FCL stands for Full Container Load. The container is packed with one shipper’s cargo and closed. Nobody else’s goods share the space, and the box is not opened for consolidation at either end.
The alternative is LCL, Less than Container Load, where multiple shippers’ cargo is consolidated into one container and separated at destination.
The Real Difference
It looks like a volume question. It is actually a question about control and handling.
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Container contents | One shipper | Several shippers |
| Loaded at | Your factory | A consolidation warehouse |
| Opened at | Your consignee or site | A deconsolidation warehouse |
| Bill of lading | One | One per shipper |
| Cargo touched in transit | No | Yes, at both ends |
| Damage risk | Lower | Higher |
With FCL, the container is sealed at your factory and opened where you choose. With LCL, the cargo is handled by someone else at both ends, and each handling is a chance for damage.
When FCL Starts to Make Sense
There is no universal threshold, but two triggers are reliable:
Volume. Above roughly 15 cubic metres, FCL is usually cheaper than LCL. The exact crossover depends on the route and the rate at the time.
Handling sensitivity. Cargo that cannot be stacked, cannot be mixed with other goods, or cannot be re-handled should go FCL even below the volume threshold. Machinery, electronics in original packaging and anything with a fragile finish all fall here.
The Payload Limits
Weight is the constraint people forget. A container’s volume fills before its payload, or the other way round, depending on the cargo.
| Container | Usable volume | Nominal payload |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | about 33 m³ | about 28 t |
| 40HQ | about 76 m³ | about 26 t |
| 40 Open Top | about 65 m³ | about 26 t |
| 40 Flat Rack | open top, no sides | above 40 t |
Nominal figures. They vary by carrier and equipment. Confirm against the actual booking.
A 40HQ gives you more space than a 20GP but less payload. For dense cargo that is counterintuitive and expensive. Dense cargo often goes in a 20GP; bulky cargo goes in a 40HQ.
What the Packing Case Changes
The dimension that decides the container is the packed size, not the product size.
A machine that measures 2.3 m on its own becomes 2.5 m once crated. That is the difference between fitting through a 40HQ door (about 2.58 m) and needing an open top.
Three numbers to get before booking:
- Packed dimensions, per unit
- Gross weight, per unit
- Whether the cargo can be stacked
The third one decides whether you are paying for volume you cannot use.
What Goes Wrong
Packing based on product dimensions. The crates do not fit, and the container is repacked at the terminal.
A 40HQ booked for dense cargo. The weight limit is reached with the container half full.
Assuming FCL removes all handling. The container is still lifted, stacked and driven. It removes handling of the cargo, not of the box.
Free time forgotten. FCL containers still accrue demurrage and detention. See the entry on those.
Related Entries
Key Facts
- FCL = one shipper’s cargo, container sealed at origin.
- Above roughly 15 m³, FCL usually beats LCL on cost.
- Sensitive cargo should go FCL below the volume threshold too, because it avoids re-handling.
- A 40HQ has more volume but less payload than a 20GP.
- The packed dimensions, not the product dimensions, decide the container.
- FCL does not remove demurrage and detention risk.