3.420 CBM
$0.17average freight per unit
2400 Total units
- Gross weight
- 560 kg
- Air volumetric weight
- 570 kg
- Air chargeable weight
- 570 kg
Shipment freight$410.40
Carton volume (CBM) and freight per unit
Turn a mixed shipment's volume, weight and freight into a cost per unit.
- How many cubic meters do all the cartons take?
- Which container size, and what air chargeable weight?
- Which product costs the most to ship per unit?
This shipment is 3.420 CBM and 560 kg, less than half of a 20GP's usable space, so compare LCL (shared container) quotes first; ocean freight averages $0.17/unit, highest for Hoodies at $0.45.
Use 2400 units and $410.40 freight to calculate landed costVolume and allocated freight by product
| Product name | CBM | kg | Total units | Allocated freight (USD) | Per unit (USD) | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | 1.920 | 360.00 | 2000 | 230.40 | 0.12 | This product's landed cost |
| Hoodies | 1.500 | 200.00 | 400 | 180.00 | 0.45 | This product's landed cost |
| Total | 3.420 | 560.00 | 2400 | 410.40 | 0.17 |
Carton and container reference
| Container to view | Nominal CBM | Planned usable CBM | Example payload (kg) | Theoretical minimum containers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 33.2 | 28.22 | 28130 | 1 |
| 40GP | 67.7 | 57.55 | 28750 | 1 |
| 40HQ | 76.3 | 64.86 | 28600 | 1 |
Common container types, using Hapag-Lloyd example equipment, not a universal carrier specification. Planned usable volume = nominal capacity × your utilization setting. Payload excludes the empty container's weight.
| Product name | cm | Gross weight/carton (kg) | Units/carton |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | 60 × 40 × 40 | 18 | 100 |
| Hoodies | 60 × 50 × 50 | 20 | 40 |
These carton sizes, quantities, weights and $120/CBM are StoreCalc worked-example inputs, not industry standards or live freight rates. Measure outside dimensions and include packaging in gross weight.
Sources checked: 2026-10-22
Worked example
These carton sizes, quantities, weights and $120/CBM are StoreCalc worked-example inputs, not industry standards or live freight rates. Measure outside dimensions and include packaging in gross weight.
This shipment is 3.420 CBM and 560 kg, less than half of a 20GP's usable space, so compare LCL (shared container) quotes first; ocean freight averages $0.17/unit, highest for Hoodies at $0.45.
| Product name | CBM | kg | Total units | Allocated freight (USD) | Per unit (USD) | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | 1.920 | 360.00 | 2000 | 230.40 | 0.12 | This product's landed cost |
| Hoodies | 1.500 | 200.00 | 400 | 180.00 | 0.45 | This product's landed cost |
| Total | 3.420 | 560.00 | 2400 | 410.40 | 0.17 |
How it works
- Row CBM = length × width × height (cm) × cartons ÷ 1,000,000. 1 in = 2.54 cm; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
- Row gross weight = gross weight/carton × cartons; units = units/carton × cartons.
- DIM kg = CBM × 1,000,000 ÷ divisor. The default 6000 is common for air freight; use 5000 or your quoted divisor as needed. Shipment billing takes the higher of total gross and total DIM; per-carton billing sums each carton's higher weight. Carrier rounding is not applied.
- Freight = CBM × rate, pricing weight × rate, or a flat quote. Ocean kg pricing uses gross weight; air uses chargeable weight. CBM pricing does not automatically apply W/M (weight or measure, whichever is greater).
- Product allocation = shipment freight × product volume (or gross weight) ÷ shipment total for that basis. Freight/unit = product allocation ÷ product units. Calculations use unrounded values; displayed cents may have rounding differences.
- Theoretical minimum containers = round up max(total CBM ÷ planned usable CBM, gross kg ÷ example payload). This does not solve carton placement or guarantee loading.
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Questions
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply outside length, width and height in centimeters by carton count, then divide by 1,000,000. Calculate each carton size separately and add the results.
How are ocean and air shipments billed?
This page supports ocean CBM or gross-kg quotes, air chargeable-kg quotes and flat prices. Actual LCL quotes may use W/M, minimums and surcharges. FCL is usually priced per container; enter that as a flat quote.
What changes between divisors 6000 and 5000?
For the same volume, divisor 5000 gives 20% more DIM weight than 6000. DHL Global Forwarding illustrates 6000 for air freight; the DHL Express China 2026 guide uses 5000 per piece. Confirm the billing scope separately from the divisor.
Why allocate bulky goods by volume?
When the quote is volume-driven, bulky goods use space even if they weigh little. Volume allocation assigns that cost to the space used. Choose gross weight when weight drives your quote. This is a cost allocation choice, not a carrier rule.
Does one container mean it will fit?
No. Only volume and weight are compared. Long cartons, small doors, stacking limits, pallet gaps and road limits can invalidate the estimate. The default 85% is an adjustable example assumption.
What if carton data or unit counts are incomplete?
Blank, negative, or fractional carton/unit counts prompt you to complete inputs and pause freight and container estimates. A rate of 0 means free freight; 0 cartons excludes a row.