Shipping calculator
CBM and chargeable weight calculator.
Enter the packed size and weight of each piece. You get the total volume in CBM, the weight an airline charges, and how a shared sea container counts your cargo.
Measure each piece after packing, pallet included. Weight is optional if you only need the volume.
How the figures work.
Three numbers decide how cargo is charged. All three start from the packed size of each piece.
Volume (CBM)
Multiply length, width and height in metres, then by the number of pieces. For several box sizes, work out each size and add them.
A 120 × 100 × 100 cm pallet is 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.0 = 1.200 CBM.Air chargeable weight
Airlines charge the greater of the actual weight and the volume weight. Volume weight is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000, the IATA standard factor.
That pallet at 150 kg is charged as 200 kg.Sea LCL (W/M)
In a shared container, most tariffs count 1 CBM as equal to 1,000 kg and charge on whichever figure is greater: weight or measure, W/M.
1.200 CBM at 150 kg is charged as 1.200 W/M. 0.500 CBM at 900 kg is charged as 0.900 W/M.Full containers
A full container is priced per container, not per CBM. The internal sizes below show how much space there is, not how much of your cargo will fit.
Long or heavy pieces can need a container before the volume says so.Container internal sizes.
Standard dry containers. Individual containers vary slightly by series.
| Container | Inside length × width × height | Internal volume | Maximum payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.40 m | 33.2 CBM | 28,130 kg |
| 40ft standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.40 m | 67.7 CBM | 28,750 kg |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 76.3 CBM | 28,600 kg |
Sources: container sizes from Hapag-Lloyd container specifications (checked October 2026). Air volume factor: IATA standard of 6,000 cm³ per kg.
Air or sea?
Not sure? Send us the figures and ask for both.
Air usually suits
Urgent, light or high-value cargo, samples and spare parts. Because airlines charge by volume weight, light but bulky cargo costs more than its weight suggests.
Sea usually suits
Heavy or bulky cargo, and anything that can wait for a sailing. Below a full container, LCL shares the space; near a full container, compare LCL with FCL.
Measure for an accurate quote.
- Measure after packingThe outer size of the carton, crate or pallet, not the product.
- Take the widest pointInclude handles, overhangs and the pallet itself.
- Round upTo the next whole centimetre. Carriers measure too.
- Say if it cannot stackNon-stackable or this-way-up cargo takes more space than its volume.
Questions about CBM and chargeable weight.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply the length, width and height of one piece in metres, then multiply by the number of pieces. If you measure in centimetres, divide the result by 1,000,000. For several box sizes, work out each size and add them.
What is chargeable weight in air freight?
The greater of the actual gross weight and the volume weight. Volume weight is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000, the IATA standard. Some courier services use 5,000.
How is LCL sea freight charged?
Per W/M: most tariffs treat 1 CBM as equal to 1,000 kg and charge on whichever is greater. The rate itself depends on the route and the date.
How much fits in a 20ft container?
A 20ft standard container has about 33 CBM of internal space and a 40ft high cube about 76 CBM. Real loads fit less, because of gaps between packages, pallets and weight limits.
Does this calculator give a price?
No. It gives the figures a price is based on. Rates depend on the route, the date and the cargo, so send the figures with your request for a quote.
Request a quote.
Tell us what you are shipping and from where. Your calculator figures can go straight into the message.
Prefer to talk? Message our team on WhatsApp or call +20 122 000 1573.