What is a Cubic Meter? | Understanding Shipping Measurements
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Cubic Meter

Cubic Meter

What is a Cubic Meter?

If your business deals with packaging products and goods, you’ll want to be familiar with terms and measurements essential to the shipping industry. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble organizing shipping logistics and calculating freight costs. Understanding what a cubic meter is should be the first thing you learn! Allow Dimensional Weighing to explain:

A cubic meter (CBM) is a key measurement transportation and freight companies use. It is a unit of measurement that describes the volume of an object or space in three-dimensional space. A cubic meter is equivalent to 1,000 liters and measures approximately 35.3 cubic feet.

Why is it Important?

The importance of understanding cubic meters lies in its relevance to shipping costs. Most transportation companies use cubic meters to calculate freight costs because they consider both the weight and size of the shipment. This means larger but lighter shipments may be charged higher rates than smaller but heavier shipments, as they take up more space on the carrier’s vehicle.

How to Calculate Cubic Meters

Calculating cubic meters may seem daunting at first, but it is actually a simple process. To calculate the volume of a shipment in cubic meters, you will need to measure the length, width, and height of the shipment in meters. Then, multiply these three measurements to get the total volume in cubic meters.

For example, if your shipment measures 2 meters (length) x 1 meter (width) x 0.5 meters (height), then the total volume would be 1 cubic meter (2m x 1m x 0.5m = 1m^3). This means that your shipment would take up one cubic meter of space on the carrier’s vehicle.

It’s important to note that some carriers may restrict a single shipment’s maximum volume or weight. Make sure to check with your carrier beforehand to ensure that your shipment falls within their limits.

Where Dimensional Weighing Comes In

At Dimensional Weighing, we provide our clients with highly accurate, digitally optimized equipment that, you guessed it, helps determine the dimensional weight of a package. Our scales, scanners and dimensional weighing systems help manufacturing facilities, shipping companies, and other businesses figure the dimensional weight of parcels, thus determining their shipping costs. Our primary equipment offerings include:

  • Static Dimensioning Systems – Ideal for straightforward tasks such as shipping small packages or managing inbound inventory.
  • Dynamic/In-Motion Dimensioning Systems – Designed for conveyor-based workflows, providing real-time measurements for parcels of different shapes and sizes.
  • Pallet and Large Freight Scanners – Tailored for handling oversized freight, these systems improve load planning and enhance shipping efficiency.
Cubic Meter

Call Dimensional Weighing

With a greater understanding of what a cubic meter is and its importance for your shipping operations, now’s the time to invest in equipment guaranteed to track the most accurate measurements. United States commercial and industrial facility managers can place their trust in Dimensional Weighing for the best dimensional scales, scanners, and systems. Learn more about our products or request a quote by calling 309-698-1500. We supply our products to manufacturing and shipping facilities across the United States.