CBM and CFT Explained: How to Measure and Calculate Carton Volumes

Ocean & Air Cargo Volume Metrics Volume is a crucial pricing mechanism in global shipping. Understanding how to calculate volume prevents unexpected courier bills.

CBM (Cubic Meters) vs. CFT (Cubic Feet) * **CBM**: Used internationally for sea cargo (LCL - Less than Container Load) and air shipments. 1 CBM equals 35.315 Cubic Feet. * **CFT**: Used domestically in North America for parcel delivery, trucking, and warehousing.

What is Volumetric (Dimensional) Weight? Couriers (like UPS, FedEx, DHL) charge based on space occupied rather than actual weight for light cargo. * **Air Freight Factor**: Length (cm) * Width (cm) * Height (cm) / 5000 = Dim Weight (kg). * **Express Couriers**: Length (in) * Width (in) * Height (in) / 139 = Dim Weight (lbs).