Cubic foot freight rate calculator
Island and short-sea freight is often priced by the cubic foot rather than by weight. Enter your cargo dimensions and the carrier's rate per ft³ to see the volume, the charge, and whether a weight rate would have cost more.
Talk to us about it.
Send us the shipment you just costed and we will come back with how it would move and how the numbers would be handled in Intelicargo. Your inputs are attached only when you send this form.
The formula, in plain terms.
- Cubic feet = length × width × height (in) ÷ 1,728
- Cubic feet = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 28,316.85
- Volume charge = total cubic feet × rate per ft³
- Weight charge = total weight (lb) ÷ 100 × rate per 100 lb
- Freight = the greater of the two charges, or the minimum charge if that is higher
Four pallets of 48 × 40 × 48 in are 53.33 ft³ each, or 213.33 ft³ in total. At a rate of 3.25 per ft³ the volume charge is 693.33. If the same pallets weighed 900 lb each (3,600 lb) and the weight rate were 40 per 100 lb, the weight charge would be 1,440 and would apply instead.
Assumptions and limits
- Measure the outermost dimensions of each piece, including the pallet and packaging.
- Carriers set their own rates, minimums and surcharges. Enter the ones on your quote.
- Some carriers round each piece up (for example to the next inch) or apply per-piece minimums. Check how yours does it.
- Rates are entered by you, so this tool never shows or implies Intelicargo pricing.
Common questions
What is a cubic foot in shipping?
A cubic foot is the space taken by a cube one foot on each side. Freight that is priced by volume multiplies the total cubic feet of a shipment by a rate per cubic foot.
How do I convert centimetres to cubic feet?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres, then divide by 28,316.85. For inches, divide by 1,728 instead.
What does “weight or measure” mean?
Many carriers charge whichever is greater: the charge based on volume (measure) or the charge based on weight. Entering both rates here shows which one applies.
Is freight charged on volume or on weight?
It depends on the carrier and the lane. Dense cargo tends to be charged on weight and bulky, light cargo on volume. Comparing both is the safest way to estimate.
Quote by the cubic foot, automatically.
Intelicargo can price cargo items by cubic foot from your own tariff, so a quote calculates itself from the dimensions entered.