Glossary
What is CBM and volumetric weight?
CBM (cubic meter) = length × width × height of a box, in meters. Volumetric weight = CBM × a divisor set by the carrier (commonly 167 for air, 1000 for ocean) — gives a 'weight' for billing purposes when cargo is light but takes up space.
Formulas
CBM = (length cm × width cm × height cm) ÷ 1,000,000
Volumetric weight (kg):
- Air freight: CBM × 167 (or length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000)
- Ocean LCL: 1 CBM ≈ 1000 kg (carrier bills max of weight or volume)
- Express courier (DHL/UPS/FedEx): CBM × 200 (or ÷ 5000)
Chargeable weight = max(actual weight, volumetric weight)
Worked example
Box: 60cm × 40cm × 30cm, 8 kg actual weight
- CBM = 60 × 40 × 30 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.072 CBM
- Air volumetric weight = 0.072 × 167 = 12 kg
- Chargeable weight (air) = max(8, 12) = 12 kg
- Air freight at $4/kg → $48 (not $32)
Why it matters
Many small importers shipping by air get caught when their lightweight product (textiles, foam, packaging) is billed by volumetric weight 1.5-3× higher than actual. Always pre-calculate before booking.
Ocean LCL twist
Ocean carriers bill whichever is higher: weight in tonnes (1000kg) or volume in CBM. So a 0.5 CBM, 800 kg shipment is billed as 0.8 W/M (weight-measure) — the heavier wins.
Calculator
The /calculator/b2b-margin-calculator/ has built-in CBM and chargeable-weight conversion. Enter box dimensions and weight; it shows the chargeable kg the carrier will bill.
Carriers' actual divisors
| Carrier | Air divisor | Ocean basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard IATA | 6000 (cm³/kg) | — |
| DHL Express | 5000 | — |
| UPS | 5000 | — |
| FedEx | 5000 | — |
| Most ocean LCL | — | 1000 kg/CBM |
| Express ocean | — | 1500 kg/CBM (some lanes) |
Run the numbers on your own shipment
Enter your supplier price, carton size, freight rate and duty to see the landed cost per unit — and what the same order costs quoted FOB, CIF or DDP.
Preset starting value. Replace it with the rate from your destination's HS-code lookup (US: HTS, EU: TARIC, UK: HMRC).
Enter supplier cost and freight in USD. Results are converted to your display currency at the static reference rate shown below.
Rate used: 1 USD = 1 USD (reference table, 2026-09-01). Static snapshot — confirm the live rate with your bank before committing to a purchase order.
Suggested retail (per unit)
Same shipment, three Incoterms. The total you end up paying barely moves; what changes is how much sits on the supplier’s invoice and how much lands on you later as freight, duty and tax.
| Incoterm | Supplier invoices you | You still pay | Total landed | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOBGoods on board at origin port. You arrange and pay freight, insurance, duty, tax and clearance. | $390.00 | $185.37 | $575.37 | $115.07 |
| CIFGoods, freight and insurance to destination port. Duty, tax and clearance are still yours. | $425.37 | $150.00 | $575.37 | $115.07 |
| DDPDelivered to your door, duty and tax paid by the supplier. Nothing left to pay on arrival. | $575.37 | $0.00 | $575.37 | $115.07 |
Import VAT / GST is usually reclaimable if you are registered — it is a cash-flow cost, not a margin cost.
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