CBM and volume weight calculation for shipment booking

If you are related to garment industry, you should have to know about the cbm calculation  and
volume weight calculation details to book your shipments with sea or air.

This article will help you to book your shipment by knowing the space requirement of your
goods.

Sea shipment:
There are three size of container commonly used by garment manufacturer for sea shipment. 
20" Container
40" Normal container
40" High cube container

See below the average cbm capacity for each container.

20" Container- Max capacity-26 to 28 cbm.
40" Normal Container- Max capacity-55 to 58 cbm
40" High cube Container- Max capacity- 65-68 cbm.

How to calculate- You can use the simple formula for calculating cbm detail of your goods by
knowing the length, width, height and no of cartons.

Simple Formula for CBM calculation - Length(cm) x Width(cm) x Height(cm) x No of

cartons(pcs) / 1000000= Total cbm of your goods.
Example-Carton size- 65x45x20 cm.
                No of carton 400 pcs.
As per formula- 65x45x20x400/1000000=23.4
CBM(Require 20" container for 400 cartons).

Air shipment:
If you are dealing with air shipment then volume weight calculation information also req to book
your shipment space in airways.
Kindly note:- Air shipment weight calculated by two methods
By Gross weight(Total carton weight) 
By Volume weight(Formula)
Higher weight always get to consider for payment rate/kg in air shipments.

Simple formula for Volume weight- Length(cm) x Width(cm) x Height(cm) x No of

cartons(pcs) / 5000= Total volume weight of your goods.

Example- Carton size- 65x45x20 cm.

                No of carton 400 pcs.
                Gross weight per carton-10.2 kg

Total Volume weight = 65 x 45 x 20 x 400 / 5000 = 4680 kg (Volume weight)

 Total Gross weight = 10.2 x 400 = 4080 kg
 In this shipment volume weight is higher then gross weight so per kg air ship cost applicable on
volume weight which is 4680 kg.
Example:- Airways rate Rs 125/kg
so the total air cost will be - 125 x 4680= 585000/-

Carton Consumption and Pricing

Carton is a very important factor in readymade garments industry. Every textile engineer
(merchandiser) should have clear and brief idea about it. Although, many garments
merchandisers not have correct idea about carton consumption. Basically carton box is made
by ply board. Ply board can be 3 ply, 5 ply or 7 ply. It’s needed to deliver the finished goods
to buyer without any damages. Buyer may complain if there is any damage in the goods during
transportation because of bag quality carton box. At present, buyer ask to do busting test of
carton box to ensure the quality of carton box. For kind information, every carton boxes
should have minimum two ply boards to insure product security.

In terms of carton consumption means “consumption of ply board”. We know that, carton box
is made by using ply board. Before started to calculating ply board consumption or carton
consumption, a garments merchandiser should confirm the below information:

·         Length of the carton box

·         Width of the carton box

·         Height of the carton box

By using the below formula, a garment merchandiser can easily calculate ply board
consumption or carton consumption in apparel industry. Let’s see the below equation with
example;

Carton Consumption :

Formula of CBM (Cubic Meter) : Length X Width X Height / 10,00,000

Formula of carton measurement in square :  ( Length + Width + Wastage) X ( Width +

Height + Wastage) X 2 / 10,000 X Carton quantity
Formula of carton consumption and costing: { (Length + Width) X (Width + Height)} X 2 +
Wastage percentage 

Q.1: Suppose, a carton has Length 58 cm, Width 35 cm & Height 40 cm, total carton 200 pcs.
Now find out the cargo measurement for 200 cartons?

Solution: Length X Width X Height / 10,00,000 X Carton Qty

              = 58 X 35 X 40 /10,00,000 X 200

              = 16.24 CBM

Q.2: Suppose, a carton has 5 ply, Length 60 cm, Width 45 cm, Height 50 cm, total carton qty
150 pcs. Now find out the carton measurement in square meter?

Solution: ( Length + Width + Wastage ) X ( Width + Height + Wastage) X 2 / 10,000 X

Carton qty  

              =  (60 + 45 + 5) X ( 45 + 50 + 5) X 2 /10,000 X 150

              = 110 X 100 X 2 / 10,000 X 150

              = 330 square meter

(Note: If you don't want to add wastage, then avoid wastage value. For safety purpose, should
be add wastage )

Q.3: Suppose, a 5 ply carton's per square (100 X 100) meter's rate is USD 0.85. Carton Length
is 58 cm, Width 26 cm , Height 40 cm. Now find out the carton price?

Suppose: ( Length + Width + Wastage ) X ( Width + Height + Wastage ) X 2 / 10,000 X Price

              = ( 58 + 26 + 5) X ( 26 + 40 + 5) X 2 /10,000 X $ 0.85

              = 89 X 71 X 2 / 10,000 X $ 0.85
              = $1.074 / per pcs

Q.4: Suppose, a 7 ply carton Length is 58 cm (0.58 meter), Width 35 cm (0.35 meter), Height
40 cm (0.40 meter), price $0.90 per square. Now find the price per carton?

Suppose: {(Length + Width) X (Width + Height) } X 2 + Wastage Percentage

              = {( 0.58 + 0.35) X (0.35 + 0.40)} X 2 + 5%               [ 1 cm = 1/100 meter ]            

              = { 0.93 X 0.75 } X 2 + 5%

              =  1.4675 square meter

              = 1.4675 X $0.90                                                        [1 square meter = $0.90]

              = $1.320/ carton

How to calculate carton CBM & container space book before

shipment?

Normally, we ship goods continuously in garments sector.CBM stands “Cubic

Meter” We should clear understand the carton CBM & weight of carton
otherwise we cannot accurately space book in the logistic & forwarder. If we
can not accurately calculate the CBM & weight of carton then it will be loss of
profit. The freight forwarder freight costs calculate on the CBM. It is the
most important calculation & reducing the shipping cost. If goods is full
container loaded then you have to pay full container loaded cost (FCL) if
goods is less container loaded then you have to pay less container loaded
cost (LCL).After read this article you  can get clear idea about CBM.
We have to know below information for CBM calculation.

1. Carton Length.
2. Carton Width.
3. Carton Height.
4. Quantity of carton.

For example:

1. Carton Length-60cm
2. Carton width-40cm
3. Carton Height-20cm
4. Carton quantity-2,000 Pcs

Firstly, we have to calculate cubic meter. According to measurement

mention cm (Centimeter) & now it convert into meter (m).As we know
(1m=100cm).

According to CBM formula

CBM=Carton length X Carton width X carton Height

           =60cm X 40cm X20cm

          =0.60mX0.4mX0.2m

          =0.048 m3

Only 1 carton CBM is 0.048 m3 then 2000 pcs carton CBM will be

CBM=0.048X2,000

        =96 m3

Finally, we can say 2,000 pcs carton CBM is 96 m3.

For our easy understanding load ability of ocean containers in the
following.

 20’ft container 26-28 CBM

 40’ft container 56-58 CBM
 40’ft HQ container 60-68 CBM
 45’ft HQ container about 78 CBM