CBM (Cubic Metre)
CBM stands for cubic metre — the volume your cargo occupies, and the base unit used to price ocean LCL freight.
Definition
CBM is the standard unit of cargo volume in international shipping. One CBM is the space occupied by a cube measuring one metre on each side.
It is the figure ocean freight consolidators use to price less-than-container-load shipments, and it determines how much space your goods take up in a container or an aircraft hold.
Formula
CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) × Number of cartons
Example
20 cartons each measuring 60 × 40 × 50 cm give 0.12 m³ per carton, so 2.4 CBM in total.
When you will come across it
- Quoting an LCL ocean shipment, where the rate is quoted per CBM
- Working out whether your cargo will fill a container before you book it
- Comparing freight quotes that are priced by volume rather than by weight
Frequently asked questions
Is CBM the same as cubic metre?
Yes. CBM is simply the abbreviation for cubic metre used in shipping and freight documentation.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft container?
The nominal internal volume is around 33 CBM, but practical loading usually achieves 25 to 28 CBM once you allow for irregular cartons, stacking gaps and dunnage.
Do carriers bill on CBM or on weight?
Whichever produces the greater figure. Ocean LCL typically treats 1 CBM as 1,000 kg, so a light bulky shipment is billed on its volume and a dense one on its weight.