FCL (Full Container Load) means a whole container carries only your goods and you pay per container. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods are consolidated with other shippers' cargo and you pay per W/M for your share. LCL is cheaper for small volumes, but above the break-even point, often around 12–15 m³ for a 20ft, FCL is usually cheaper, faster and safer.
Definitions and how each works
With FCL, you book an empty container from the line or a forwarder, collect it from the depot, stuff it at your own warehouse, seal it and send it to the terminal. At destination the same box travels intact to the consignee's warehouse. The glossary entry for FCL gives the short definition.
With LCL, you deliver cartons or pallets to the consolidator's CFS (container freight station). There, cargo from many shippers is loaded into one container, shipped, and devanned at the destination CFS, where the consignee collects its goods. The consolidator is usually a forwarder or NVOCC that issues a house bill of lading to each shipper. See LCL in the glossary for the basics.
Who handles what
Under FCL you, as shipper, decide stowage, lashing and sealing, and you are responsible for the container's VGM if you are named as shipper on the B/L. Under LCL the consolidator builds the combined load and declares its VGM to the line, but that figure depends on the weights you declare, so gross weight and dimensions per package must be accurate. Customs formalities remain each shipper's or consignee's own responsibility under both FCL and LCL.
How LCL is priced: W/M
LCL is charged per revenue ton, or W/M (weight or measurement): the greater of volume in cubic metres and weight in metric tonnes, with 1 m³ treated as 1,000 kg.
- An 8 m³ shipment weighing 2,000 kg is charged 8 W/M.
- A 7 m³ shipment weighing 9,500 kg is charged 9.5 W/M because weight is higher.
- A 0.4 m³ shipment is usually still charged the 1 W/M minimum.
Volume comes from CBM; measuring and rounding are covered in how to calculate CBM and volumetric and chargeable weight.
Cost components
LCL and FCL costs are more than ocean freight. The table below is qualitative; actual amounts vary by route, line, terminal and forwarder, so check the operator's official tariff or a written quote.
| Component | LCL | FCL |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight | Per W/M, with a minimum | Per container (20', 40', 40HC) |
| Origin charges | CFS/handling fees, documentation | THC, documentation, seal |
| Destination charges | CFS/devanning fees, DO, handling | THC, DO, documentation |
| Trucking | Cargo to/from the CFS (small trucks possible) | Whole container on a trailer |
| Surcharges | Often charged per W/M | Per container (e.g. BAF) |
| Extra-cost risk | CFS storage if collected late | Demurrage, detention, terminal storage |
Destination LCL charges can be large relative to ocean freight. When comparing, ask for an all-in price to your warehouse door, not just the sea leg.
Worked example: break-even with hypothetical rates
The figures below are hypothetical and only illustrate the method. Do not use them as market prices.
- LCL all-in: ocean USD 40 + origin USD 20 + destination USD 25 = USD 85 per W/M, 1 W/M minimum.
- FCL 20' all-in: ocean USD 700 + origin USD 150 + destination USD 200 = USD 1,050 per container.
Break-even is 1,050 ÷ 85 ≈ 12.4 W/M. Below it LCL is cheaper; above it, FCL.
| Shipment volume | LCL cost (USD 85/W/M) | FCL 20' cost | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m³ | USD 255 | USD 1,050 | LCL |
| 6 m³ | USD 510 | USD 1,050 | LCL |
| 10 m³ | USD 850 | USD 1,050 | LCL |
| 12 m³ | USD 1,020 | USD 1,050 | LCL (narrowly) |
| 13 m³ | USD 1,105 | USD 1,050 | FCL |
| 15 m³ | USD 1,275 | USD 1,050 | FCL |
| 20 m³ | USD 1,700 | USD 1,050 | FCL |
Around 12–13 m³ the gap is small, so non-price factors decide: transit time, damage risk and trucking cost. For dense cargo, say 7 m³ weighing 9,500 kg, LCL charges 9.5 W/M, or USD 807.50, still below FCL, but check truck and container weight limits too. Capacities by container type are in 20ft vs 40ft vs 40HC, and the LCL vs FCL Calculator runs the comparison for you.
Transit time and risk differences
Time. LCL must meet the CFS cut-off, usually earlier than the FCL closing time, wait for the consolidation schedule and pass through deconsolidation at destination. Overall it is typically slower than FCL on the same route.
Customs. One LCL box holds many owners' goods. If one consignment is selected for further inspection, unloading or release of the others can be delayed too. Keep your paperwork complete; the checklist is in export and import documents in Indonesia.
Damage and contamination. LCL cargo is handled more often and shares space with other goods, including odorous or oily cargo. FCL gives you full control over stowage, lashing and the seal.
Delay costs. FCL carries demurrage and detention risk if the box is collected or returned late; see demurrage and detention explained. LCL usually attracts CFS storage charges if the goods are not collected promptly.
When to choose LCL or FCL
Choose LCL when:
- Volume is clearly below break-even (often under 10 m³).
- You are testing a market or shipping samples and first orders.
- The goods are robust, well packed and the schedule is not tight.
Choose FCL when:
- Volume is near or beyond break-even, or weight is high enough to make W/M expensive.
- The goods are valuable, fragile, or sensitive to odour and humidity.
- You need a more predictable schedule and full control of stuffing.
In between, consider a "not quite full" FCL: if the cost is nearly the same, use the spare space for extra stock and lower your cost per unit.
Common mistakes
- Comparing ocean freight only, without local charges at both ends and trucking.
- Forgetting the LCL minimum charge and W/M rounding.
- Measuring CBM wrongly, so the CFS re-bills on larger actual dimensions.
- Weak packaging for LCL. Cartons that survive FCL may fail after several rounds of handling.
- Ignoring FCL free time at destination, letting demurrage wipe out the saving.
- Not calculating full landed cost; see landed cost and import taxes in Indonesia.
Calculate and plan
Enter your CBM, weight and quoted rates in the LCL vs FCL Calculator. If FCL wins, plan the stowage in the 3D load planner to use the container space fully. Results are estimates; final charges follow the forwarder's or line's official quote.