CBM & Shipping Calculator
Calculate carton CBM, volumetric weight, chargeable weight and estimated freight cost.
Enter carton dimensions, weight and quantity to calculate CBM, chargeable weight and freight cost.
- Total CBM and volume
- Volumetric vs actual weight
- Sea & air freight estimate
- Container utilisation (20ft/40ft/40HQ)
- Cheapest shipping option
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate CBM?
CBM = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1,000,000. For a single carton of 60cm × 40cm × 30cm: 60 × 40 × 30 = 72,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.072 CBM. Multiply by number of cartons for total shipment CBM.
What is the volumetric weight divisor for sea vs air?
Sea freight uses a divisor of 5,000: Volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 5,000. Air freight uses 6,000. Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight vs volumetric weight.
How much does LCL sea freight cost from China to India?
Typical LCL rates are ₹60–90 per kg of chargeable weight (approximately $0.70–$1.10/kg) for China to India. Rates vary by port of origin, destination, season and freight forwarder.
When should I use air freight instead of sea?
Air freight makes sense for very small shipments under 100–200 kg where speed matters, for time-sensitive goods, or when sea freight minimum charges make LCL uneconomical. For large shipments, sea is almost always cheaper.
How to Use the CBM & Shipping Calculator
The CBM Calculator helps importers understand their freight cost before getting a forwarder quote. Enter your carton dimensions, weight, and quantity — the calculator shows total CBM, volumetric weight, chargeable weight, and estimated sea and air freight costs side by side.
The most common mistake new importers make is budgeting by weight only. Light, bulky goods are billed on volumetric weight — which can be 2–3× higher than actual weight. This calculator makes that visible upfront. Use alongside the Import Duty Calculator for total landed cost.