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Cubic Meter (CBM)
Definition
A cubic meter (CBM) is the unit of volume used across ocean freight: a space 1 meter long, 1 meter wide and 1 meter high, about 35.31 cubic feet.
What it means
Because the foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meter, one cubic meter equals about 35.3147 cubic feet.[1] Ocean carriers price less-than-container-load shipments by the space used, "measured in cubic metres (CBM),"[2] and state container capacity the same way: about 33 m³ for a 20-ft, 67 m³ for a 40-ft and 76 m³ for a 40-ft high cube on one carrier's specs.[3]
To get CBM, multiply length x width x height in meters for one carton, then by the number of cartons. The CBM calculator does it from centimeters, inches or feet.
Example
A carton measures 60 x 40 x 40 cm, which is 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.4 = 0.096 m³. Two hundred of them are 19.2 m³, or about 678 cubic feet.
Related
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Related questions
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Related tools
Sources
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, “NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement,” Government standard. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “FCL vs LCL shipping: How to choose the right one,” Carrier publication. Published May 8, 2025. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “Our fleet: equipment specifications, dry containers (PDF),” Carrier equipment specification. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.