CBM stands for cubic meter — a metric volume unit that equals one cubic meter (1 × 1 × 1 m). It is the global standard for international shipping volume.

How do I convert cubic feet to CBM?

Multiply cubic feet by 0.0283168. Example: 100 ft³ × 0.0283168 ≈ 2.832 CBM.

How many CBM are in a 20 ft shipping container?

A 20 ft container holds approximately 33 CBM (about 1,170 ft³) of cargo capacity.

Why does freight pricing use CBM instead of cubic feet?

Most countries outside the US use the metric system, and the global shipping industry standardized on CBM for cross-border consistency. US-domestic freight still often quotes in cubic feet.

Cubic Feet to CBM Calculator — ft³ ÷ 35.3147 for Ocean Freight & Pallets

How to convert cubic feet to cbm

CBM (cubic meter) is the global shipping standard for cargo volume — and it's identical to a cubic meter. Convert cubic feet to CBM by multiplying by 0.0283168, the same factor as ft³ to m³.

CBM = ft³ × 0.0283168

Worked examples

Example 1: A 20 ft shipping container

1,170 ft³ × 0.0283168 ≈ 33.13 CBM.

Example 2: A 40 ft shipping container

2,390 ft³ × 0.0283168 ≈ 67.66 CBM.

Example 3: A 100 ft³ pallet load

100 × 0.0283168 ≈ 2.83 CBM.

Cubic feet → CBM	Conversion factor	Worked example
35.31 ft³	× 0.0283168	1.000 CBM
100 ft³	× 0.0283168	2.832 CBM
500 ft³	× 0.0283168	14.16 CBM
1,170 ft³ (20 ft container)	× 0.0283168	33.13 CBM
2,390 ft³ (40 ft container)	× 0.0283168	67.66 CBM

Common uses

Booking ocean freight (LCL / FCL rate calculations)
Air cargo dimensional weight calculations
Filling out commercial invoices and bills of lading
Customs paperwork that requires volume in CBM
Container load planning and stuffing diagrams

Where this conversion comes up

CBM (cubic meters) is the universal unit for international freight pricing, customs declarations, and ocean container volume. Most non-US shipping forms list CBM only.

International shipping quotes — required on customs and freight invoices.
Overseas moves — international moving companies price by CBM.
Comparing freight and storage rates between US and overseas providers.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing CBM with CFT. CBM (cubic meters) and CFT (cubic feet) are different units. International freight uses CBM; US carriers may use either.
Forgetting to round CBM up. Most carriers round up to the next 0.001 CBM (or 1 dm³). Check your bill of lading carefully.
Using LCL chargeable weight rules incorrectly. Less-than-container freight is billed per CBM or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. CBM is only one half of the calculation.

Expert tips

Divide cubic feet by 35.3147 to get CBM. 1 CBM = 35.3147 ft³. For mental math, ft³ ÷ 35 gets you very close.
For LCL ocean freight, CBM is the chargeable unit. Carriers charge per CBM (or per 1,000 kg dimensional weight, whichever is greater). Calculate both before booking.
A 20-foot ocean container holds about 33 CBM. A 40-foot container holds about 67 CBM, and a 40-foot high-cube about 76 CBM. Use these to sanity-check your shipment size. See the shipping calculator.
Round CBM up for booking purposes. A 25.4 ft³ shipment = 0.7193 CBM. Round up to 0.72 or even 0.75 CBM for booking — the carrier will round up anyway.

Frequently asked questions

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