What does CBM mean?

CBM stands for "cubic meter." Before you proceed with shipping, it is important to know the CBM of your shipment as it can determine the price. The CBM corresponds to a certain weight, which is also known as volumetric weight. The volumetric weight is compared to the actual weight of the shipment. The higher weight, whether actual or volumetric, is used to calculate the charge. For air freight, you pay based on the higher weight, whereas for sea freight, you always pay for the CBM or volumetric weight.

You can calculate the cubic meter (CBM) using the following formula:

Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) / 1,000,000 = CBM

To determine the volumetric weight of your shipment, you can apply the following formulas:

Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) /

🛩 6,000

🚢 1,000

For example: My box measures 118 x 78 x 78 cm (pallet box), and I am shipping via air freight.

Volumetric weight: 118 cm x 78 cm x 78 cm / 6,000 = 119.65 kg

Cubic meter: 118 cm x 78 cm x 78 cm / 1,000,000 = 0.72 CBM

0.72 CBM = 119.65 kg

Updated on: 03/06/2025