CBM (Cubic Meter)
The standard unit of volume measurement in international freight; 1 CBM = 1 m³; used to price LCL shipments.
In detail
CBM (Cubic Meter) is the fundamental volumetric unit in ocean and air freight. For LCL ocean freight, the chargeable quantity is the greater of actual volume (CBM) or freight tonnes (1 tonne = 1 CBM for ocean; 1 CBM = 167 kg for ocean's weight-to-volume ratio). For air freight, volumetric weight is calculated differently: length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6,000 = volumetric kg. How to measure a box: multiply length × width × height in metres. Example: a box 60×40×50 cm = 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.5 = 0.12 CBM. Common mistakes: forgetting to add pallet volume (typically adds 10–15%), measuring inner dimensions rather than outer, or miscalculating multiple units. When requesting an LCL quote, always provide: total CBM, total gross weight (kg), and number of packages — this determines the chargeable quantity.
Examples
- →10 boxes × 0.12 CBM = 1.2 CBM total; at 80 kg gross → max(1.2 CBM, 0.08 tonnes) → pay for 1.2 CBM
Related terms
LCL (Less than Container Load)
Consolidated ocean shipping where multiple shippers share one container, each paying per CBM or freight ton of space used.
FCL (Full Container Load)
A shipment occupying an entire ocean container — 20DC, 40DC, or 40HC — booked and sealed by one shipper.
Freight Rate (Ocean Freight)
The cost charged by the shipping line to transport a container between two ports, quoted per TEU (20-foot) or FEU (40-foot), excluding terminal handling and surcharges.