CBM container calculator
The CBM container calculator shows how much space your goods take and what will actually be charged. Enter cartons and you get total volume, gross and chargeable weight, fill of 20' and 40' containers and an outline price to Serbia for sea, rail, air and courier.
Izračunajte pošiljku
Unesite kartone. Alat računa zapreminu, bruto i naplativu težinu za svaki način prevoza i bira najmanji kontejner koji prima i zapreminu i težinu.
How to calculate CBM and chargeable weight
Five steps from carton measure to quote. The tool above does steps two to four for you.
Measure the carton
Outer carton measures in centimetres, after packing, with corner protectors and tape. Inner product size is not the freight measure.
Enter carton count and weight
Carton count and gross weight of one carton in kilograms. If you have several goods types, add a new carton type.
Compare freight modes
For each mode the tool shows chargeable quantity, outline price and timeline. Pick a row to see detail.
Check the container
See which container takes both volume and weight, how full it is and whether weight limits it.
Request an exact quote
The button in the result passes your numbers into the quote form, so you do not type them again.
How CBM is calculated
CBM (cubic metre) is the basic volume measure in freight. For one carton multiply length, width and height in centimetres and divide by 1,000,000. Multiply the result by carton count.
Example: a carton 60 × 40 × 40 cm has 96,000 cm³, which is 0.096 CBM. Fifty such cartons take 4.8 CBM. You get the same number in the calculator at the top of the page.
When goods come from several suppliers, add CBM of each carton type. In the calculator you do that with the button for a new carton type.
Chargeable weight by freight mode
The carrier does not charge kilos only. Each mode has a rule that compares weight and volume and charges the greater. That number is chargeable weight.
- Sea LCL
- greater of CBM and tonnes (W/M), at least 1 CBM
- Sea FCL
- price per container, regardless of fill
- Rail
- FCL per container, smaller quantity as groupage
- Air
- greater of gross and volumetric weight, cm³ divided by 6,000
- Courier
- same as air, but cm³ divided by 5,000
How much goods fit in a 20 and 40 container
A catalogue says a 20' has about 33 CBM and a 40' HC about 76 CBM. Cartons do not stack without gaps, so for planning we count less: about 28 CBM in a 20', 58 CBM in a 40' and 68 CBM in a 40' HC.
Weight is the other limit. For the road leg to Serbia we count up to about 21 t of goods in a 20' and about 26 t in a 40'. Tiles, metal and machines fill a container by weight while half the space is empty. The calculator therefore picks a container by both measures and says which limits it.
- 20' container
- about 28 CBM and up to 21 t of goods for planning
- 40' container
- about 58 CBM and up to 26 t of goods
- 40' HC (taller)
- about 68 CBM and up to 26 t, for light bulky goods
LCL or FCL
Below about 15 CBM, LCL usually makes sense with good packing. Between 15 and 28 CBM compare both prices, because a full 20' often comes out cheaper per cube and goods are handled less. A detailed comparison is in FCL or LCL to Serbia.
When goods come from several factories, cargo consolidation from China joins them into one container. On furniture volume decides margin more than piece price, see furniture from China.
Where the outline price comes from
Ranges in the calculator match the table on shipping from China to Serbia: sea LCL about $80–160 per CBM, a full 20' about $2,500–5,000, 40' about $3,500–7,000, rail about $4,000–7,000 per container, air about $4–10 per kg and courier about $15–35 per kg.
Price moves with season, load port and vessel slot. That is why the range is wide. An exact price is in the quote, with landed cost from China including duty and VAT. These ranges are planning figures, not a rate card.
What the calculator does not see
A shape that does not stack well and leaves air. Wooden crates and pallets that raise outer size. Fragile goods that must not sit under heavy. That is why real CBM and a load plan are confirmed after a packing sample, before the purchase order.
When you need a load plan with sourcing, send a carton list. We return a container layout in the landed-cost quote.
Često postavljana pitanja
Multiply length, width and height of the carton in centimetres and divide by 1,000,000. A carton 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.096 CBM. For the whole shipment multiply that number by carton count.
It is the quantity the carrier charges. For sea LCL it is the greater of CBM and tonnes, for air the greater of gross and volumetric weight (cm³ / 6,000), and for courier the same, but with division by 5,000.
For planning we count about 28 CBM in a 20', 58 CBM in a 40' and 68 CBM in a 40' HC. Catalogues list more, but cartons do not stack without gaps.
Yes. The container is chosen so it takes both volume and weight, and the result says when weight limits it. For planning we count up to about 21 t in a 20' and about 26 t in a 40'.
Light bulky goods take space in the aircraft that heavier goods would pay for. That is why volumetric weight is calculated, cm³ divided by 6,000, and the greater number is charged.
Between about 15 and 28 CBM compare both prices. Above that a full 20' or 40' usually wins on price per cube and goods are handled less.
No. Volume, weight and container are accurate for the measures entered, and price is a planning range. Binding is a quote for a specific slot, which you get via the button in the result.
Yes, through consolidation. In the calculator add each carton type separately. The load plan makes sure heavy does not crush fragile.
Next step
Send the request: category, quantity, and date. You get a reply within 24 hours, with an outline of the total cost to destination where we can price it.