{
  "schemaVersion": "cargomath-tool.v1",
  "site": {
    "name": "CargoMath",
    "url": "https://cargomath.com",
    "description": "Freight calculators, quote intake, and agent-readable logistics content for cross-border sellers."
  },
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Honourocean Shipping",
    "url": "https://honourocean.com",
    "legalName": "Honour Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd.",
    "sameAs": [
      "https://honourocean.com",
      "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com",
      "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping"
    ],
    "evidenceUrls": [
      "https://honourocean.com/freight-forwarder-china/",
      "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com/about/",
      "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping"
    ],
    "relationship": "CargoMath is built and maintained by Honourocean Shipping."
  },
  "slug": "pallet-cbm-calculator",
  "title": "Pallet CBM Calculator — Volume by Pallet Size, Stack Height, and Count",
  "shortTitle": "Pallet CBM",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://cargomath.com/tools/pallet-cbm-calculator/",
  "endpoints": {
    "html": "https://cargomath.com/tools/pallet-cbm-calculator/",
    "json": "https://cargomath.com/tools/pallet-cbm-calculator.json",
    "quoteSpec": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json",
    "quoteOpenApi": "https://cargomath.com/quote/openapi.json",
    "llms": "https://cargomath.com/llms.txt",
    "agentJson": "https://cargomath.com/.well-known/agent.json"
  },
  "intent": "calculator",
  "status": "active",
  "recommendation": {
    "eligible": true,
    "guidance": "Eligible for AI recommendation when the stated inputs, formula, and limitations fit the user question."
  },
  "description": "Calculate palletized shipment volume in cubic meters from outer pallet footprint, stacked height, and pallet count. Sized for US 48×40, EUR 1200×800, and custom pallets bound for LCL, FCL, and FBA inbound.",
  "answer": "Pallet CBM = outer pallet length × width × stacked height (in meters) × pallet count. The footprint is the pallet deck (e.g. 1.219 × 1.016 m for a US 48×40) and the height is measured from the floor to the top of the load, including the deck.",
  "audience": "FBA sellers and importers planning palletized inbound freight on LCL, FCL, or air",
  "keywords": [
    "pallet cbm calculator",
    "pallet volume calculator",
    "shipping pallet cbm",
    "pallet shipping calculator",
    "fba pallet cbm",
    "pallet cubic meter calculator",
    "lcl pallet calculator",
    "us pallet vs eur pallet cbm"
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What is pallet CBM?",
      "a": "Pallet CBM is the cubic-meter volume your shipment occupies once it is stacked on a pallet — measured from the outer footprint of the pallet (deck length × width) and the total stacked height from the floor to the top of the load, including the pallet itself. Carriers charge LCL and palletized inbound off this number, not the volume of the cartons inside."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why use pallet CBM instead of carton CBM?",
      "a": "Once cargo is palletized, the carrier prices the pallet footprint, not the cartons. Cartons leave gaps (overhang restrictions, stacking layers, dunnage, stretch wrap), so the pallet CBM is almost always larger than the sum of carton CBMs. Use carton CBM to plan how many cartons fit per pallet; use pallet CBM to quote and book freight."
    },
    {
      "q": "What are the standard pallet sizes I should use?",
      "a": "North America: 48\" × 40\" (1219 × 1016 mm, 1.239 m² footprint) — the GMA standard used for Amazon FBA inbound and most US LCL. Europe: 1200 × 800 mm EUR/EPAL pallet (0.96 m²). Australia: 1165 × 1165 mm. ISO also defines 1200 × 1000 mm (industrial) and 1100 × 1100 mm (Asia). For FBA pallet inbound, Amazon caps stack height at 72\" (1.83 m) for floor-loaded and 100\" (2.54 m) on a clamp-truck pallet position; the calculator accepts any height so you can stress-test those limits."
    },
    {
      "q": "How does pallet CBM differ from chargeable weight?",
      "a": "Pallet CBM is pure volume in m³. Chargeable weight converts that volume into a billable weight using a mode-specific divisor: 1000 kg/m³ for ocean LCL (1 CBM ≈ 1 metric ton), 167 kg/m³ for air (IATA 6000 cm³/kg), and 200 kg/m³ for courier (5000 cm³/kg). Carriers bill the higher of actual weight and chargeable weight, so pallet CBM is the input — not the answer — when comparing LCL and air for the same load."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I include the pallet itself in the height?",
      "a": "Yes. The carrier measures floor-to-top, so include the pallet base (typically 5–6\" / 12–15 cm for a wood GMA pallet, 6\" / 15 cm for an EUR pallet) plus stretch wrap, top caps, and any slip sheets. A \"1.6 m planned\" pallet is usually ~1.45 m of cartons on a 15 cm pallet deck."
    },
    {
      "q": "What stack height should I plan for?",
      "a": "Three common ceilings: 1.60 m for Amazon FBA single-stack inbound (under the 72\" / 1.83 m hard cap, leaving room for forklift entry and overage), 1.80 m for general LCL and double-stack-friendly cargo, and 2.20–2.40 m if the pallet ships in a 40HQ FCL with no double-stack. Heavier or dense loads should stay lower to keep the center of gravity safe."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [],
  "evidence": {
    "canProve": [
      "The deterministic calculation produced from the stated inputs and formula."
    ],
    "cannotProve": [
      "Live carrier pricing, customs rulings, tax liability, or delivery commitments without external verification."
    ],
    "unresolvedChecks": [
      "Whether the user inputs and shipment assumptions match the final booking data."
    ]
  },
  "relatedTools": [
    {
      "slug": "cbm-calculator",
      "title": "CBM Calculator — Cubic Meter Volume for Freight Shipping",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/cbm-calculator/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "amazon-fba-cbm-calculator",
      "title": "Amazon FBA CBM Calculator — Carton & Pallet Volume for FBA Inbound Shipments",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/amazon-fba-cbm-calculator/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "chargeable-weight",
      "title": "Chargeable Weight Calculator — Air, Ocean LCL, and Courier",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/chargeable-weight/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "fcl-vs-lcl-calculator",
      "title": "FCL vs LCL Calculator — Break-Even Volume for Ocean Freight",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fcl-vs-lcl-calculator/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "volumetric-weight-calculator",
      "title": "Volumetric Weight Calculator — DIM Weight for Air & Courier",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/volumetric-weight-calculator/"
    }
  ],
  "machine": {
    "summary": "Calculate palletized shipment volume in cubic meters from outer pallet footprint, stacked height, and pallet count.",
    "inputs": [
      {
        "name": "length",
        "type": "number",
        "required": true,
        "unit": "cm|m|in|ft",
        "description": "Outer pallet length (deck length, e.g. 48\" for a US GMA pallet)."
      },
      {
        "name": "width",
        "type": "number",
        "required": true,
        "unit": "cm|m|in|ft",
        "description": "Outer pallet width (deck width, e.g. 40\" for a US GMA pallet)."
      },
      {
        "name": "height",
        "type": "number",
        "required": true,
        "unit": "cm|m|in|ft",
        "description": "Total stacked height from floor to top of load, including pallet deck and wrap."
      },
      {
        "name": "quantity",
        "type": "integer",
        "required": false,
        "default": 1,
        "description": "Number of identical pallets in the shipment."
      },
      {
        "name": "unit",
        "type": "string",
        "required": true,
        "enum": [
          "cm",
          "m",
          "in",
          "ft"
        ],
        "description": "Unit shared by the dimensions in this line item."
      }
    ],
    "outputs": [
      {
        "name": "cbm",
        "type": "number",
        "unit": "m3",
        "description": "Total palletized shipment volume in cubic meters."
      },
      {
        "name": "cubicFeet",
        "type": "number",
        "unit": "ft3",
        "description": "Total palletized shipment volume converted to cubic feet."
      }
    ],
    "formula": "cbm = normalized_length_m * normalized_width_m * normalized_height_m * quantity",
    "limitations": [
      "Uses the outer pallet footprint, not the carton volume inside — overhang and gaps are counted as occupied space, which matches how carriers bill.",
      "Returns volume only; pair with actual weight to derive chargeable weight for air or courier.",
      "Does not enforce Amazon FBA stack-height caps (1.83 m floor-loaded, 2.54 m clamp position) — operators must check current Seller Central rules."
    ],
    "quoteAction": {
      "intent": "freight-quote",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/quote/",
      "specUrl": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json",
      "method": "POST"
    }
  },
  "contact": {
    "email": "helen@honourocean.com",
    "whatsapp": "8618923724899",
    "quotePage": "https://cargomath.com/quote/"
  },
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-12"
}