Freight & Ocean Logistics Utility
CBM & Container Loading Optimizer
Calculate total Cubic Meters (CBM), volumetric chargeable weight for air and sea freight, and optimize carton packing across standard 20' GP, 40' GP, and 40' High Cube shipping containers.
Every figure is calculated in your browser. No cargo dimensions or shipment data are transmitted or stored.
Extra foot of vertical height. Best volume value for light, bulky cargo.
Container Fill & Stowage Visualization
Visual cross-section showing volume capacity vs. current load
Itemized Cargo Packing List (3 items)
Add custom carton dimensions or upload a multi-SKU packing list
| Cargo Description | Length (cm) | Width (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg/ctn) | Quantity | Total CBM | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.80 | |||||||
| 5.40 | |||||||
| 8.64 |
Standard IATA 1:6000 ratio (1 CBM ≈ 166.67 kg). Charged at gross weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
Express courier ratio 1:5000 (1 CBM = 200 kg). Typical for air parcel and sample shipments.
Revenue Ton ratio (1 CBM = 1,000 kg). Billed per CBM or metric ton, whichever produces higher revenue for carrier.
Standard ISO Intermodal Shipping Container Dimensions
| Container Type | Interior (L × W × H) | Door Opening (W × H) | Total / Usable CBM | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard (20' GP) | 5.90m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 33.2 / ~28 CBM | 25,000 kg |
| 40' Standard (40' GP) | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 67.7 / ~58 CBM | 27,600 kg |
| 40' High Cube (40' HQ) | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.70m | 2.34m × 2.59m | 76.4 / ~68 CBM | 28,600 kg |
| 45' High Cube (45' HQ) | 13.56m × 2.35m × 2.70m | 2.34m × 2.59m | 86.0 / ~76 CBM | 29,000 kg |
How to use this tool
Choose the container and units
Pick a 20ft, 40ft or 40ft High Cube container and set your dimension and weight units.
Add each cargo line
Enter length, width, height, unit weight and carton quantity per SKU, or import a packing list as CSV.
Read the volume and utilisation
You get total CBM, cubic feet, gross weight and how much of the container’s usable capacity is filled. Usable is around 85 to 88% of theoretical, because rigid cartons leave gaps.
Check chargeable weight and export
For air freight, compare gross against volumetric weight at the IATA divisor — the carrier bills whichever is higher. Download the loading manifest as PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I never pack 100% of a container's theoretical CBM?
Theoretical container volume (e.g. 33.2 CBM for a 20ft container) assumes liquid filling every cubic millimeter. Real-world rigid rectangular cartons leave unavoidable gaps between boxes, against the corrugated container walls, and below the ceiling (especially around door headers). Typically, experienced freight forwarders calculate packing efficiency at 85% to 88% of total volume.
How does dimensional weight affect air freight costs?
Cargo planes have limited physical space. If you ship light, voluminous goods (such as pillows or foam), the airline loses revenue if it only bills based on actual weight. The IATA standard formula divides cubic centimetres by 6,000, which works out at about 166.67 kg per CBM. If your cargo measures 10 CBM but only weighs 500 kg, the airline will bill you for roughly 1,667 kg of chargeable weight.
When is a 40ft High Cube container better than a 40ft Standard?
A 40ft High Cube provides an extra foot (30 cm) of vertical clearance, adding ~8.7 CBM of usable space for approximately the same ocean freight rate. It is especially advantageous when stacking pallets or cartons whose height would otherwise leave a large gap below the ceiling of a standard container.
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