Every exporter shipping by sea faces the same question: book a whole container (FCL — Full Container Load) or share space with others (LCL — Less than Container Load)? The answer depends on volume, budget, urgency and the nature of your goods.
Quick comparison
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Per container | Per cubic metre or tonne (whichever is higher) |
| Best volume | Above ~13–15 m³ | ~1 to 13 m³ |
| Transit time | Faster — no consolidation | +5–10 days for consolidation and devanning |
| Handling | Loaded once, sealed to destination | Handled at origin and destination warehouses |
| Damage risk | Lower | Higher — mixed cargo |
| Customs risk | Only your cargo | An inspection of another shipper's goods can delay the whole container |
Container capacity at a glance
- 20' standard: about 28–33 m³, max payload around 25 tonnes (road weight limits in the US are lower)
- 40' standard: about 58–67 m³
- 40' high cube: about 68–76 m³ — popular for furniture and light, bulky goods
Finding the break-even point
Multiply your volume by the LCL rate per m³ and add the extra LCL charges (CFS handling at both ends, destination devanning). Compare this with the all-in cost of a 20' container. On the Vietnam–US lane, FCL usually becomes cheaper somewhere around 13–15 m³ — sometimes earlier when LCL destination charges are high.
When LCL is the smart choice
- Test orders and new products
- Regular small replenishments to a US warehouse
- E-commerce sellers shipping to Amazon FBA in small batches
When to insist on FCL
- Fragile, high-value or temperature-sensitive goods
- Strict delivery deadlines
- Volumes close to the break-even point — the extra space buys speed and safety
Tips for LCL shippers
- Palletise and shrink-wrap to reduce handling damage.
- Mark every carton clearly with consignee and shipping marks.
- Choose a consolidator with direct (not co-loaded) services to the US.
We offer both FCL and consolidated LCL from Vietnam and Cambodia to the US and Canada, with DDP delivery. Read our guide to ocean freight rates or get a quote for your volume.