 cubic meters inside.
- 40 ft container: roughly 67 cubic meters inside.
- 40 ft high cube container: roughly 76 cubic meters inside.
Knowing your total CBM helps you pick the right container size and avoid paying for space you do not need.
When You Need a CBM Calculation
You will need to calculate cubic meters any time you ship freight, store goods in a warehouse, order building materials like concrete or mulch, or estimate how much space items will fill. This calculator gives you the volume, volumetric weight, container fit, and estimated cost all in one place so you can plan ahead with confidence.