LDM and CBM calculator
Enter your pallet or carton sizes. Loading metres (LDM), volume (m³) and total weight update as you type, and you can request a quote with the results in one step.
Assumptions used
- LDM
- Length × width (m) ÷ 2.4, the width of a standard trailer. Stackable pieces are stacked as many layers as fit in 2.6 m (at most 2.6 ÷ height, rounded down) and share one floor space.
- Volume
- Length × width × height (m) × quantity.
- Container
- A 20 ft container holds about 33 m³. Above that volume a 20 ft container (FCL) can be the better choice.
- Price
- The calculator does not work out a price. Your quote is prepared for the actual cargo and route.
What are LDM and CBM?
To plan a shipment we need to know how much space the cargo takes, not only how heavy it is. Two measures describe that.
- Loading metre (LDM)
- The length of trailer floor your cargo takes up. In a trailer 2.40 m wide, one metre of the full floor width is 1 LDM. A Euro pallet (1.20 × 0.80 m) takes 0.4 LDM, an industrial pallet (1.20 × 1.00 m) takes 0.5 LDM. If nothing can be loaded on top of a pallet, the space above it cannot be used either.
- Cubic metre (CBM, m³)
- Length × width × height in metres. It shows the volume of the cargo for groupage and container planning.
Worked example
10 Euro pallets, each 120 × 80 × 150 cm and 400 kg, non-stackable.
| Value | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Loading metres | 10 × 1.20 × 0.80 ÷ 2.4 | 4.0 LDM |
| Volume | 10 × 1.20 × 0.80 × 1.50 | 14.4 m³ |
| Total weight | 10 × 400 kg | 4,000 kg |
| 20 ft container | 14.4 ÷ 33 m³ | about 44% |
If the same pallets were 100 cm high and stackable, two layers would fit in 2.6 m and the floor needed would drop to 2.0 LDM. The volume would be 9.6 m³.
Groupage or a container?
With groupage (LTL) your cargo travels with other shippers’ cargo in the same truck or container. For a few pallets, or small regular shipments, it is usually the most economical option.
As the cargo grows, a container of your own (FCL) or a full truck becomes the better fit. When the total volume is above about 33 m³, a 20 ft container (FCL) can be preferable. Which option suits you depends on the pallet sizes and the cargo, so you can ask for both quotes.
Between Turkey and Spain we run groupage departures every week in both directions.
Other services: Road Freight, Sea Freight
Groupage usually suits you when
- you ship a few pallets or cartons,
- the delivery date allows a few days of flexibility,
- you send small volumes at regular intervals.
A container or a full truck tends to pay off when
- the total volume is above about 33 m³,
- the delivery date is fixed and transhipment is not wanted,
- the cargo is sensitive or must travel in one piece.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets are 1 LDM?
On the floor of a standard trailer 2.40 m wide, 1 LDM is the space of 2.5 Euro pallets (120 × 80 cm) or 2 industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm). How many pallets fit in a vehicle or container depends on the pallet sizes and the container size.
How do I calculate loading metres?
Multiply the length and width of the piece in metres, divide by 2.4, then multiply by the quantity. For stackable cargo, divide the result by the number of layers. For a 120 × 80 cm pallet: 1.2 × 0.8 ÷ 2.4 = 0.4 LDM.
How do I calculate CBM?
Multiply length, width and height in metres, then multiply by the quantity. A 120 × 80 × 150 cm pallet is 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.5 = 1.44 m³.
Is the result a price?
No. The tool does not calculate a price; it shows the floor space and volume your cargo needs. The price is in our quote, prepared for your cargo and route and sent by e-mail within 24 hours.
When is a container (FCL) the better choice?
When the total volume is above about 33 m³, a 20 ft container (FCL) can be preferable. Smaller volumes can travel as groupage.