Select Your Language
Use CBM3.net in your preferred language to calculate CBM, plan 3D container loading,
create PDF loading reports, and manage international cargo more easily.
🇬🇧
English
CBM Calculator & 3D Container Loading
🇹🇷
Türkçe
CBM Hesaplama ve Konteyner Yükleme
🇪🇸
Español
Calculadora CBM y carga de contenedores
🇦🇪
العربية
حساب المتر المكعب وتحميل الحاويات
🇩🇪
Deutsch
Kubikmeterberechnung und Containerbeladung
🇫🇷
Français
Calcul CBM et chargement des conteneurs
🇮🇹
Italiano
Calcolo CBM e carico dei container
🇷🇺
Русский
Расчет объема и загрузка контейнеров
🇧🇷
Português
Cálculo de CBM e carregamento de contentores
🇮🇳
हिन्दी
घन मीटर गणना और कंटेनर लोडिंग
and 3D container loading planner for international shipments.
CBM3.net is available in multiple languages to help logistics companies, exporters, importers, freight forwarders, and warehouse teams calculate cargo volume and plan container loading more easily.
You can use CBM3 to calculate cubic meters, convert cargo dimensions, estimate shipment volume, and create 3D container loading plans in the language that is most convenient for you.
Our goal is to make container loading and CBM calculation simple, visual, and accessible for international trade professionals around the world.
With CBM3, you can:
* Calculate CBM for cartons, pallets, boxes, and mixed cargo
* Use metric or imperial units depending on your market
* Simulate container loading in 3D
* Create step-by-step loading plans
* Export professional PDF loading reports
* Share loading plans with your team or customers
* Work with common container types such as 20ft, 40ft, 40HC, and 45HC
Whether you are preparing an export shipment, planning a consolidated cargo load, checking container capacity, or comparing different container options, CBM3 helps you work faster and avoid loading mistakes.
Please select your preferred language above to start using the CBM calculator and 3D container loading planner.
Use CBM to estimate volume, then test the load that can actually be placed
The CBM formula is length × width × height × quantity. It describes volume, but a load plan also has to respect orientation, stacking, pallet footprint, clearances and payload.
CBM calculation is only the first step
Shipment volume matters, but real planning also depends on orientation, stackability, pallet choice, internal dimensions and total weight.
Container fit is not the same as total cubic volume
A 40HC or reefer decision can fail even when headline volume looks safe, because the real loading footprint of each item still matters.
Pallet and floor-load decisions change the answer
The same cargo can produce different capacity, handling and labor outcomes depending on whether it is loaded on pallets or directly on the floor.
Operations need instructions, not just numbers
The Loading Note field turns a calculation into a handoff document that warehouse teams can actually use inside the PDF.
Plan the shipment from cargo rows to a shareable loading result
Choose a load space, check the placement, create an operational PDF and keep the plan available for the next person who needs it.
Best Fit container recommendation
Start with Best Fit - Automatic to receive a sea-container recommendation. Choose a reefer, trailer, ULD or pallet profile manually when needed.
- Automatic sea-container recommendation
- Manual override stays available
- Reefers, trailers, ULDs and pallet profiles are selected manually
- Compare whether the shipment fits a 40HC container
Interactive 3D loading review
Use the 3D container loading calculator free for an initial fit check, then inspect how cargo is placed, rotated and sequenced before sharing the plan with the customer or warehouse.
- Full 3D rotation support
- Review the loading sequence step by step
- Review the actual space used by each item
- Clearer loading validation before export
Pallet-first planning with fallback logic
The planner keeps pallet loading as a candidate and only shifts rows to floor-load when pallet fit is no longer possible.
- Pallet-first evaluation
- Floor-load fallback only when required
- Stack-height aware decisions
- Improved real pallet placement quality
PDF outputs that are usable in operations
Generate PDFs that combine cargo data, container context, summary results and row-level Loading Note instructions.
- Loading Note included in PDFs
- Customer and warehouse friendly output
- Shareable summary in one file
- Useful for multilingual workflows
Saved calculations with business context
Reopen work faster with dashboard preview, status, customer, project and tag support.
- Preview a saved plan before reopening it
- Customer and project fields
- Tags and filters
- Language-aware dashboard flow
Import, save and share loading plans
Keep shipment planning reusable across devices and colleagues, then share or reopen a saved loading plan by code when needed.
- CSV and row import workflow
- Save and reopen later
- Open or share saved plans by code
- Share results across the team
Loading plan methods
Choose the plan that best matches capacity, balance, or warehouse handling priorities.
Max Volume
Keeps the load compact to maximize usable cargo space.
Best Balance
Prioritizes a more centered weight distribution and stable load.
Easy Loading
Spreads cargo across the floor to reduce stacking and simplify handling.
Stability First
Prefers higher support, bearing reserve, a lower center of gravity and a more even top surface.
Route First
Reduces delivery-stop inversions and conservative rehandling while preserving safety rules.
Max Volume v2
Runs a deterministic deeper search for a plan that cannot be worse than the current Max Volume result.
Layer Build
Builds regular walls and layers for eligible rectangular box loads.
Sequence Feasible
Verifies a conservative door-to-position loading order after the final placement is created.
Pareto Explorer
Compare non-dominated completed plans. This view never starts another solver.
Hard safety checks always override global and row-level preferences.
Global Loading Rules and Equipment Restrictions
Apply plan-wide constraints before row-level preferences. Model a real load space with an optional door opening, wheel arches and fixed internal obstacles. Empty fields preserve current planning behaviour.
Global loading rules
Apply plan-wide constraints before row-level preferences.
- Keep groups separateDo not mix cargo from different input rows in the same planning group.
- Strict stop orderPlace later delivery stops deeper so the next stop remains accessible.
- Allow partial supportPermit supported stacking down to the controlled minimum threshold.
Hard safety checks always override global and row-level preferences.
Industry loading presets
Apply proven starting rules, then adjust any row or plan rule to match the shipment.
- Custom rulesApply proven starting rules, then adjust any row or plan rule to match the shipment.
- FurnitureFragile, non-stackable furniture with orientation protection and easy unloading.
- Mixed warehouse picksKeep cargo groups separate, respect stop order, and favor easy unloading.
Applies only the selected starting defaults. You can edit any value afterwards.
Equipment restrictions
Model a real load space with an optional door opening, wheel arches and fixed internal obstacles. Empty fields preserve current planning behaviour.
- Door openingClear width (cm) · Clear height (cm)
- Wheel archesStart from rear (cm) · Length (cm) · Intrusion per side (cm) · Height (cm)
- Fixed internal obstaclesReserve non-loadable space for pillars, machinery or other fixed equipment.
No equipment restrictions are active.
Palletize my cargo
My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Auto (best fit)My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Pallet RequiredMy cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Floor-Load OKMy cargo dimensions do not include pallets
My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
Plan sea containers, road equipment, railcars, ULDs and pallets in one selector
Choose verified sea, road, rail and air-cargo profiles, plus pallets and custom spaces, in one plan.
Container volume and payload figures are approximate. Confirm the exact internal dimensions, payload and carrier limits for the equipment you will use.
Sea containers
- 20' Dry Container (20DC)
- 40' Dry Container (40DC)
- 40' High Cube (40HC)
- 45' High Cube (45HC)
- 20' High Cube Palletwide
- 20' Open Top High Cube
- 40' High Cube Palletwide (SeaPC+)
- 45' High Cube Palletwide
- 40' High Cube Reefer (40RHC)
Road freight
- Standard Trailer (13.6m)
- Mega Trailer (13.6m)
- 26 ft North American Dry Freight Body
- 48 ft North American Flatbed
- 48 ft North American Step Deck
- 🌍 Transport Mode Comparison
- 💡 Weight limit is based on the selected container's max payload. Exceeding 90% triggers a warning.
Air cargo and ULDs
- ULD LD3 Container (AKE)
- ULD LD7 88-inch Pallet (PAG/PAJ/P1P)
- ULD PMC 96-inch Pallet (P6P)
- Swiss WorldCargo LD11 Pallet (PLA/PLB)
- ANA Cargo AKH (LD3-45WF)
- ANA Cargo DQF (LD8)
- Lufthansa Cargo DPE (LD2)
- ✈️ Chargeable Weight
Pallets and custom spaces
- My Pallet Profiles
- Custom pallet
- Custom Container
- Floor-Load OK
Rail freight
- BNSF 60 ft Plate-F Boxcar
- Trinity 66 ft Mill Gondola
- Rail has no automatic volumetric factor or default cost. Confirm the operator/carload quote.
Go from cargo dimensions to a load plan in four practical steps
Enter cargo rows
Add dimensions, weight, quantity, rotation preference and any Loading Note the warehouse should receive.
Accept Best Fit or switch manually
Use Best Fit for an automatic sea-container recommendation; select a reefer, trailer, ULD or pallet profile manually when needed.
Run 3D planning
Check fit, rotation, pallet status, floor-load fallback and remaining usable space.
Export, save or reopen later
Send the PDF, save the calculation to the dashboard, preview it later or reopen it through code-based access.
Common shipment scenarios this page can solve better than a basic CBM formula
Use the same plan to answer the practical question behind the shipment: what fits, how it should be handled, and what the warehouse needs to receive.
40HC and reefer pre-check before booking
When a shipper asks whether the cargo fits in 40HC or 40RHC reefer, the team needs a fast answer based on real dimensions, not a rough estimate.
- Check usable fit before booking
- Compare standard and reefer scenarios
- Review leftover space and weight together
LCL or FCL quote support
Sales teams often search for a CBM calculator because they need a confident answer for quoting, freight class comparison or customer communication.
- Volume and chargeable logic in one workflow
- Container recommendation before quoting
- PDF output for customer-facing follow-up
Truck and pallet loading decisions
Road freight planning is rarely just about cubic volume. Teams need to know whether the shipment should stay on pallets, how many pallets are needed, and how the trailer space is actually used.
- Trailer and pallet evaluation together
- Pallet-first logic with floor-load fallback
- Better planning for warehouse staging
Warehouse handoff with loading instructions
A planning result is stronger when the warehouse receives the same assumptions used during quoting and simulation.
- Loading Note on every row
- PDF handoff with context
- Saved record for later reload or review
100% Free CBM Calculator & 3D Container Loading Planner
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free.
No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Unlimited CBM calculations and 3D loading simulations
Excel/CSV import, PDF reports and weight distribution tools
Optional cloud saves, history and cross-device access with a free account
Frequently Asked Questions About CBM and Container Loading
Convert length, width and height to meters, multiply them, then multiply by quantity. In real planning, teams should also consider pallet footprint, stackability, loading direction and packaging dimensions.
No. Cubic meter calculation gives the shipment volume, while volumetric weight turns that volume into a billing weight using a mode-specific factor. Sea, air and road freight do not use the same factor.
There is no reliable single answer without item dimensions, loading direction, pallet choice, total weight and stack height. A 3D load planner gives a safer answer than volume alone.
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free. No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Yes. Reefer scenarios can be checked separately, which matters because the usable internal dimensions of temperature-controlled containers differ from standard dry containers.
Yes. The workflow can keep rows as pallet candidates first and move to floor-load only when pallet fit is not practical.
Yes. Trailer planning, pallet profiles and floor-load decisions can be evaluated in the same workflow so teams see a more realistic road-freight plan.
Yes. Each row can include a Loading Note, and those instructions can be exported with the PDF so warehouse or depot teams receive the same plan.
Yes. You can preview a saved plan before reopening it, then open or share saved plans by code when code-based access is useful.
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free. No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Yes. The BNSF 60 ft Plate-F boxcar and Trinity 66 ft mill gondola are manual loading-space profiles. Rail pricing is operator quoted, and loose bulk-flow simulation is not supported.
CBM3 includes Max Volume, Best Balance and Easy Loading, plus Stability First, Route First, optional Max Volume v2 deep search, Layer Build and Sequence Feasible checks when the shipment is eligible. Pareto Explorer compares completed verified plans without starting another solver.
100% Free CBM Calculator & 3D Container Loading Planner
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free. No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.