CBM and container load calculator
Add your carton sizes to get total CBM and weight, then see how the shipment fills a 20 ft, 40 ft or high-cube container.
Your cartons
Shipment volume
—
Practical loads assume cartons stacked by hand with normal gaps. Weight limits vary by carrier, route and road rules, so confirm with your forwarder.
How CBM is calculated
CBM per carton = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 1,000,000. Multiply by the number of cartons and add every carton size together.
Container capacities used
- 20 ft standard: about 33 CBM inside, 28 CBM practical
- 40 ft standard: about 67 CBM inside, 58 CBM practical
- 40 ft high cube: about 76 CBM inside, 68 CBM practical
Read the full CBM and container guide.
Questions
How many cartons fit in a 20 ft container?
Divide about 28 CBM by the CBM of one carton. For a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton (0.096 CBM), that is roughly 290 cartons, depending on how well they stack.
When is LCL better than FCL?
Usually below about 15 CBM. Above that, a full container is often cheaper per CBM and safer for the cargo.
Related guides
CBM, container sizes and how much fits
How to calculate CBM, real container dimensions and capacities for 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high cube, when to choose LCL or FCL, and tips for loading cartons.
Read the guideHow to calculate landed cost, with a worked example
Landed cost is the true cost of an imported product. Learn the formula, see a worked India import example with customs duty, surcharge and IGST, and avoid hidden costs.
Read the guideMore free tools
Want us to run the numbers for you?
Send your product and destination. We’ll quote with real freight, duty and delivery costs.