CBM & CFT Freight Shipping Calculator
Calculate total cargo volume in Cubic Meters (CBM) and Cubic Feet (CFT), determine volumetric dimensional weight for air/ocean freight, and calculate FCL container utilization percentages for 20GP, 40GP, and 40HC dry vans.
- • 1 CBM Equivalent: 35.3147 CFT | 1,000,000 cm³
- • Air Freight Dim Factor: 1 CBM = 166.67 kg (1:6000 Ratio)
- • Express Courier Dim Factor: 1 CBM = 200.00 kg (1:5000 Ratio)
- • Usable Container Vol: 20GP (~28 CBM) | 40GP (~56 CBM) | 40HC (~66 CBM)
1. Cargo Package Input Lines
ISO Freight Container Space Utilization Estimates
CBM & Chargeable Weight Engineering Manual
In global freight logistics, ocean LCL (Less than Container Load) and air freight carriers bill on whichever is greater: the Actual Gross Weight or the Dimensional Volumetric Weight.
Container Stacking Loss & Practical Stacking Efficiency Factor
While ISO 668 specifies standard internal dimensions for container construction, actual cargo loading is limited by pallet sizes, carton bulges, and loading gaps. A practical stuffing efficiency factor of 82% to 88% should be applied to max theoretical container CBM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is my actual loaded container CBM less than the official specification?
Official specs measure empty internal volume. Irregular box shapes, pallet footprints, door clearance height, and ceiling clearance buffers reduce actual usable CBM.
Q: What is the difference between air cargo dim factor 6000 and 5000?
Standard airline cargo uses the IATA 1:6000 ratio (1 CBM = 166.67 kg). Express couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) use a stricter 1:5000 ratio (1 CBM = 200 kg), increasing volumetric chargeable weight.