What is a Cubic Metre?

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What is a Cubic Metre?

When you’re moving freight or furniture you will come across the term “cubic metre”. When using a removalist to move interstate,or when moving freight, you will be quoted on cost per cubic metre. Essentially, it means how much space your contents will take up in the truck.

What is a cubic metre?

A cubic metre (m³) is a unit of volume in the metric system. It represents the volume of a cube that measures one metre on each side.

In other words, if you have a cube that is 1 metre long, 1 metre wide, and 1 metre high, its volume is one cubic metre.

Cubic metres are used to measure three dimensional objects and commonly used in construction, shopping and transportation.

How do I calculate cubic metres?

To calculate cubic metres (m³), multiply the length, width, and height of an object or space (measured in metres) to obtain the total volume.

L x W X H = M³

And to think, you thought your days of Grade 8 geometry were behind you…. Sure you may not have any use for SohCahToa (and the only reason I even know this term is because I have a 14 year old son), but Cubic Metre is a measurement that is actually used in adulthood. Go figure!

Why do I need to know cubic metres?

It’s important to get your total cubic metre as close as possible as this will ensure you are not paying for more space than you need or that you aren’t underestimating the amount of space you’ll need.

This can become a problem if you have booked 20m3 but you actually need 25m3 or 30m3.

Knowing the exact cubic metres can be tricky, especially if you are dealing with a big house move and you’ve got stuff EVERYWHERE. At Best Rated Transport, we can automatically calculate your Cubic Metres based on the size of your home, ensuring you still receive accurate quotes without having to pull out the measuring stick and calculator.

How many moving boxes per cubic metre?

This will depend on the box size, but, in general, you can fit 10 medium-sized boxes (60cm x 40cm x 40cm) in one cubic metre.

If you have 30 medium sized boxes, this equates to 3 cubic metres.

In general, with large boxes you can fit 8 into one cubic metre.

In terms of furniture, here are a few calculations:

-Three seat sofa - 2 cubic metres

-Washing Machine and Dryer - 1 cubic metre (for both)

-Fridge - 1 cubic metre

Our inventory assistance checklist has more detailed information of furniture and cubic metres.

How many cubic metres in a moving truck?

Moving trucks come in a number of different sizes and you may hear them being referred to as something- tonne trucks.

Here’s a breakdown of how many cubic metres fit in each moving truck so you’ll know what you will need:

Small Vans (HiAce)

- 5-11 cubic metres

-Ideal for local moves and making plenty of back and forths

3-Tonne Trucks

-10-15 cubic metres

-These are also more suitable for local moves or for small apartment moves

4.5-Tonne Trucks

-20-25 cubic metres

-Ideal for medium sized moves (two-bedrooms)

6 – to 8-Tonne Trucks

-25-30 cubic metres

-Suitable for three or four-bedroom houses

8 to 10 Tonne Trucks

-35-50 cubic metres

-Ideal for four to five bedroom homes

10 to 12 Tonne Trucks:

-45-60 cubic metres.

-These jumbo machines are the big weights of the transport industry and often used for multiple smaller loads or for large house moves and industrial moves.

How many cubic metres in a 20 ft container?

If you are moving, whether moving furniture or freight, you have another option - container transport. Shipping container transport can actually be cheaper than hiring a moving truck and comes with plenty of advantages including flexibility and of course, price.

A 20 ft container can hold around 33 cubic metres, so this is equivalent to an 8 tonne truck.

How many cubic metres in a 40ft container?

A 40 ft container can hold around 67 cubic metres which is a pretty decent amount. If you do have a lot of stuff to move, the 40ft container is often your best choice, whether moving industrial goods or furniture.

At Best Rated Transport, we can provide you with free quotes for both moving and removalists trucks as well as shipping container transport.

We can also assist you with finding the best rate for all general freight transport. We can coordinate the logistics on your behalf and find a carrier that’s best suited to your needs and budgets. Give us a call or start your quote to find the best rate on your furniture or freight transport needs.