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CBM Calculator – Measure Cargo Volume Instantly

Need quick and accurate cargo volume? Use the CBM Calculator by Speedaf Logistics Pakistan to get instant results. This easy tool helps you calculate Cubic Meter (CBM), Volumetric Weight, and container fitment within seconds, giving you the exact measurements you need before booking any shipment.If you are shipping by air, sea, or courier, knowing your CBM is the most important step for estimating shipping costs and avoiding unexpected charges.

With clear inputs and fast calculations, this tool is ideal for importers, exporters, e-commerce sellers, warehouse teams, and logistics professionals who want reliable cargo measurements. Speedaf Logistics Pakistan designed this calculator to make freight planning simple, accurate, and stress-free. By understanding your shipment’s true volume, you can choose the right shipping method, manage your budget better, and ensure smooth cargo handling from start to finish.

CMB Calculator

Speedaf Logistics provides a fast and accurate CBM Calculator to help you measure cargo volume with ease. Our tool calculates CBM, volumetric weight, and container capacity to support smooth, cost-effective shipping decisions. Get reliable results instantly and plan your shipments with confidence.

CBM Calculator

CBM Calculator

Calculate cubic meter/cubic feet volume for shipping and cargo.

Smart CBM Calculation and Reliable Logistics Services

At Speedaf Logistics Pakistan, we put shipment planning at your fingertips with our free CBM Calculator. This tool helps you quickly calculate cargo volume, volumetric weight, and container space, so you can plan your shipments accurately, optimize load capacity, and estimate shipping costs before booking. 

We also specialize in DDP Sea Services, Air DDP, and Transport services, making international trade smooth and hassle-free. For businesses requiring end-to-end supply chain support, we also offer customs clearance, warehousing, and last-mile delivery, ensuring your cargo reaches its destination on time and in perfect condition.

Every shipment is handled with precision, backed by advanced tracking systems and regular fleet maintenance, giving you full visibility and peace of mind throughout the process. Partner with Speedaf Logistics Pakistan for a trusted, efficient, and cost-effective logistics experience and use our CBM Calculator to make your shipping planning smarter, faster, and more accurate.

AIR DDP SERVICES
DDP SEA Services
Sourcing Services
Warehouse fullfillment

Why Choose US

  • Accurate Shipment Planning: Our CBM Calculator helps you calculate cargo volume, volumetric weight, and container space for precise shipping estimates.

  • End-to-End Logistics Solutions: From road, sea, and air freight to DDP shipping, customs clearance, and warehousing, we handle every step.

  • Reliable Fleet & Equipment: Our diverse fleet of delivery vans and heavy-duty trucks ensures safe, on-time transportation across Pakistan.

  • Advanced Tracking & Safety: All shipments are monitored with real-time tracking and handled with care, supported by regular vehicle maintenance.

  • Customer-Focused Service: We provide flexible, cost-effective solutions tailored to your business needs, ensuring peace of mind for every shipment.

CBM Basic Calculator

Our CBM Basic Calculator gives you fast and simple results.Enter the length, width, and height, and the tool automatically converts them into cubic meters (CBM). You can switch between cm, inches, and meters with one click. The calculator is ideal for single items, cartons, and small shipments.

What is CBM (Cubic Meter)?

CBM stands for Cubic Meter, which is the measurement of the space your cargo takes up.
Shipping companies use CBM to plan how much cargo they can load and to calculate freight charges.

Formula:
CBM = Length × Width × Height

CBM matters the most for Sea Freight, especially for LCL (Less than Container Load) shipments.
Knowing your CBM helps you understand your shipping cost, the cargo volume, and whether it fits in a 20ft or 40ft container.

Why CBM Is Important for Your Shipment

Calculating CBM is important because:

  • It shows the exact space your cargo needs.

  • It helps decide if your shipment is LCL or FCL.

  • It lets you compare shipping prices for air vs. sea.

  • It helps freight forwarders plan containers and pallets.

When you know your CBM, you can estimate your freight cost before booking your shipment.

How to Calculate CBM

Calculating CBM is very easy:

Formula:
Length × Width × Height = CBM

Make sure all measurements are in meters before calculating.
Example:
0.80m × 0.50m × 0.40m = 0.16 CBM

Here’s how you can calculate CBM for different types of items. These easy steps work for boxes, pallets, cylinders, and even odd-shaped products.

1. For a Standard Box (Carton)

  1. Measure the length, width, and height of your box.

  2. Make sure all numbers are in the same unit, such as centimeters (cm).

  3. If your measurements are in cm, convert them to meters by dividing by 100.

  4. Use the formula:
    Length × Width × Height = CBM

Example:
A box is 80 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm.
Convert to meters: 0.8 × 0.5 × 0.4
CBM = 0.16 m³

2. For Items on a Pallet

  1. Measure the total length, width, and height, including the pallet itself.

  2. Use the same formula:
    Length × Width × Height = CBM

3. For Cylinders or Tubes

  1. Measure the height and radius (half of the diameter).

  2. Use this formula:
    π × radius² × height
    The calculator’s Cylinder mode does this for you automatically.

4. For Irregular-Shaped Items

  1. Imagine your item inside a tight, invisible rectangular box.

  2. Measure the longest, widest, and tallest points.

  3. Use the normal CBM formula with these values:
    Length × Width × Height

Our CBM Calculator handles all formulas and conversions, so you get fast and accurate results without doing any math yourself.

What Is Volumetric Weight  

Volumetric weight also known as dimensional weight or DIM weight is a pricing method carriers use when a shipment takes up a lot of space but doesn’t weigh much. In simple terms, it creates a theoretical or “pretend” weight based on a package’s size rather than its actual weight.

Why It Matters in Shipping

Volumetric weight helps shipping companies charge fairly for bulky items that occupy valuable cargo space. Every carrier measures both your actual weight and volumetric weight, then bills you using the higher number. That final figure is called the chargeable weight.

How Volumetric Weight Is Calculated

Shipping methods use their own DIM factors to convert package size into volumetric weight:

Sea Freight (LCL)

Sea freight uses a simple rule:
1 CBM = 1,000 kg
So even if your cargo weighs only 200 kg, if it is 1 CBM in volume, it will be billed as 1,000 kg.

Air Freight

Air freight charges based on whichever is higher actual or volumetric weight.
DIM Factor: 6000
Formula:
(Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 6000 = Volumetric Weight (kg)

Courier Services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)

Couriers are even more sensitive to bulky packages.
DIM Factor: 5000
Formula:
(Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 5000 = Volumetric Weight (kg)

Example That Makes It Easy to Understand

You ship a carton of pillows:
100 cm × 50 cm × 50 cm
Actual weight: 10 kg

Calculate volumetric weight for air freight:

100 × 50 × 50 = 250,000
250,000 ÷ 6000 = 41.67 kg

Even though your package weighs only 10 kg, the volumetric weight is 41.67 kg, so the airline charges you for 41.67 kg.
This is how bulky but lightweight items create higher shipping costs.

CBM vs. Volumetric Weight vs. Chargeable Weight

When comparing CBM, volumetric weight, and chargeable weight, it’s important to understand that each measurement serves a different purpose in freight pricing.

  1. CBM (cubic meters) measures the physical space your cargo occupies, making it especially important for sea freight and container planning.
  2. Volumetric weight, on the other hand, is a calculated weight based on the dimensions of a package, used mainly in air and courier shipments to account for bulky but lightweight items.
  3. Chargeable weight is the final number carriers use to determine your shipping cost, and it is based on whichever value, actual weight or volumetric weight is higher.

Together, these measurements help freight companies allocate cargo space fairly and ensure shippers are billed accurately for the room or weight their goods require.

Container Capacity and  Usable CBM

When booking a full shipping container, the total CBM listed on paper is not the amount you can fully use. Containers have a maximum volume, but the real usable space is always lower. This happens because cartons, pallets, and irregular products never fit together perfectly.

Below is a quick overview of the most common container sizes and the space you can usually work with:

Container Size Guide

Container TypeInside Dimensions (Approx.)Maximum VolumeUsable CBM in Real Situations
20 ft Standard5.9m × 2.35m × 2.39mAbout 33 m³25–28 m³
40 ft Standard12.03m × 2.35m × 2.39mAbout 67 m³54–58 m³
40 ft High Cube12.03m × 2.35m × 2.69mAbout 76 m³60–68 m³

Why You Can’t Use 100% of the Space

  • Small Gaps: Cartons never fit together perfectly, so small empty spaces remain.

  • Pallet Size: Pallets take up floor area and reduce vertical height.

  • Stacking Limits: Not all cartons can be stacked to the top without damaging the goods.

  • Uneven Shapes: Odd-sized or round items create wasted space around them.

A practical rule is to expect that you’ll use around 80% of a container’s maximum CBM. Freight forwarders and shipping planners use this estimate to avoid overloading or misjudging capacity.

Our container utilization feature visually shows how much of the container you are filling based on your CBM input, making planning easier and more accurate

How Many Boxes Can Fit in a 20ft or 40ft Container?

Many shippers ask this question, and the answer depends on your box size and how efficiently the cargo is loaded. Using a CBM calculator makes it easy to get a reliable estimate.

Example:

  • Box dimensions: 50 cm × 40 cm × 30 cm

  • CBM of one box: 0.06 m³

  • Usable space in a 20ft container: ~28 m³

Calculation:
28 ÷ 0.06 ≈ 466 boxes

This gives a solid starting point for planning. For a more precise layout, a 3D cargo planner can show exactly how the boxes will fit inside the container.

Improve Your Shipping Planning with Speedaf Logistics

Using our CBM Calculator, you can:

  • Calculate cargo volume in seconds
  • Check air and sea chargeable weight
  • Estimate container loading
  • Plan your shipment size and cost
  • Avoid hidden charges

For accurate shipping rates, contact us anytime.

FAQs

How much is 1 CBM in shipping?

1 CBM equals a cube measuring 1 meter × 1 meter × 1 meter. In shipping, it represents the space your cargo occupies, and carriers often convert CBM to a weight equivalent to determine shipping costs.

By showing the exact volume and chargeable weight, it lets you choose the right container, avoid overpaying, and optimize packing for cost-effective shipping.

Yes. The tool works for shipments within Pakistan and for imports or exports, giving accurate volume and space estimates for all routes.

To calculate CBM (Cubic Meter), multiply the length × width × height of your cargo in meters:
CBM = Length × Width × Height (in meters).
For multiple items, multiply the CBM of one item by the quantity.

It estimates how many boxes or pallets can fit in 20ft or 40ft containers, helping you plan your shipments efficiently and maximize container space.

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