When you ship by sea, the first decision is how your goods will travel: in a container reserved for you alone — FCL (Full Container Load) — or consolidated with other shippers’ cargo in a shared container — LCL (Less than Container Load), also called groupage. The right answer depends on more than volume.
How each option is priced
- FCL is priced per container (20’, 40’ or 40’ High Cube), regardless of how full it is. You pay for the box.
- LCL is priced per revenue ton: the greater of the volume in cubic metres and the weight in tonnes (1 m³ = 1 tonne). You pay for the space you use — plus consolidation and deconsolidation charges at each end.
The break-even point
For a standard 20’ container (roughly 33 m³ of internal volume, around 25–28 m³ usable in practice), LCL usually stops being cheaper somewhere around 13 to 15 m³. Above that, a full container is often more economical — and faster. Below roughly 2 m³, it is worth comparing LCL with air freight, especially for valuable or urgent goods.
This is a rule of thumb, not a law: rates vary by trade lane and season, and LCL destination charges can be significant. Always compare the total landed cost, not just the ocean rate.
Beyond price: five criteria
| Criterion | FCL | LCL |
|---|---|---|
| Transit time | Faster: the container goes straight from the shipper to the vessel | Longer: add time for consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination |
| Handling | Loaded once, sealed, opened at destination | Handled several times in warehouses |
| Risk of damage | Lower | Higher, packing must be robust |
| Customs | Only your goods inside | An inspection or document problem with another shipper’s cargo can delay the whole container |
| Flexibility | You need enough cargo to justify the box | Ship small quantities more often, with less stock |
When LCL is the right choice
- First orders or samples from a new supplier;
- regular small replenishments where holding less stock matters more than transit time;
- cargo that is not urgent enough for air but too small for a container.
When FCL is the right choice
- Volumes above the break-even point;
- fragile, high-value or temperature-sensitive goods (reefer containers are FCL);
- tight deadlines, or goods that should not be handled repeatedly.
Tip: consolidate your own suppliers
If you buy from several suppliers in the same region, a forwarder can collect their goods in a warehouse at origin and load them into one FCL for you. You get container pricing and security without having one supplier fill the box.
Let us compare for you
Send us your volume, weight and route: we will quote both FCL and LCL via Casablanca or Tanger Med, including destination charges and customs clearance, so you can compare like for like. Get a quote.
