Use this when
Questions this estimate can answer
- A forwarder quotes ocean freight by weight or measure (W/M).
- Your shipment contains multiple carton, crate or pallet lines.
- You want to audit a quote before comparing the headline ocean rate.
Ocean freight calculator
LCL Chargeable Volume Calculator — W/M & CBM
No W/M knowledge or freight quote required: enter each carton, crate or pallet line and get the chargeable CBM/tonne basis. Add ocean and local prices only when you have them.
Example values included
Ten cartons at 100 × 80 × 80 cm and 42 kg eachCompare LCL chargeable CBM with metric tonnes, apply W/M minimums and expose fixed local charges in one estimate.
W/M units = max(total CBM, gross metric tonnes); total = W/M units × rate + fixed feesTell us what you know · cargo
Updates liveExample values are filled inReplace them with your shipment details
Enter the outside size, number and packed weight of each cargo type. We convert the shipment to CBM and tonnes, compare them and calculate W/M automatically. Quote prices are optional.
Planning rule in use: the larger of total CBM or metric tonnes, with a 1 W/M minimum. Open the quote section only if you have prices from a forwarder.
Add quote pricing or change the minimumOptional
LCL W/M audit flow
Rebuild the quote before comparing the total
Maersk LCL terminology and public tariff guidance reviewed August 6, 2026
- 01Cargo lines
Calculate total cubic metres and gross kilograms
- 02Metric tonnes
Gross kilograms ÷ 1,000
- 03W/M
Use the greater of CBM and metric tonnes
- 04Minimum
Apply the quoted minimum chargeable unit
- 05Variable fees
Multiply chargeable W/M by every per-unit line
- 06All-in estimate
Add origin, destination, documentation, and fixed fees
Not for
Checks you still need to make
- Choosing a tariff, currency or local charge that is absent from the quote.
- Assuming every forwarder uses the same minimum, rounding or density rule.
- Treating an estimate as a booking confirmation or customs declaration.
Related questions
LCL W/M CalculatorHow is LCL chargeable volume calculated? ↗
Calculate CBM and gross metric tonnes for multiple cargo lines, then compare them under the quoted weight-or-measure rule.
Build an LCL Quote CheckHow do I compare LCL and pallet shipping cost? ↗Build a comparable shipment scope before choosing between loose LCL cargo, palletised freight, or a parcel service.
Several shipments to calculate?
Use the $19 operations workbook for batch work.
Compare quotes and keep landed cost, pallet plans, DIM checks, and margin calculations in one editable Excel file.
Method & limits
How this estimate works
The result uses the formula below. Check the measurements, unit setting, and applicable carrier or supplier rule before using it.
W/M units = max(total CBM, gross metric tonnes); total = W/M units × rate + fixed fees
Tariffs can use minimums, density rules, local charges, and currencies that differ from this simple W/M model. Follow the forwarder's quote.
Related LCL weight or measure guide ↗This calculator is a planning aid, not a carrier quotation, engineering assessment, or professional advice. Verify critical figures against current supplier and carrier documentation.
Worked example
Ten cartons at 100 × 80 × 80 cm and 42 kg each
- Volume: 1.00 × 0.80 × 0.80 × 10 = 6.4 CBM.
- Gross weight: 42 × 10 = 420 kg, or 0.42 metric tonnes.
- Compare 6.4 measure units with 0.42 weight units, then apply the quote minimum automatically.
ResultVolume controls at 6.4 W/M units in this common model; fixed origin, destination and document fees remain separate.
Avoid these errors
Common mistakes that change the answer
- Adding carton cube and palletised cube for the same cargo.
- Comparing kilograms directly with CBM instead of converting to metric tonnes under the quoted rule.
- Applying one minimum to the whole invoice when different fee lines have different minimums.
- Ranking quotes by ocean rate while omitting destination and document charges.
A calculator can expose the arithmetic; the applicable carrier rate card, handling standard, or freight quotation still controls the real transaction.
Examples and guides
6 minUnderstand LCL weight or measure before comparing quotes ↗
Calculate the basic W/M unit and identify the local charges that often dominate a small ocean shipment.
8 minHow to calculate LCL W/M for multiple cartons, crates, and pallets ↗Build cargo lines, total CBM and gross weight once, and apply weight or measure without double-counting quantity.
8 minLCL minimum charges and local fees: build an all-in estimate ↗Separate W/M charges from shipment-level fees so a small LCL quote does not look cheaper than its invoice.
8 minCBM vs weight ton vs W/M for LCL: do not compare the wrong units ↗Separate physical volume, gross tonnes, chargeable W/M, and quoted rates so an LCL estimate survives invoice review.