How to calculate CBM for a freight quote

Measure the shipping unit

CBM means cubic metres. Measure the outside of the packed carton, crate, or palletised load at its longest, widest, and highest points. Internal product dimensions understate the space a carrier must reserve.

Convert centimetres to metres before multiplying, or divide the cubic-centimetre result by 1,000,000. For mixed shipments, calculate each package type separately and add the volumes.

• 60 × 40 × 35 cm = 0.084 m³ per carton.
• 24 identical cartons = 2.016 m³ total.
• Round only after adding line totals.

Add what the carrier must handle

If cartons ship on pallets, quote the palletised outside dimensions rather than the carton sum when the pallet creates empty space, overhang, or extra height. Irregular loads should be measured as the smallest rectangular envelope that contains the load unless the carrier provides another method.

Volume is not the same as chargeable volume. Air freight compares volumetric and gross weight; LCL ocean freight commonly compares cubic metres with metric tonnes; road carriers may use load metres or pallet spaces. Give the forwarder both volume and gross weight.

Make the quote reproducible

Keep a packing line for every handling-unit type: description, dimensions, unit, quantity, volume per unit, total volume, weight per unit, and total gross weight. This small table prevents most unit and quantity errors and makes later invoice checks possible.