How To Calculate Cubic Metres (CBM) When Shipping

Determining Cubic Metres or CBM is the first stepcargo and not larger weight cargo. In my article on
you should take in determining how to ship yourcargo weights and road weight limitations, I discuss
cargo. You don't want to be shipping FCL cargo asthis point further.
FCL Groupage cargo nor do you want to be shippingAlso to bear in mind is the length of your cargo, you
FCL Groupage Cargo as FCL, unless obviously youcan't pack 13 metre steel pipes in a 40ft General
have reached or exceeded the break-even point ofPurpose container as it is only 12,036metres in lenght.
your cargo which I teach in the section FCL vs FCLThe proper equipment will be required in this case.
Groupage.For airfreight shipments, the method that the airline
The CBM of a consignment is always calculatedindustry uses is the
L x W x He.g. 3,20 x 2,45 x 1,56Volume / Weight.
= 12,23CBMIf you have 5 boxes that identical in size that are
For Seafreight shipments, the idea is to calculate CBM23cmx34cmx56cm (LxBxH)
in metres. If you have 320cm'sthen convert it toPresume that the actual weight of each of the 5
3,2metres before starting the calculation.boxes is 10kgs.
If you have 45cm's then your formula will haveWhat you will have to do first is separate the
0,45metres.Volumetric from the Actual Weight.
A 20ft General Purpose or dry container will pack aVolumetric Weight Actual Weight
maximum of 33,2CBM whilst a 40ft General Purpose(23x34x56) div 6000 10kgs per box
or dry container will pack 67,7CBM.= 43792 div 6000
A 40ft High Cube which will allow you more space to= 7,30kgs per box
pack and will pack a maximum of 76,3CBM.For 5 boxes : 7,30 x 5 For 5 boxes : 10 x 5
All of the above are subject to your line of=36,5kgs =50kgs
commodity and how it is packed.The true weight needed to be declared to the airline
40ft General Purpose containers and High Cubehere will be the actual weightof the boxes of 50kgs.
containers are only to be used for larger volume