LCL & FCL Shipping
Shared containers, full containers, and the crossover math between them.
LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares a container with other importers; FCL (Full Container Load) means the box is yours. The choice looks like simple math — cost per CBM versus container price — and that simple math is exactly how importers lose money, because LCL's real cost lives in destination CFS charges that most quotes never mention.
This section covers the decision honestly: the 0.5–15 CBM range where LCL usually wins, the 15–25 CBM crossover zone where you must get both quotes with all destination fees, and the point where a full 20-footer is cheaper than the "cheap" LCL rate. Our own rule: every LCL quote we issue lists destination CFS charges in writing before you book.
The questions this section answers
- ?What is LCL shipping and how does it work?
- ?LCL vs FCL — which is cheaper for my shipment?
- ?When should I use LCL instead of a full container?
- ?How is LCL shipping calculated — is it charged by CBM?
- ?What is CBM and how do I calculate it?
- ?What is the minimum volume for LCL shipping?
- ?Why are LCL destination charges so high?
- ?Does LCL include customs clearance?
- ?Should I use LCL or air freight for my shipment?
Guides in this section (2)
LCL vs FCL: How to Choose for Small Orders from China
LCL or a full container? The real answer hides in the 15–25 CBM crossover zone and the destination fees nobody quotes you. Here's how to decide.
Read →The Hidden LCL Fees Nobody Quotes You (and How to Protect Yourself)
A $80/CBM ocean rate that lands with $60/CBM in surprise charges. How CFS fees, documentation and handling turn cheap LCL quotes expensive — and what a clean quote looks like.
Read →