---
title: "CBM Calculator"
description: "Carton volume in cubic metres for export shipments: per-line and total CBM, gross weight, and a cube-out / weigh-out check against a 40 HC container."
image: "https://nestingcalc.com/og-default.png"
url: "https://nestingcalc.com/cbm-calculator/"
locale: "en"
---

# CBM Calculator

Carton volume in cubic metres for export shipments: per-line and total CBM, gross weight, and a cube-out / weigh-out check against a 40 HC container.

Freight quotes start from CBM, so the carton maths decides your landed cost. Enter box dimensions in centimetres with quantities and optional gross weights; the calculator returns volume per box and per lot, total weight, and the lot density in kg/m³. The density check matters: a 40 HC container balances out around 390 kg/m³, so lighter cargo fills the volume first (cube-out) while denser cargo hits the payload first (weigh-out).

Interactive calculator (open in browser): [https://nestingcalc.com/cbm-calculator/](https://nestingcalc.com/cbm-calculator/)

## FAQ

How is CBM calculated?

CBM = length × width × height in metres. A 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is 0.096 m³; a hundred of them is 9.6 CBM.

How many CBM fit in a container?

Usable volume is roughly 25-28 CBM in a 20 GP, 54-58 in a 40 GP and 62-68 in a 40 HC. Only cargo lighter than the balanced density can actually reach those numbers.

What does cube-out vs weigh-out mean?

Cube-out: the container is full while the weight limit is not reached - typical for furniture and light goods. Weigh-out: the payload limit is reached with space to spare - typical for dense hardwood products.

What density tips a 40 HC from cube-out to weigh-out?

About 390 kg/m³ - payload ~26,500 kg divided by ~68 m³ usable. Above that figure, plan the shipment by weight rather than volume.

## Related calculators

-   [Container Loading Calculator](https://nestingcalc.com/container-loading-calculator/)

    How many cartons fit before cube-out or weigh-out — 20GP, 40GP, 40HC.

-   [Stowage Factor Calculator](https://nestingcalc.com/stowage-factor-calculator/)

    SF = volume ÷ tonnes — check timber parcels against IMO reference ranges.

-   [Green Log Weight Calculator](https://nestingcalc.com/log-weight-calculator/)

    Weight of round timber at any moisture content, by species — Wood Handbook 2021 data.

## Related guides

-   [CBM for Furniture Exports: From Cartons to Container Loads](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/cbm-furniture-export/)

    How to calculate cubic metres for carton lots, why 390 kg/m³ decides cube-out versus weigh-out, and how to plan container counts.

-   [Cube-Out vs Weigh-Out: Which Limit Stops Your Container First?](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/container-loading-cube-out-weigh-out/)

    Balanced density per container — about 1.0 t/m³ in a 20GP, 0.46 in a 40GP, 0.39 in a 40HC — why timber sometimes fills by volume and sometimes by weight, with worked examples.

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