Calculate the cubic volume of packaged cargo, compare measured and dimensional weight, and estimate the number of loads by volume alone.
Measure the outside of the packed goods
Use One package size when every package has the same dimensions. Enter length, width, height, quantity and optionally gross weight per package, including packaging. For different sizes, use Multiple sizes and enter one comma-separated group per line: length, width, height, quantity, optional weight. Every row uses the selected common units. Up to 100 groups are supported.
Measure the enclosing rectangular box around irregular packages, including protrusions. The calculator totals package volumes in cubic meters, cubic feet and liters. It does not find the material volume inside a partly empty carton.
Dimensional weight and gross weight
Dimensional weight is package volume in cubic centimeters divided by the chosen divisor. The example divisor is 5,000 cm³/kg; confirm your carrier and service rules. If gross weights are supplied for every group, the tool also sums the higher of gross or dimensional weight for each individual piece. This differs from taking the higher of the two shipment totals when dense and lightweight packages are mixed.
No carrier rounding, minimum charge, packaging surcharge or tariff is applied. Missing any gross weight hides the shipment gross-weight and comparison totals rather than treating missing weights as zero. Dimensional weight and volume remain available.
Planning storage or container space
Under shipping assumptions, enter available cubic meters per load and the share you expect to use. The default 33 m³ and 85% are editable examples. Dividing cargo volume by usable space gives a volume-only load count rounded upward. It cannot prove that packages fit through a door, stack safely, meet a payload limit or pack efficiently. Obtain actual interior dimensions, usable space and loading limits for the equipment being used.
DHL's dimensional-weight explanation illustrates a 5,000 divisor. Its freight guidance explains why transport modes can use different factors.
Formula
CBM = length(m) × width(m) × height(m) × quantity
Dimensional kg per piece = length(cm) × width(cm) × height(cm) ÷ divisor
Comparison kg = sum(quantity × max(gross kg per piece, dimensional kg per piece))
Volume-only loads = round up(total CBM ÷ usable m³ per load)
Examples
Ten identical cartons
Ten cartons measuring 60 × 40 × 40 cm occupy 0.96 m³. With divisor 5,000, their dimensional weight totals 192 kg. At 10 kg each, gross weight is 100 kg.
Two cubic-foot packages
Two packages measuring 1 × 1 × 1 ft occupy 2 ft³, exactly 0.056633693184 m³.
Precision and definitions
Calculations retain unrounded values internally. Displayed digits do not increase the accuracy of measurements. NIST unit definitions provide the conversion reference.