Cubic inches to cubic feet
Length x width x height in inches gives cubic inches; divide by 1,728 for cubic feet. A 12 x 10 x 5 in carton is 600 cubic inches, or 0.347 cubic feet.
Volume and freight planning
Box Volume and Cubic Feet Calculator
Enter a box's length, width and height to get its volume in cubic inches, cubic feet, liters and cubic meters, the total for your order quantity, and a planning estimate of how many cartons fit a 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high-cube container.
Free to use, no login, nothing you type leaves your browser.
50-unit minimum
Free dieline and proof
Free US shipping
1,728cu in per cu ft
33.2CBM in a 20 ft
Freedieline + proof
50unit minimum
Key Takeaway
The Box Volume and Cubic Feet Calculator converts a carton's length, width and height into cubic inches, cubic feet, liters and cubic meters (CBM), multiplies by quantity for the order total, and estimates how many cartons fit a 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high-cube container at a stated packing efficiency. Cubic feet equals length x width x height in inches divided by 1,728, and CBM equals cubic feet x 0.028317. Teal Packaging, a US-based packaging supplier, custom prints mailer and shipping boxes from a 50-unit minimum with free dieline design, a digital proof and free US shipping. Ecommerce operators and importers use the tool to size warehouse space and freight before they order.
Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.
Common carton sizes and their volume
Inside dimensions in inches. Cubic feet is cubic inches divided by 1,728; liters and CBM follow from one cubic foot being 28.317 liters and 0.028317 cubic meters.
| Carton (L x W x H) | Cubic inches | Cubic feet | Liters | CBM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 x 4 x 2 in | 48 | 0.028 | 0.8 | 0.0008 |
| 8 x 6 x 3 in | 144 | 0.083 | 2.4 | 0.0024 |
| 10 x 8 x 4 in | 320 | 0.185 | 5.2 | 0.0052 |
| 12 x 10 x 5 in | 600 | 0.347 | 9.8 | 0.0098 |
| 14 x 10 x 6 in | 840 | 0.486 | 13.8 | 0.0138 |
| 12 x 12 x 12 in | 1,728 | 1.000 | 28.3 | 0.0283 |
| 16 x 12 x 8 in | 1,536 | 0.889 | 25.2 | 0.0252 |
| 18 x 18 x 18 in | 5,832 | 3.375 | 95.6 | 0.0956 |
| 24 x 18 x 18 in | 7,776 | 4.500 | 127.4 | 0.1274 |
Container volumes used by the calculator
| Container | Interior, rounded (L x W x H) | Published volume |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft dry | 232 x 92 x 94 in (5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m) | 33.2 CBM, about 1,172 cu ft |
| 40 ft dry | 474 x 92 x 94 in (12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39 m) | 67.7 CBM, about 2,390 cu ft |
| 40 ft high-cube | 474 x 92 x 106 in (12.03 x 2.35 x 2.69 m) | 76.4 CBM, about 2,700 cu ft |
Loaded volume in practice is 80 to 90 percent of the interior figure, because cartons never tile a container perfectly. The calculator applies the packing efficiency you choose and rounds down.
How the volume numbers are calculated
Every number on this page comes from the three dimensions you enter. The only estimate is the container fit, which uses a packing efficiency you can see and change.
Cubic feet to CBM and liters
One cubic foot is 0.028317 cubic meters and 28.317 liters, so the same 12 x 10 x 5 in carton is 0.0098 CBM, or 9.8 liters.
Container fit
A 20 ft container holds about 33.2 CBM, a 40 ft about 67.7 CBM and a 40 ft high-cube about 76.4 CBM. Real loads reach 80 to 90 percent of that because cartons do not tile the space perfectly, so the calculator applies the efficiency you pick and rounds down.
Then quote the exact box
Your numbers carry straight into the quote. A free dieline and a digital proof come back before anything prints, from a 50-unit minimum.
Right-size before you order
A carton that is one inch larger on each side can add 20 percent or more to the volume you pay to ship and store; check the size before the print run, not after.
Inside vs outside dimensions
Box sizes are specified as inside dimensions. For freight and pallet math use outside dimensions, which add roughly the board thickness per wall: about 1/16 in for E-flute and 1/8 in for B-flute.
Volume is not billable weight
Parcel carriers bill on dimensional weight, which is volume divided by a divisor, so pair this page with the dimensional weight calculator before you settle a size.
From volume to a quote
Send the inside dimensions, quantity and product weight; a free dieline and a digital proof come back before anything prints, from a 50-unit minimum.
Quote this spec
Your result is already filled in below. Add quantity and where to send the proof.
Link to this tool
Free to use and free to link. Paste this into a resource page, a course, a blog post or a forwarder's help center.
Or cite it as: Box Volume and Cubic Feet Calculator, Teal Packaging, https://tealpackaging.com/box-volume-and-cubic-feet-calculator/
Questions buyers ask
How do I calculate the cubic feet of a box?
Multiply length x width x height in inches, then divide by 1,728. A 16 x 12 x 8 in carton is 1,536 cubic inches, which is 0.89 cubic feet.
How many cubic feet are in a 20 ft container?
About 1,172 cubic feet (33.2 cubic meters) of interior space in a standard 20 ft dry container. A 40 ft holds about 2,390 cubic feet (67.7 CBM) and a 40 ft high-cube about 2,700 cubic feet (76.4 CBM). Usable volume after loading is usually 80 to 90 percent of that.
What is CBM and how is it different from cubic feet?
CBM is cubic meters, the unit ocean freight quotes use. One cubic meter is 35.31 cubic feet, so divide cubic feet by 35.31 to get CBM.
Should I use inside or outside dimensions?
Use inside dimensions to check that your product fits and outside dimensions for freight, pallet and container math. Corrugated walls add about 1/16 in per side for E-flute and 1/8 in for B-flute.
Can Teal make a box to the exact size I calculated?
Yes. Custom mailer and shipping boxes are made to your inside dimensions from a 50-unit minimum, with free dieline design, a digital proof before printing and free US shipping. Production runs from about 7 business days after proof approval, plus 2 to 5 business days for delivery.
