CBM
CBM (Cubic Meter) is the standard measure of a shipment's volume: length × width × height, in metres. It is the foundation of freight pricing for anything that does not fill a whole container — LCL ocean and air cargo — where you pay for the space your goods occupy as much as for their weight.
Carriers bill on the greater of volume or weight, the "revenue ton" or W/M (weight-or-measure) basis. For ocean LCL, 1 CBM is commonly treated as equivalent to 1,000 kg; for air, volume is converted to a volumetric weight (see Chargeable Weight).
For any shipment that does not fill a container, CBM is what you actually pay for. Underestimate it and your freight quote is wrong; measure it accurately and you can compare LCL against FCL and choose the cheaper mode with confidence.
A pallet measuring 1.2 m × 1.0 m × 1.5 m = 1.8 CBM. Ten identical pallets = 18 CBM — enough that a full container (FCL) is likely cheaper than paying LCL on 18 CBM.
How is CBM calculated?
Multiply length × width × height in metres for each piece, then add them up. For example a 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 m pallet is 1.8 CBM.
What is the difference between CBM and chargeable weight?
CBM measures pure volume. Chargeable weight converts that volume into a billable weight and compares it to the actual weight — you are charged on whichever is greater.