How to use the packaging calculator
It works for sheet metal and CNC turned parts: packing only needs the part's size and weight.
Upload the part or enter its size
STEP, STP or SLDPRT. The tool reads the part size and, for the material you choose, the unit weight. No file? Switch to Enter part size and type length, width, height and weight.
Set quantity and spacing
Quantity is your order quantity. Spacing is the gap kept between parts in the carton. The default is 1 mm.
Calculate packaging
You get the chosen carton, parts per carton, number of cartons, CBM, gross weight and volumetric weight.
What the results mean
The sample column is the part preloaded in the calculator: 16 parts of 122.1 × 41.8 × 45.2 mm, 0.045 kg each.
| Result | Meaning | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Packed size (L × W × H) | The envelope of the parts stacked with the spacing applied. | 124.9 × 102.0 × 127.2 mm |
| Parts per carton | How many parts fit the chosen carton with the spacing. | 16 |
| Number of cartons | Order quantity ÷ parts per carton, rounded up. | 1 |
| CBM | Packed volume in cubic metres (L × W × H in mm ÷ 1,000,000,000). Freight forwarders quote sea and LCL freight per CBM. | 0.00162 m³ |
| Gross weight per carton | Parts plus packaging. | 1.67 kg |
| Volumetric weight | Packed volume in cm³ ÷ 5,000. | 0.324 kg |
| Chargeable weight | The greater of gross and volumetric weight. This is what a carrier bills. | 1.67 kg |
| Chosen carton | The carton from Komacut's standard range, with product code and inner size. | KMC-Box, brown, 5-layer, 150 × 150 × 150 mm |
How volumetric weight is calculated
The calculator applies a divisor of 5,000 cm³ per kg to the packed volume. If your carrier uses a different divisor, scale the result.
The carrier bills whichever is higher: the gross weight or the volumetric weight. For dense parts such as steel brackets the gross weight is usually higher. For large, light parts the volumetric weight can be.
Frequently asked questions
What is volumetric weight?
The weight a carrier assigns to a shipment based on its size rather than its mass: length × width × height in centimetres ÷ a divisor, 5,000 in this calculator. Carriers bill the greater of the gross and the volumetric weight.
What is CBM?
Cubic metres. It is the unit freight forwarders use to quote sea freight and LCL (less than container load) shipments. The calculator gives the CBM of your packed parts so a forwarder can quote.
Does it work for CNC turned parts?
Yes. Packing uses the part's size and weight, which apply to any part. The tool shows whether it read a sheet metal or a CNC turned part.
Where does the unit weight come from?
From the file: part volume × density of the material you choose, with the same densities as the Sheet Metal Weight Calculator. Without a file, enter the weight yourself.
Which carton does it choose?
A carton from Komacut's standard range, shown with its product code and inner size under Chosen carton. The sample part packs 16 to a 150 × 150 × 150 mm brown 5-layer carton.
What happens to my file?
The file is used only to read the part for this calculation. To keep the part and get a price, upload it on b2b.komacut.com.