My freight forwarder asks for the shipment volume in cubic metres: how do I get it from the calculator?

Example: 25 cartons from a supplier

A stock shipment of 25 identical cartons, each 60 × 40 × 50 cm and 15 kg. I entered it with 6000 as an example divisor, and got:

• One carton's volume: 120,000 cm³.
• Total volume for all 25: 3,000,000 cm³, so 3,000,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 3 cubic metres.
• Total actual weight 375 kg, and total chargeable weight 500 kg with that divisor.

The figure your forwarder wants is 3 cubic metres, along with the total actual weight of 375 kg. Send both, because a quote can depend on volume and weight together, and how the forwarder prices them is its own rule, which the tool does not apply.

Steps

1. In the Volumetric shipping-weight calculator, enter one carton's dimensions in centimetres and its weight.
2. Type the number of cartons in Identical packages.
3. Read the Total volume line in cm³ and divide it by 1,000,000.
4. If the shipment has several sizes, run each size with its count, then add the volumes before dividing.

Mistakes that change the figure a lot

• Dividing by 1000 instead of a million: you get 3000 instead of 3, a common slip because a litre is 1000 cm³.
• Using the product size instead of the outer carton: the forwarder receives the cartons as they are.
• Forgetting pallets: if the cartons sit on a pallet, the forwarder may measure the whole pallet at its full height, so ask how they measure.

And if the dimensions are in inches?

Enter them in inches as they are. The tool always shows volume in both cm³ and in³, so take the cm³ figure and divide by a million as above. There is no need to convert the dimensions by hand.

When you order the goods, ask the supplier for carton dimensions, weight and pieces per carton on the purchase order you raise with the Purchase-order generator, so you can work out the volume before shipping. Then put the final numbers on a packing list with the Packing-list generator, because the forwarder and customs will ask for them.