Free shipping tool
Work out the cubic metres of your boxes, pallets or furniture, see how a shared container would bill it and how much of a 20 ft or 40 ft container you would fill.
Multiply the length, width and height of each item in metres to get its volume in cubic metres (CBM). If you measure in centimetres, multiply the three sides and divide by 1,000,000. Then multiply by the number of identical items and add everything up. For example, a 120 x 100 x 150 cm pallet is 1.2 x 1.0 x 1.5 = 1.8 CBM, so two pallets are 3.6 CBM.
Calculator
Add each item, box or pallet. The calculator totals the cubic metres, shows how sea LCL would bill it and how much of a container it fills.
20 ft container (about 28 CBM usable)0%
40 ft container (about 58 CBM usable)0%
40 ft high cube (about 68 CBM usable)0%
The basics
CBM stands for cubic metre, the space taken by a cube one metre on each side. It is the unit used to price shared container shipping (LCL), to plan container loading and to estimate house moves.
Shared container sea freight is billed on weight or measure (W/M). The carrier compares the volume in CBM with the weight in tonnes and charges whichever is higher. One CBM is treated as equal to 1,000 kg, so most household goods and general cargo are billed on volume.
Full containers (FCL) are priced per container, not per CBM. Knowing your total volume tells you whether a 20 ft or 40 ft box fits, and whether a full container would cost less than sharing. For air freight, use the volumetric weight calculator instead.
Two pallets and ten cartons going by sea.
Containers
Internal dimensions are approximate and vary slightly between shipping lines.
| Container | Inside dimensions (L x W x H) | Total volume | Practical load | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft standard | 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m | About 33 CBM | 25 to 28 CBM | One to two bedroom home, a car, 10 standard pallets |
| 40 ft standard | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39 m | About 67 CBM | 55 to 58 CBM | Three to four bedroom home, larger commercial loads |
| 40 ft high cube | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.69 m | About 76 CBM | 65 to 68 CBM | Villa moves, light and bulky cargo |
Practical load allows for gaps between items and packing. Weight limits also apply, so very heavy cargo can fill a container by weight before volume.
House moves
Rough guides to start planning. A free survey of your home gives the real figure.
| Home size | Typical volume | Usual option |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or a few rooms of belongings | 5 to 12 CBM | Shared container (LCL) |
| One bedroom apartment | 15 to 20 CBM | LCL or 20 ft container |
| Two bedroom apartment | 25 to 35 CBM | 20 ft or 40 ft container |
| Three bedroom apartment or townhouse | 40 to 55 CBM | 40 ft container |
| Four to five bedroom villa | 60 CBM and above | 40 ft high cube, sometimes two containers |
Volumes vary a lot with how much furniture you keep. Common items: three-seat sofa about 2 CBM, double bed about 1.5 CBM, large fridge about 1 CBM, washing machine about 0.5 CBM.
Save space
Every cubic metre you save comes straight off an LCL bill.
How to use it
Four steps, then send the result to us for a sea freight price.
Centimetres, metres or inches. The weight follows in kilograms or pounds.
Enter the size, weight and quantity of each box, pallet or piece of furniture.
See total CBM, cubic feet, the LCL billing figure and how full each container would be.
Tap Get a sea freight price and the details go to our team on WhatsApp.
FAQs
Something we have not covered? Ask us on WhatsApp and we will answer in plain language.
Ask a questionCBM means cubic metre. It is the volume of a space 1 metre long, 1 metre wide and 1 metre high, and it is the standard unit for pricing shared container sea freight and planning container loads.
Multiply length x width x height in centimetres and divide by 1,000,000. A 60 x 50 x 40 cm box is 120,000 cubic cm, which is 0.12 CBM.
One CBM equals about 35.3 cubic feet.
Weight or measure. The shared container rate applies to whichever is greater, the volume in CBM or the weight in tonnes, with 1 CBM treated as 1,000 kg.
A 20 ft container holds about 33 CBM in total, but 25 to 28 CBM is a realistic load once you allow for gaps and packing.
It depends on the route and the season, but at roughly 13 to 15 CBM a 20 ft container often costs about the same as LCL. Above that, a full container is usually better value and faster to clear.
Usually 15 to 20 CBM, depending on how much furniture you take. A survey of your home gives a reliable figure.
No. Volume is one input. The price also depends on the route, port charges, customs, insurance and delivery at destination. Send the result to us for a full door-to-door quote.
Send us the CBM and the destination. We will compare shared and full container options and send a clear quote.
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