FCL means you use a 20GP, 40GP or 40HC on your own — fewer port-to-port handovers and usually tighter control of damage and delay. LCL shares a box among several shippers, billed per CBM, and fits small lots or trial orders to several ports.
The trade often treats 14–15 CBM as the point where a full box deserves a look. It is not a law: add LCL’s CFS inbound, palletizing, destuffing and the wait to fill the box. In peak season that wait is commonly 2–5 extra days.
Do not compare “price per CBM” alone. Add pickup, export customs, destination THC, destuffing, delivery and possible storage. Sixteen CBM in a 20GP can be cleaner than LCL — especially if the cargo hates extra handling, mixing or a missed sailing.
Commodity matters. Furniture, machinery and fragile goods prefer FCL to cut lifts. Apparel, parts and samples often fit LCL. Batteries and sensitive cargo are more restricted on LCL and may not book at all.
If you are on the fence, send pieces, cube and whether cartons can stack. We will quote FCL and LCL with transits, costs and the risk that sits on each option for that week’s schedule.
