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Work out the cubic metres, gross weight and revenue tonnes of your sea freight consignment, and see how it fits into a container. LCL sea freight is charged on whichever is greater — your total volume in cubic metres or your gross weight in tonnes. This calculator gives you both.
CBM calculator
Know your cube — now get the rate
Send us your cubic metres, gross weight, pickup address and destination and we will quote LCL, FCL or air freight side by side so you can see which one actually costs less for your cargo.
Request a sea freight quote Call 1300 710 683How to calculate CBM
CBM stands for cubic metre. It is the standard measure of volume in international sea freight and it decides how much space your cargo occupies in a container or a consolidation.
The formula is:
| Measurement | Formula |
|---|---|
| CBM per package (from cm) | Length × Width × Height ÷ 1,000,000 |
| CBM per package (from m) | Length × Width × Height |
| Total CBM | CBM per package × number of packages |
Example: a pallet measuring 120 cm × 100 cm × 145 cm is 120 × 100 × 145 = 1,740,000 cm³, divided by 1,000,000 = 1.740 CBM. Four of those pallets is 6.960 CBM.
Always measure the outside of the packed unit
Measure the shipment as it will actually be presented to the carrier — including the pallet, the overhang, the crate timber and anything strapped on top. Cargo is measured at the depot when it is received, and if your declared cube is short you will be re-measured and re-rated. The most common costly mistake is quoting the product carton dimensions rather than the palletised dimensions.
Weight or measure: how LCL sea freight is charged
LCL sea freight is priced per revenue tonne, sometimes shown as W/M — weight or measure. The carrier compares your total volume in cubic metres against your total gross weight in tonnes and charges on whichever is greater. The convention for sea freight is that one cubic metre is treated as 1,000 kg.
| Shipment | Volume | Gross weight | Charged on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushions and bedding | 8.4 CBM | 1,100 kg | 8.4 revenue tonnes — volume, because the cargo is light and bulky |
| Machine parts | 2.1 CBM | 3,400 kg | 3.4 revenue tonnes — weight, because the cargo is dense |
| Mixed retail stock | 5.0 CBM | 5,000 kg | 5.0 revenue tonnes — either, because the cargo is exactly 1 tonne per cube |
This is why two shipments of the same size can be quoted very differently. It is also why understating either the cube or the weight rarely saves money — it just moves the cost to an amended invoice later.
How much fits in a container?
These are practical loading capacities, not the theoretical internal volume. Real capacity depends on pallet dimensions, stacking, weight limits and how well the cargo cubes out.
| Container | Internal volume (approx.) | Practical load | Typical AU pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft general purpose | ~33 m³ | ~25–28 m³ | 9–10 standard pallets, single stacked |
| 40ft general purpose | ~67 m³ | ~55–58 m³ | 20–21 standard pallets, single stacked |
| 40ft high cube | ~76 m³ | ~62–66 m³ | 20–21 pallets, extra stacking height |
When to stop shipping LCL and take a container
As a general rule, once a consignment gets to roughly 13–15 CBM it is worth pricing a 20ft FCL alongside the LCL rate. LCL is charged per cube and also carries per-shipment destination charges, so the cost curve rises steadily, while a container is a fixed price for the box. Dense cargo, high-value cargo and cargo you do not want handled at a consolidation depot often justify FCL earlier than that.
Read our full comparison: LCL vs FCL shipping to Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is CBM the same as volumetric weight?
No. CBM is a measure of space. Volumetric weight converts that space into a notional weight so it can be compared against the actual weight. For sea freight the conversion is 1 CBM = 1,000 kg. For air freight the conversion is different — see our chargeable weight calculator.
Do I include the pallet in the measurement?
Yes. Measure and weigh the packed, ready-to-ship unit including the pallet, packaging, dunnage and any overhang. That is what the depot will measure.
My cartons are different sizes. How do I work out the total?
Calculate the CBM for each package type separately and add them together. Use the “Add another package type” button above to build up a total across several sizes.
What is a revenue tonne?
A revenue tonne is the greater of one cubic metre or one metric tonne of your cargo. LCL freight rates are quoted per revenue tonne, so a 10 CBM shipment weighing 4 tonnes is charged on 10 revenue tonnes.
Is there a minimum charge on LCL?
Yes. Most LCL services apply a minimum of around one revenue tonne, so very small consignments are charged as if they were 1 CBM. For genuinely small or urgent cargo, air freight is often worth comparing.
Container capacities and loading guides are indicative only and vary by carrier, equipment and cargo type. Confirm chargeable volume and weight with MTF Logistics before booking.