FCL (full container load) means you pay for a whole container, full or not. LCL (less-than-container load) means your freight shares a container and you pay for the space it uses. LCL usually wins for a few pallets; FCL usually wins once you fill roughly half of a 20-foot container or more.
Why FCL is often faster and safer
An FCL container is sealed at origin and opened at destination. LCL freight is consolidated at an origin warehouse and separated at a destination warehouse, which adds handling and usually several days at each end.
When LCL makes sense
- Shipments of roughly 1 to 12 cubic meters
- Regular small replenishment orders
- Testing a new product or supplier before committing to container volumes
What to compare
Compare total landed cost, not the ocean rate alone. LCL carries warehouse handling charges at both ends that are billed per cubic meter, and these can close the gap with a full container sooner than expected.
| Container | Inside volume | Standard pallets on the floor |
|---|---|---|
| 20-foot | About 33 cubic meters | About 10 |
| 40-foot | About 67 cubic meters | About 20 to 21 |
| 40-foot high cube | About 76 cubic meters | About 20 to 21, with extra height |
Common questions
What does LCL stand for?
Less-than-container load. Your freight shares container space with other shippers' cargo.
Is there a weight limit for a container?
Yes. Besides the container's own rating, road weight limits at origin and destination usually cap the cargo well below what the container can physically hold. Tell your provider the weight early.
Written by the MeritSpan Logistics team. Last reviewed November 9, 2026. Figures are typical values; equipment and carrier rules vary.