Sourcing glossary
CBM
Also known as: Cubic meter, m³, Cubic metre
Cubic meter, the unit of volume used to measure and price freight, calculated as length × width × height of each carton in meters, multiplied by the number of cartons.
A carton measuring 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 CBM, so 100 such cartons take up 9.6 CBM. LCL sea freight is priced per CBM or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater, and CBM also tells you roughly how much of a container you will fill: a 20ft container holds about 33 CBM internally but usually fits around 25–28 CBM of real cartons once stacking gaps are taken into account.
Ask the supplier for exact carton dimensions and quantities before you request freight quotes; guessed volumes are the most common reason a final freight bill is higher than the quote. See LCL vs FCL for how CBM decides which one is cheaper.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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Shipping
LCL vs FCL: When to Book a Full Container from China
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Shipping
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