What is a Cubic Metre? Understand It When Moving Home

The cubic metre is a system to measure the units of volume of an object. It is very important to have an estimation of the cubic metre while getting quotations from the moving companies. The very first question that is mostly asked by the moving companies is, how many cubic metres do you want to move? Most professionals use a cubic metre calculator to provide moving estimation and to get the volume of the belongings. 

If you are thinking of moving your home and want a reliable and convenient moving procedure without any stress, the first thing you should do is to get accurate measurements of the belongings that you want to relocate. You can ask the moving team to visit and get an estimation of your belongings to fix the cost of moving. In this blog, we will discuss the deep concept of cubic metres in detail. 

What is a Cubic Metre?

A cubic metre is a calculation to find the measurement volume of an item. The cubic metre is mostly used in the moving and shipping industries to identify the size and capacity of the moving vehicle and the space that household items or other items will take up. It is also denoted cu.m. Here we will share a simple trick to understand the cubic metre and the factors that can affect the calculations of the shipping belongings from one place to another place. With the help of cubic metres you would be able to easily know the volume of an object even if it’s in a regular or irregular shape. Find cubic metres by multiplying the height, length, and width of the item the result you’ll get is the CBM ( Cubic Metre).

calculate a cubic metre by multiplying height x width x length or 1m x 1m x 1m = Cubic Metre.

How Big is a Cubic Metre

The size and measurements of the cubic meter depends on the item you are going to measure. If you want to measure the volume of your items you should measure them in standard terms, for example, 1m3 = 1000 liters. 

3 Bedroom House Estimate Truck Space Required Estimate Time Required
Unfurnished 24m³ 6.2 Hours
Semi Furnished 32m³ 6.9 Hours
Fully Furnished 36m³ 7.6 Hours

How Much Space Do Popular Household Items Take Up?

Packing your belongings to move them from one place to another place with accurate measurements can make your moving task more convenient. To make it easy you can use cubic metre while moving. You can simply measure cubic metre by multiplying height x width x length of an object. This calculation will give you an estimation of how much space you will require on the moving truck. A group of 8 medium boxes is equal to 1 cubic metre. Have a look at the below-mentioned table to get the estimated size of cubic metres for regular household items.

Common Household Items with Their Approximate Cubic Metre Measurements

Household To Move Cubic Metre
Small box 0.1 – 0.2 CBM
Large box 0.4 – 0.8 CBM
Sofas 1.5 – 2 CBM
Mattresses 0.2 – 0.4 CBM
Dining room table 0.6 – 0.8 CBM
Armchair 0.8 CBM
Chest of drawers 0.5 – 0.7 CBM
Television 0.25 CBM
Dining chair 0.15 CBM
Chest of drawers 0.5 – 0.7 CBM
Washing Machine 0.5 CBM
Dining Table 1 CBM
Washing Machine 0.5 CBM

Cubic Meter Calculator For Irregular Shaped Objects

Calculating the volume of irregularly shaped objects can be a bit tricky, but it is possible to estimate the volume of an object by measuring its dimensions and shape. Here’s how you can use a cubic meter calculator to estimate the volume of an irregularly shaped object. Measure the length, width, and height of the object using a measuring tape.

The formula for measuring different units in cubic meter depends on the unit of measurement you are trying to convert. Here are some common formulas for converting different units to cubic meter.

  • Cylindrical Shape:

There is no exact answer to this question because the measurement of an irregular shape item depends on its appearance. To use the formula of a cylindrical shape item, you will need the values of the radius and height of the cylinder. It is important to ensure that the units used for the radius and height are consistent. 

The formula for measuring the volume of cylindrical-shaped items is: 

  V = πr^2h

In this formula “v” is the volume of the item and “r” is the radius, “h” is the height

  • Irregular Shaped Item:

Calculating the volume of an irregular-shaped object can be a bit more complex compared to regular shapes, as it may not have a straightforward formula to use. However, here are some ways to calculate the volume of an irregular-shaped object. 

The formula for measuring the volume of Irregularly shaped items is: 

Length (max) x Width (max) x Height (max) = CBM

  • Formula to Get the Measurement of a Cube

To find the volume of a cube, you will need to know the length of one edge of the cube. The length is to be multiplied three times to get the volume, for example, 

Volume = a3

Importance of Calculating Items in Cubic Metres While Moving House

Whether you are moving for the first time or you are an experienced house mover, you would surely desire to move without any hustle and stress. Taking care of small steps while moving is very important for every homeowner. Measuring the volume of items is one of them for a reliable move. You definitely don’t want to hire the wrong size of moving truck which would ruin your move. The best way to avoid these issues is to get measurements of all belongings before hiring a moving team and renting a moving vehicle. In the section below, have a close look at the benefits of measuring cubic metre. 

  • Estimate the Space of Belongings

Measuring  cubic metre is key to a successful house move, by measuring the size of your belongings you would be able to know exactly how much space your belongings will take. By this, you would determine how many moving boxes do you need and furniture you can fit into a truck or van. Also, you would be able to get space estimation for storage of your belongings, if needed. 

  • Estimate the Size of the Truck Required

Hiring a moving vehicle is very important to move home, also it is essential to know how much space your belongings will take so that you can get a suitable moving truck. But if you will ignore the measurement of your belongings and book the truck without any estimation, as a result, you will regret it when the items will not fit into the moving vehicle and need to pay extra charges for extra trips or fees to get storage space until they move your belongings again. 

  • Estimate the Cost of the Move

The cost of moving your home is fully dependent on the number and size of the items that you want to move. You can calculate how much space your belongings will take into the truck and calculate according to the given estimations by the company. This could help you to save money for long-distance moves. 

  • Estimate the Number of Trips

The number of trips will depend on the number of furniture items and boxes that you want to move from your old home to your new home. This will make it easier for the movers to manage their time and avoid delays during the move. 

How Many Cubic Metres Can You Fit in one Moving Truck?

The number of cubic meters that can fit in one moving truck can vary widely depending on the size of the truck and the amount and size of the items being moved. Generally, moving trucks come in different sizes, such as 10ft, 15ft, 20ft, and 26ft. The capacity of a moving truck can range from around 12 to 100 cubic meters.

As an example, a 20ft moving truck can typically hold around 30 to 35 cubic meters of items, while a 26ft moving truck can hold around 40 to 50 cubic meters of items. However, these estimates are just approximate and may vary depending on the specific make and model of the truck, as well as the loading method and amount of items being moved.

Size Of House Required Truck Possessions Size in Cubic Feet Maximum load
1 bedroom studio Small trucks 450 – 650 3,000 lbs
2-bedroom home Medium Truck 700 – 1000 4,500 lbs
3-bedroom home Large trucks 925 – 1,375 6,500 lbs

*** All above-mentioned sizes for your belongings are not fixed; they might fluctuate according to the volume of your items. 

Conclusion

We hope this blog, about cubic metre will help you to get supportive information about measuring the volume of an item. Remember moving property with the assistance of a cubic metre calculator can save you from burning a hole in your pocket. 

If you are also thinking of moving your home from one place to another place and looking for the right guidance and budget-friendly moving estimation with quality services then you can get in touch with Harry the Mover. We are the best and most highly recommended moving and packing service provider in Australia. Get a free quotation from our expert team. 

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