Free tool · Ocean freight
CBM and container fit calculator
Enter your carton size, weight, and count to see your total CBM, your LCL billing volume, and about how many cartons fit in a 20ft, 40ft, or 40ft high cube container. Nothing you type is saved.
| Container | Cartons that fit | Your load |
|---|
Turn freight into a cost per unit.
TrueLanded splits each shipment's freight across your products by volume, and estimates LCL freight from a per-W/M rate when you don't have a quote yet.
How it works
How CBM and container fit are calculated
1. Find each carton's CBM
CBM is cubic meters. Multiply the carton's length, width, and height in meters. In inches, multiply them and divide by 61,024.
2. Multiply by the count
Carton CBM times the number of cartons gives the shipment's total volume, the number forwarders quote LCL freight on.
3. Check the container
The calculator stacks identical cartons in neat rows to estimate how many fit, then checks the weight limit too. Real loads vary with pallets, mixed cartons, and how the warehouse loads.
Standard container sizes
| Container | Inside dimensions (L × W × H) | Capacity | Practical load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m (19'4" × 7'8" × 7'10") | About 33 CBM | About 25 to 28 CBM |
| 40ft standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m (39'5" × 7'8" × 7'10") | About 67 CBM | About 55 to 58 CBM |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m (39'5" × 7'8" × 8'10") | About 76 CBM | About 65 to 68 CBM |
Inside dimensions vary slightly by container owner. The calculator uses 25,000 kg (about 55,000 lb) of cargo as a working weight limit; US road weight limits often allow less, especially in a 40ft container, so confirm the maximum with your forwarder.
What is CBM?
CBM stands for cubic meter, the standard unit for measuring shipment volume in ocean freight. One CBM is a box 1 meter long, wide, and high, about 35.3 cubic feet.
What is W/M in LCL freight?
LCL (less than container load) freight is usually charged per "weight or measure" (W/M): the greater of your total CBM or your total weight in metric tons. A 4 CBM shipment weighing 2.5 tons is billed as 4 W/M; one weighing 5.2 tons is billed as 5.2 W/M. Most forwarders also charge a minimum, often 1 W/M.
When is a full container cheaper than LCL?
It depends on your rates, but many importers find a 20ft container starts to make sense somewhere around 13 to 18 CBM. Compare your forwarder's LCL rate per W/M with their FCL quote, and remember that FCL also avoids some per-shipment LCL handling charges.
Should I palletize my shipment?
Pallets take space: the wood itself, gaps at the container walls, and a height limit, so a container usually holds fewer cartons palletized than floor-loaded. In return, unloading takes minutes instead of hours, cartons are better protected, and many warehouses and Amazon require pallets for large deliveries. Choose Palletized above to compare the two. Pallet counts here are estimates; a skilled loader can sometimes fit one or two more.
Is my data saved?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.