CBM Formulas by Input Unit
* From meters: CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) × Quantity
* From centimeters: CBM = (Length × Width × Height in cm ÷ 1,000,000) × Quantity
* From millimeters: CBM = (Length × Width × Height in mm ÷ 1,000,000,000) × Quantity
* From inches: CBM = (Length × Width × Height in inches ÷ 61,023.7) × Quantity
Worked Example: Multi-Carton Consignment
Suppose you have 80 cartons of goods, each measuring 50 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 30 cm high.
1. Calculate volume of one carton in cm³: 50 × 40 × 30 = 60,000 cm³.
2. Convert one carton to CBM: 60,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.06 CBM.
3. Multiply by total cartons: 0.06 CBM × 80 = 4.80 CBM total.
Measuring Palletized Cargo vs Loose Cartons
If cargo is shipped palletized, forwarders bill on the total external dimensions of the packed pallet (including pallet footprint and deck height), not the individual loose cartons. A pallet measuring 1.2 m × 1.0 m × 1.6 m equals 1.92 CBM regardless of how tightly packed the cartons are inside.