CBM stands for cubic metre. It's the unit of measure for volumetric freight — particularly LCL (Less than Container Load) sea freight and bulky furniture/large-item warehousing. 1 CBM = 1m × 1m × 1m of space.
The longer version.
CBM is the working unit for volume in international freight and large-item logistics. To calculate, multiply L × W × H in metres. A pallet that's 1.2m × 1m × 1.5m has a volume of 1.8 CBM. Sea freight is priced per CBM (or per kg, whichever is greater) for LCL — meaning if your shipment doesn't fill a container, you pay per cubic metre of space used.
Key facts.
Standard 20ft container
33 CBM total capacity
Standard 40ft container
67 CBM total capacity
Standard AU pallet
1.165m × 1.165m × 1.5m = 2.04 CBM at full pallet height
LCL sea freight pricing
AUD $80–$220 per CBM ex-China to AU east coast (varies by route, season, fuel)
Why it matters.
- Sea freight imports priced per CBM — your packing density directly affects landed cost
- Furniture and large-item 3PLs price storage per CBM, not per pallet
- Container utilisation is a key metric for cost-per-unit on imported goods
Common pitfalls.
- Quoting freight on weight when sea freight is volumetric
- Inefficient inner packaging that wastes container space
- Not measuring inbound CBM — making cost-per-landed-unit impossible to calculate
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