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CBM & Container Load Calculator

Cubic meters, cartons per container, and cost per unit landed.

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Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.

Try a scenario

Click to load — tweak from there.

Inputs

Result

Cartons per container

672

Units per container

16,128

CBM per carton

0.0960

Usable container volume (CBM)

64.6

Freight cost per unit

$0.236

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How to use this

  1. 1Enter carton length (cm).
  2. 2Enter carton width (cm).
  3. 3Enter carton height (cm).
  4. 4Enter units per carton.
  5. 5Enter container.
  6. 6Enter loading efficiency (%).
  7. 7Enter all-in freight cost ($).
  8. 8Read your cartons per container on the right — it updates as you type.
  9. 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.

About this calculator

Ocean freight prices by cubic meter for LCL and by box for FCL. Convert carton dimensions to CBM, see how many fit in a 20 ft or 40 ft container, and get the freight cost per unit.

FormulaCBM = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 1,000,000; cartons = usable container volume ÷ CBM per carton.

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with:

Inputs

  • Carton length: 60 cm
  • Carton width: 40 cm
  • Carton height: 40 cm
  • Units per carton: 24
  • Container: 40 ft high cube (76 CBM)
  • Loading efficiency: 85 %
  • All-in freight cost: 3800 $

Results

  • Cartons per container: 672
  • Units per container: 16,128
  • CBM per carton: 0.096
  • Usable container volume (CBM): 64.6
  • Freight cost per unit: $0.236

What each field means

Inputs

Carton length (cm)
The carton length used in the calculation, measured in cm. Starts at 60 cm so you have a working example on load.
Carton width (cm)
The carton width used in the calculation, measured in cm. Starts at 40 cm so you have a working example on load.
Carton height (cm)
The carton height used in the calculation, measured in cm. Starts at 40 cm so you have a working example on load.
Units per carton
The units per carton used in the calculation. Starts at 24 so you have a working example on load.
Container
Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: 20 ft standard (33 CBM), 40 ft standard (67 CBM), 40 ft high cube (76 CBM).
Loading efficiency (%)
The loading efficiency used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 85 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 40–100 %.
All-in freight cost ($)
The all-in freight cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 3800 $ so you have a working example on load.

Results

Cartons per container
Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Units per container
Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
CBM per carton
Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Usable container volume (CBM)
Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Freight cost per unit
Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.

FAQ

Why apply a loading efficiency factor?

Cartons rarely tile perfectly and pallets waste space. Palletized loads typically achieve 75 to 85 percent of nominal volume; floor-loaded cartons can reach 90.

When is LCL cheaper than FCL?

Usually below roughly 15 CBM. Past that, a full 20 ft container often costs less than the per-CBM LCL rate plus destination handling charges.

Accuracy and limitations

  • Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
  • Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
  • Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.

Cite this calculator

Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.

APA
RevenueLab. (2026). Container Load (CBM) Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/container-load-cbm
HTML
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/container-load-cbm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Container Load (CBM) Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Markdown
Source: [Container Load (CBM) Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/container-load-cbm) (2026).
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