CBM Calculator, Multiple Boxes
Add several carton sizes and quantities to total the CBM and cubic feet of a mixed shipment in one step.
How the multiple-box CBM calculator works
A real consignment is rarely one carton size. This calculator totals a mixed shipment: you enter each distinct carton type with its dimensions and quantity, it computes the CBM of every line, and it sums them. The per-line formula is the same cubic-meter math as the single-box CBM calculator:
Line CBM = L (m) × W (m) × H (m) × quantity Total CBM = sum of every line CBM
Each side is converted to meters first, so you can mix the unit you type in but the output is always m³ (and cubic feet at 1 CBM = 35.3147 ft³).
Worked example (two carton types)
| Carton | Dimensions | Qty | CBM each | Line CBM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 100 × 80 × 60 cm | 4 | 0.48 | 1.92 |
| B | 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 10 | 0.096 | 0.96 |
Carton A: 1.0 × 0.8 × 0.6 = 0.48 CBM, × 4 = 1.92 CBM. Carton B: 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096 CBM, × 10 = 0.96 CBM. Add the lines: 1.92 + 0.96 = 2.88 CBM total, which is 2.88 × 35.3147 = 101.71 ft³.
The single-carton default on this page is 100 × 80 × 60 cm (0.48 CBM), carton A above, so you can see how the first line matches the basic calculator before you add more rows.
Why total CBM matters for a mixed load
The combined CBM is the figure freight planning works from. Sea LCL, road groupage and air consolidations are all measured by the cube the shipment occupies. A few notes when totalling:
- Keep units consistent per line, not across the shipment. Each row converts independently, so a carton typed in inches and one typed in cm both end up in m³ correctly.
- The total is carton cube only. It excludes pallet bases, stacking gaps and irregular shapes, so allow headroom when you compare it to a container's interior with the container load calculator.
- Round at the end, not per line. Rounding each line to two decimals before summing can drift; the calculator sums full-precision values first.
To convert a single line by hand, the box volume calculator gives m³, ft³ and litres, and what is CBM covers the underlying formula in more depth.