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• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Calculating the CBM for a rectangular prism
• Method 2 of 4: Calculate the CBM per cylindrical unit
• Method 3 of 4: Calculate CBM per irregular unit
• Method 4 of 4: Calculate the CBM per total shipment

CBM stands for "cubic meters". This abbreviation usually refers to the total cubic meters required to package and ship packages. The exact calculation of the CBM depends on the shape of the unit involved.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Calculating the CBM for a rectangular prism

1. Measure the sides of the box. You need to know the length, width and height of the rectangular box. Use a ruler to determine all three distances and write them down.
   • CBM is a measure of volume, so use the standard formula for rectangular prisms.
   • Example: Calculate the CBM of a rectangular package with a length of 15 cm, a width of 10 cm and a height of 8 cm.
2. Convert the dimensions to meters, if necessary. For small packages, you can suffice with an answer in centimeters. Before you can calculate the CBM, you must convert each measurement to its equivalent value in meters.
   • The exact conversion equation depends on the unit used in your original measurements.
   • Example: The original measurement is in centimeters. To convert from centimeters to meters, divide the number of centimeters by 100. Repeat this process for all three measurements. The units for the length, width and height must be the same.
     • Length: 15 cm / 100 = 0.15 m
     • Width: 10 cm / 100 = 0.1 m
     • Height: 8 cm / 100 = 0.08 m
3. Multiply the length, width and height. Following the formula for CBM, we multiply the length, width, and height of the rectangular prism.
   • In short form, the formula looks like this: CBM = L * W * H
     • L.= length, W.= width and H.= height
   • Example: CBM = 0.15m * 0.1m * 0.08m = 0.0012 cubic meters
4. Record the CBM. The product of the original three dimensions is both the volume and the CBM of the individual packaging unit.
   • Example: The CBM of this package is 0.0012. This means that the package takes up 0.0012 cubic meters of space.

Method 2 of 4: Calculate the CBM per cylindrical unit

1. Measure the length and radius of the package. When dealing with pipes and other cylindrical packages, you need to know the height or length of the cylinder, as well as the radius of the circle. Take these measurements using a measuring stick, and record both.
   • Since CBM is actually the same as volume, use the standard cylinder formula when calculating the CBM of a cylindrical package.
   • Note that the radius of the cross-section is half the diameter, and the diameter is the distance from one side of the cross-section to the other. To measure the radius, we measure the diameter of one side and divide it by two.
   • Example: Calculate the CBM of a cylindrical package with a height of 64 cm and a diameter of 20 cm.
     • Determine the radius of this package (half the diameter): 20 cm / 2 = 10 cm
2. Convert this result to meters, if necessary. For many small packages you can of course suffice with measured values ​​in centimeters. You must convert such measurements to the equivalent value in meters, for the calculation of the cubic meter.
   • The conversion factor you want to use depends on the unit used in your original measurement.
   • Example: Suppose the original measurements were taken in inches. To convert from inches to meters, divide the number of inches by a conversion factor of 39.37. Repeat this for both readings.
     • Height: 64 inches / 39.37 = 1.63 m
     • Radius: 10 inches / 39.37 = 0.25 m
3. Plug the values ​​into the volume equation. To calculate the volume and CBM of a cylinder, multiply the height of the cylinder by the radius. You then have to divide the product of those two values ​​by pi (3,14).
   • In short form, the formula you want to use looks like this: CBM = H * R * π
     • At which H.= height, R.= radius and π= the constant pi (or 3.14)
   • Example: CBM = 1.63 m * (0.25 m) * 3.14 = 1.63 m * 0.0625 m * 3.14 = 0.32 cubic meters
4. Record the CBM. The product you calculated in the previous step is the volume and also the CBM of the cylindrical unit.
   • Example: The CBM of this package is 0.32, which means that it takes up 0.32 cubic meters of space.

Method 3 of 4: Calculate CBM per irregular unit

1. Measure the largest dimensions. Approach an irregularly shaped package as a rectangular package when calculating the CBM, but since there is no obvious length, width, and height, you need to determine the longest, widest, and tallest dimensions of the package and measure those maximum distances by a tape measure or measuring stick. Write down each of these three dimensions.
   • Although CBM is a volume, there is no standard formula for calculating the volume of an irregularly shaped three-dimensional object. Instead of determining an exact volume, you can only calculate an estimated value.
   • Example: Calculate the CBM of an irregularly shaped package with a maximum length of 5 cm, a maximum width of 3 cm and a maximum height of 4 cm.
2. If necessary, convert the dimensions to meters. If you accidentally measured the length, height and width in centimeters, you will have to convert them into meters to calculate the number of cubic meters of the package.
   • Note that the conversion factor will vary depending on the unit used when measuring the three sides of the package.
   • Example: The original measurements in this example were in centimeters. To convert this to meters, divide the number of centimeters by 100. Repeat for all three measurements.
     • Length: 5 cm / 100 = 0.05 m
     • Width: 3 cm / 100 = 0.03 m
     • Height: 4 cm / 100 = 0.04 m
3. Multiply the length, width and height. Think of the package as a rectangular unit, so multiply the maximum length, width and height together.
   • Written in an abbreviated form, the formula looks like this: CBM = L * W * H
     • At which L.= length, W.= width and H.= height
   • Example: CBM = 0.05m * 0.04m * 0.03m = 0.00006 cubic meters
4. Record the CBM. After determining the product of the three maximum measurements, you know the volume and therefore also the CBM of the irregularly shaped package.
   • Example: The estimated CBM of this package is 0.00006. While it won't fill the entire space, the unit requires 0.00006 cubic feet of space to pack and ship.

Method 4 of 4: Calculate the CBM per total shipment

1. Determine the CBM unit for each batch. If the shipment contains multiple batches and each batch consists of a number of packages of the same size, you can calculate the total CBM without having to calculate the CBM for each individual package. To begin with, you will need to determine the CBM unit of the standard packaging in each lot.
   • Use whatever CBM calculation is needed based on the package shape (rectangular, cylindrical, or irregular).
   • Example: The rectangular, cylindrical, and irregular packages described in the previous sections of this article are all delivered in a single shipment. This means that the CBM of the rectangular unit is 0.0012 m, that of the cylindrical unit is 0.32 m, and that of the irregular unit is 0.00006 m.
2. Multiply each CBM unit by the number of units. Within each batch, multiply the calculated CBM by the number of units or packages in that particular batch. Repeat this process for each batch of the shipment.
   • Example: There are 50 packages in the rectangular batch, 35 packages in the cylindrical batch, and 8 packages in the irregular batch.
     • Rectangular batch CBM: 0.0012m * 50 = 0.06m
     • Cylindrical batch CBM: 0.32 m * 35 = 11.2 m
     • Irregular CBM: 0.00006 m * 8 = 0.00048 m
3. Add up all the CBM values. After calculating the total CBM of each batch within the shipment, add these totals to the total CBM of the entire shipment.
   • Example: Total CBM = 0.06m + 11.2m + 0.00048m = 11.26m
4. Note the total CBM of the entire shipment. Check your work. At this point you know the total CBM of the entire shipment. Further calculations are no longer necessary.
   • Example: The total CBM of the entire shipment, including all three batches, is 11.26. This means that 11.26 cubic feet of space is required to package and ship all units.