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Garment Carton CBM, Volumetric Weight & Box Cost Calculator
Calculate shipment CBM, air-freight volumetric weight, carton box weight from board GSM, and packaging cost for apparel export orders. No account needed — numbers update as you type.
Carton numbers affect both freight cost and booking accuracy. Use this page to cross-check packing details before you confirm the carton spec with the buyer, supplier, or freight forwarder.
Step By Step
How to Use This Calculator
7 steps
- Choose the unit you actually work with: centimetres for most export cartons, inches if the buyer spec sheet is in imperial.
- Enter inner carton size, not outside size. Buyer packing sheets usually work from internal dimensions.
- Add order quantity and pieces per carton so the tool can calculate total carton count.
- Pick the board structure that matches the shipment: 3-ply for light packs, 5-ply for normal export cartons, 7-ply for heavier use.
- Enter liner and flute GSM values from the carton supplier's board spec if you have them.
- Choose whether you buy cartons per box or by board weight, then add the unit cost.
- Review CBM, volumetric weight, carton weight, and rough container fit before releasing the final packing instruction.
Worked Example
Worked Example: 20,000-Piece Polo Order
Use this sample to sanity-check your inputs and understand what the final result represents.
- 1Order quantity: 20,000 pcs | Packing ratio: 50 pcs/carton | Total cartons = 400.
- 2Carton size: 60 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm.
- 3CBM per carton: 0.60 x 0.40 x 0.30 = 0.072 m3.
- 4Total shipment CBM: 0.072 x 400 = 28.80 m3.
- 5Air-freight volumetric weight: (60 x 40 x 30) / 5000 = 14.40 kg per carton.
- 6Empty carton weight using 5-ply 150/120/120 GSM board comes to about 655.5 g per box.
- 7Total empty carton weight: 655.5 g x 400 = 262.2 kg.
Final Result
Shipment volume is 28.80 m3, so one 20-foot GP is enough on paper. Volumetric weight is 5,760 kg, empty carton weight is 262.2 kg, and carton cost at BDT 12 each comes to BDT 4,800.
Methodology
Carton CBM, Volumetric Weight & Empty Box Weight - Formula Reference
This section explains the calculation logic, assumptions, and source material used to make the result more trustworthy and easier to verify.
1. Cubic metre (CBM): - CBM per carton = Length (m) x Width (m) x Height (m) - Total CBM = CBM per carton x Total cartons - Convert cm to m by dividing by 100 - Convert inches to m by multiplying by 0.0254
2. Total cartons: - Total cartons = CEILING(Order quantity / Pieces per carton) - A partly filled last carton still counts as one carton for booking
3. Volumetric weight: - Air freight: (L_cm x W_cm x H_cm) / 5000 - Some courier and sea rules use /6000 instead - Freight is usually billed on the higher of actual or volumetric weight
4. Corrugated blank size: - Blank length = (Carton length + Carton width) x 2 + Joint allowance - Blank width = Carton width + Carton height + Flap allowance - Blank area (m2) = (Blank length x Blank width) / 10000
5. Empty carton weight: - Total board GSM = Sum of liner GSM + flute GSM adjusted by flute factor - Empty box weight (g) = Blank area (m2) x Total board GSM
6. Container reference: - 20-foot GP: about 28-30 m3 usable - 40-foot GP: about 58-60 m3 usable - 40-foot HC: about 68-70 m3 usable
Practical Guidance
Packaging Notes Merchandisers Actually Use
- 1Book on CBM first, then cross-check weight. Most apparel shipments run out of space before they run out of legal payload.
- 2Do not order cartons until the buyer packing spec is locked. A small change in carton size or pieces per box can change CBM a lot.
- 35-ply is the normal export choice for most apparel. Use 3-ply only when the product is light and the route is forgiving.
- 4For air shipments, compare actual weight and volumetric weight every time. The higher one is what the carrier bills.
- 5If the supplier gives you GSM but not test data, ask for the board spec before approving bulk order.
- 6Before stuffing, verify packed weight properly. VGM mistakes create avoidable port problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBM in shipping and how is it used for garment exports?+
CBM means cubic metre, the standard way freight teams measure shipment volume. For cartons, CBM is simply length x width x height in metres. Once you know CBM per carton, multiply by total cartons to estimate booking volume.
How is volumetric weight calculated for air freight?+
The common air-freight formula is length x width x height in centimetres, divided by 5000. Airlines then compare that with actual packed weight and charge on the higher number.
When should I use 3-ply, 5-ply, or 7-ply cartons?+
3-ply works for lighter products or simpler routes. 5-ply is the normal export choice for most apparel. 7-ply is used when the carton needs extra stacking strength or the shipment is tougher on the box.
Why does GSM matter in carton costing?+
GSM affects both strength and weight. Higher GSM usually means a heavier and stronger board, which increases box cost and also adds to gross shipment weight.
What is flute factor in corrugated board?+
Flute paper is wavy, so it uses more paper length than a flat liner. The flute factor adjusts for that extra material when you estimate board weight.
How accurate are the container-fit estimates?+
They are useful planning numbers, not final stuffing guarantees. Real usable space changes with carton orientation, pallet use, dunnage, and packing efficiency.