LCL vs FCL: How to Choose the Right Shipping Method

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.

There is also a special case. For example, if a shipment is around 20 CBM, it would normally be suitable for a 20GP container. However, if FCL booking is unavailable or the available sailing schedule is too late to meet the required delivery timeline, LCL can also be considered as an alternative.

This is because LCL cargo is generally consolidated into 40HQ containers, which have more than twice the capacity of a 20GP. Therefore, during peak seasons when FCL space is difficult to secure, LCL can be a practical solution to keep the shipment moving and meet tighter schedules.

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.