Instant CBM, weight and load numbers

CargoSum is a free set of freight calculators for shippers, freight forwarders and warehouse teams. It covers container loading in 3D, CBM, chargeable weight, pallet loading and US LTL freight class, among others. Calculations run in your browser. CargoSum isn't a forwarder or carrier and doesn't book shipments.

Yes, it's free, with no account, login or paid tier. The dimensions, weights, quantities and item names you enter are processed in your browser and aren't sent to or stored on a server. The site does use Google Analytics 4 and Cloudflare Web Analytics to measure traffic. The analytics events record which tool was used and simple counts, not your cargo details. Your unit preference and any calculations you save stay in local storage on your device. There's no offline mode: a page that's already open keeps calculating without a connection, but opening another page or reloading needs one.

CBM (cubic meter) is cargo volume in cubic meters: length x width x height in meters, times the number of pieces. If you measure in centimeters, multiply the three dimensions and divide by 1,000,000. For example, a loaded pallet measuring 120 x 100 x 150 cm is 1.2 x 1.0 x 1.5 = 1.8 CBM. Volume only sets the price when it outweighs the actual weight. For ocean LCL, the calculator treats 1 CBM as equal to 1,000 kg and uses whichever is greater, so 1.8 CBM counts the same as 1,800 kg. For air freight, 1.8 CBM works out to 300 kg of volumetric weight (1,800,000 cm³ ÷ 6,000), which is billed only if the pallet weighs less than that.

Chargeable weight is the weight a carrier bills on: the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Light, bulky cargo is billed on volumetric weight; dense, heavy cargo on actual weight. For air freight, the IATA formula is length x width x height in cm ÷ 6,000. UPS in the UK uses 5,000 for express, which is also the calculator's express default. In the US, UPS uses a DIM factor of 139 or 166 cubic inches per pound, depending on whether Daily or Retail Rates apply. The calculator rounds air and express results up to the next 0.5 kg.

Freight class is a rating under the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) that carriers apply alongside their own tariffs to price US less-than-truckload (LTL) freight. There are 18 classes, from 50 to 500, based on four factors: density, handling, stowability and liability. Lower classes cover freight that's easier to move and generally costs less to ship, and if a carrier reclassifies your freight to a higher class, you may pay extra. Since Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025, density is the main factor, but items with handling, stowability or liability issues keep their own class, so you need the exact NMFC item number. The CargoSum calculator applies the 2025 density scale, which has 13 density ranges covering classes 50 to 400: the higher the density, the lower the class.

CargoSum has 11 tools: container loading (with a 3D view), CBM, chargeable weight, pallet, freight class, an Incoterms® 2020 chart, linear feet, trailer load, freight density, fuel surcharge and demurrage. Container loading, CBM, chargeable weight and demurrage serve ocean and air shipping; freight class, linear feet, trailer load, freight density and fuel surcharge are built for US LTL and truckload freight. The Incoterms chart is a reference table, not a calculator. Container loading, CBM, chargeable weight and pallet default to cm and kg, while freight class, freight density, linear feet and trailer load start in inches and pounds. You can switch units in all eight.

No. CargoSum doesn't quote, book or move freight, and there's no quote form. Results are calculated from published industry rules, such as the IATA air divisor and the NMFC density scale, so they show how a shipment is likely to be measured. Carriers apply their own divisors, rounding and tariffs, so confirm the figures with your carrier before you book.

Yes. CargoSum has 21 guides that explain the terms and calculations behind the tools. You'll find them linked from the site header and footer.