Originally published May 11th, 2022
Last updated May 19th, 2025
LCL and FCL are two terms you will get yourself very familiar with if you're running an ecommerce business that ships in products from overseas using international shipping services.
LCL and FCL refer to the two main types of freight shipping methods utilizing containers that shippers use to get their products from another country into another country to sell.
In this post, we'll go over the differences between FCL and LCL shipping, what they are, and when you would want to use one over the other for your ecommerce supply chain.
Also as a bonus I'll show you the best way to get instant quotes for every type of sea freight shipment instantly and for free!
What is an FCL Shipment?
FCL stands for "Full Container Load" and is when you fill an entire container with products and ship them overseas. A full container load is often used by importers and large shipments due to its efficiency and lower risk of damage.
What is an LCL Shipment?
LCL stands for "Less-than Container Load" and is when you fill up a partial amount of space on a container to ship your products and share the remaining container space with other sellers' products. This makes LCL shipping ideal for smaller shipments and ecommerce businesses still scaling up.
The Difference Between LCL and FCL Shipping
As the names and definitions above make it obvious, FCL is when a seller fills up an entire shipping container, and LCL is when a seller only partially fills up a container and shares the remaining space. The difference in volume of goods shipped is what separates LCL freight from an FCL shipment.
When You Should Use LCL
While the difference between FCL and LCL is obvious, there are only a few scenarios where you would want to use LCL over FCL:
- Your shipment is small and you can't fill a container. If you're starting out in ecommerce and product volume isn't high, you simply can't buy 10 or 20 pallets worth of product initially. For this reason, if you're still in the 1–6 pallet range for orders, use LCL as a cost-effective option.
- You're testing a new product/manufacturer. Similar to the previous point, when you're trying out a new product manufactured somewhere else than your typical factory, LCL shipping can be a good way to test the waters and gauge market viability.
- When LCL rate edges out FCL. When your shipment is around 8–15 pallets, it comes down to what is the more cost-effective method. Compare LCL vs FCL shipping rates to determine what makes more sense for your volume of goods.
- When a container isn't available. This is rare, but there are cases where an entire container isn't available, while LCL shipments through freight forwarders typically always have availability.
Basically, any time you don't want to fill a container or can't, you're better off going with less than container load shipping.
Negatives Around LCL - What to Know
LCL isn't perfect and carries a few weaknesses that make switching to FCL containers a smart move as your ecommerce business grows:
- 1000 kg limit per pallet. This isn’t mentioned a lot, but your pallets are limited to 1000 kg maximum using LCL. By contrast, full container pallets can be 1440 kg or heavier. That’s roughly 50% more efficiency from a single pallet—a major cost savings in terms of shipping costs and cubic meters.
- Other sellers’ problems become your problems. If any product from another seller you're sharing a container with gets flagged, your products will be delayed too due to consolidation.
- It generally takes longer. With LCL, you have less control over pickup times and transit times. Once the container reaches its destination port, it must be deconsolidated, transferred to a warehouse, and then sent to its final destination. This adds delays.
- LCL shipments lose appeal when you exceed 5 pallets. LCL shines for smaller quantities (1–4 pallets). Beyond that, it becomes inefficient. Larger shipments are better suited for full container load shipping.
When You Should Use FCL Shipments
- You are looking to maximize efficiency. FCL shipments can be packed without worrying about pallet weight limits. You can optimize each container to fit your needs and reduce overall shipping costs.
- You can easily fill one or multiple containers. If you’re regularly shipping 20 pallets or more, use FCL as it’s more efficient and reliable for large volumes.
- You need speed. FCL shipping is faster than LCL freight because there's no need for consolidation or deconsolidation. If you want to streamline your supply chain, FCL is the superior shipping method.
Negatives of FCL Shipping
- Expensive. Post-pandemic shipping rates have increased, making FCL more expensive than it used to be.
- Containers can be unavailable. Temporary shortages in container availability occasionally occur, leaving importers without access to a full container at critical times.
Secret Hack: How to Check FCL/LCL Rates On Your Own
There are many, many ways to get sea freight booked to schedule and LCL or FCL shipment.
However, a big issue is this: How do you know the rate you're getting from your freight forwarder, or your freight agent, or if the internal freight shipping your manufacturer offers is a good deal and that you're not getting ripped off?
Enter Freightos.
Freightos is a site like Expedia or Kayak, but instead of booking a flight for yourself, they book LCL and FCL shipments for products being sent across the world.
You can create an account instantly with them (most freight forwarding sites do not let you do this), and you can start checking rates based on criteria immediately. You don't have to pay for your account and you're not committed to make a purchase for just browsing rates.
Even if you don't use them, it's good to know where rates on your potential shipment stand when you're shopping around.
When a freight forwarder gives you a quote, or your manufacturer suggests using their internal freight agent to get your products shipped, compare any quote they give you with Freightos to check if their prices are within what the market is currently demanding.
Conclusion
In the ecommerce world, knowledge truly is power. Knowing how to choose the right shipping method, understanding container space limitations, and evaluating the total cost of freight shipping will give your ecommerce business an edge.
When you know just a bit more—about full container load, less than container load, shipping costs, and how to optimize each shipment—there’s less that can catch you off guard and disrupt your supply chain. And in the ecommerce business, one less headache is worth a lot.
