Carton, CBM & Container Calculator
Total cubic metres, volumetric weight, chargeable weight and container fit - in one screen. Runs entirely in your browser.
Container fit
| Container | Usable CBM | At 85% loading | Cartons of your size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 28 m³ | 23.8 m³ | — |
| 40GP | 58 m³ | 49.3 m³ | — |
| 40HQ | 68 m³ | 57.8 m³ | — |
Usable figures are typical, not guaranteed: they vary with pallet use, carton shape and how the load is braced. Weight limits (about 28 t for a 20GP, 26-28 t for a 40HQ) can bind before volume does on dense paper products.
How the numbers are calculated
| Figure | Formula |
|---|---|
| CBM per carton | L × W × H (cm) ÷ 1,000,000 |
| Cartons needed | Total units ÷ units per carton, rounded up |
| Total CBM | Cartons × CBM per carton |
| Volumetric weight | L × W × H (cm) ÷ divisor (6000 for air freight, 5000 for many express couriers) |
| Chargeable weight | Greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight |
Why chargeable weight matters: printed paper boxes are light for their volume, so freight is almost always billed on volume, not on the scale. A carton of rigid gift boxes is light for its size, so it can bill at several times its actual weight.
Last updated: 2026-10-28.
Questions this calculator answers
How do you calculate CBM for a carton? Multiply length, width and height in centimetres and divide by 1,000,000. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 0.06 m³.
Which volumetric divisor should I use? 6000 is the common air-freight divisor, 5000 the common express-courier divisor. Ask your forwarder which one applies before you compare quotes.
How many cartons fit a 40HQ? About 68 m³ usable, so 68 ÷ carton CBM gives the theoretical count; apply roughly 85% for real loading.
Is my data sent anywhere? No. The calculation runs in your browser.
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