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CBM calculator: how much space will it take?
CBM is cubic metres: length × width × height in metres. Freight in a shared container is charged per CBM (or per 1,000 kg if heavier), and a 40′ high cube holds about 66 CBM of real cargo.
Each carton is 2.007 m³; 12 of them make 24.08 m³ (850.4 cu ft).
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Carton | 7′ 6″ × 40″ × 34″ |
| One carton | 2.007 m³ · 70.87 cu ft |
| Total weight | 1,020 kg · 2,249 lb |
| Share of a 40′ high cube | 36% |
| Share of a 20′ | 86% |
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How we work it out
CBM = length × width × height, in metres. We read sizes in feet and inches, inches, cm, m or mm (type 7' 6" or 7 6 for feet and inches) and convert to millimetres first, so nothing is rounded twice.
Shared containers charge per "weight or measure" (W/M): the larger of the cubic metres and the weight in tonnes. Container fit uses 28 m³ usable in a 20′ and 66 m³ in a 40′ high cube (about 85% of the inside, because cartons never stack perfectly) and a safe road weight of 18 t and 20 t.
Sources
- Freightos Baltic Index FBX01, China to North America West Coast
- Xeneta weekly ocean container market update (8 Oct 2026)
- Drewry World Container Index (weekly)
- Daily Cargo News: Australian rates (16 Oct 2026)
Rates and rules last checked 15 October 2026.
Questions
How do you calculate CBM?
Multiply length × width × height in metres. A carton of 120 × 80 × 100 cm is 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.0 = 0.96 m³. For inches, divide the product by 61,024.
How many CBM is a 20-foot and a 40-foot container?
Inside, a 20′ is about 33 m³, a 40′ about 67 m³ and a 40′ high cube about 76 m³. Plan on about 85% of that: 28, 58 and 66 m³ of real cargo.
What is W/M?
Weight or measure: shared containers charge on whichever is larger, the volume in m³ or the weight in tonnes. Furniture is almost always charged by volume, stone and tile by weight.