FCL (Full Container Load) means renting a whole container, full or not. LCL (Less than Container Load) means sharing a container with other importers and paying for the space you use, in cubic metres. The choice is not only technical: it defines your cost per unit and the date you will have inventory.
The cubic-metre rule
A 20-foot container holds roughly 28 to 33 usable m³; a 40-foot, 55 to 67 m³. In LCL you pay a per-m³ rate higher than the equivalent FCL rate, because it includes consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination.
The practical market reference: below 10 to 12 m³, LCL is almost always cheaper. Above 15 m³, a 20-foot container usually matches or beats the consolidation in cost, and arrives sooner. Between 12 and 15 m³ you should quote both, because it depends on the lane and the season.
Costs that do not show in the first quote
Time and handling
FCL is generally faster: the container is sealed at the supplier’s factory and not opened until your warehouse (or a customs inspection). LCL adds consolidation days at origin and deconsolidation at destination, and your cargo is handled more times. For fragile goods or high value per m³, that weighs on the decision.
When LCL is the right call
When you import frequently in small lots and prefer rotating inventory to tied-up capital. When you are starting out and want to test a supplier without committing to a container. When your product is not fragile and a few extra transit days do not hurt your operation. Our weekly Miami to Santo Domingo consolidation is built for exactly that.
Compute the real volume of your order (length by width by height of each package) and send it to us. We quote LCL and FCL side by side.
Talk to the team