LCL vs FCL: How to Choose the Right Shipping Method
A practical comparison of LCL and FCL shipping from China to help businesses choose the most cost-effective option for their cargo volume.
By Joe Zhou
Choose LCL when your shipment is under roughly 15 CBM or when consolidating from multiple suppliers. LCL offers flexibility and lower upfront costs for SMEs and growing importers.
Choose FCL when your volume consistently fills most of a 20-foot or 40-foot container. FCL provides faster transit, exclusive container use, and lower per-unit cost at scale.
When in doubt, request both LCL and FCL quotes. TENCO helps clients evaluate total landed cost — not just ocean freight — to find the optimal shipping strategy.