LCL or FCL: how to choose and not overpay
Groupage against a whole container: the break-even point, the hidden costs and the typical mistakes. We always calculate both options for your Russian customer.
The two options
LCL (Less than Container Load)
Your customer pays only for its own packages in a shared container: from €200 per package and from €500 per euro pallet door to door from Europe. It pays off from about 0.5 up to roughly 13–15 m³.
FCL (Full Container Load)
The whole container is booked: a 20′ (about 33 m³) or a 40′ (about 67 m³). The rate is fixed per container, however full it is.
Where the break-even point lies
The break-even point is around 13–15 m³: above that, LCL costs more than a whole 20-foot container. If your buyer regularly orders 10 m³ or more, it is worth calculating FCL, which is often cheaper already at that level. The cargo also travels faster, because there is no consolidation stage, and nobody else’s goods are handled together with yours.
For you as the supplier the difference shows up at collection: an LCL consignment goes to our consolidation warehouse in Rotterdam, Warsaw or Vilnius, while an FCL container is loaded at your premises and sealed there.
Hidden LCL costs that are easy to forget
- ✓Handling charges at the consolidation warehouse.
- ✓Minimum charges: a volume under 1 m³ is billed as 1 m³.
- ✓Recalculation by volumetric weight for light, bulky cargo.
The Tranzit3 rule
We always calculate both options and show the calculation. The decision stays with you and your customer.
Frequently asked questions
From what volume is FCL cheaper than LCL?
Roughly from 13–15 m³ a 20-foot container is cheaper than groupage. For regular shipments of 10 m³ and more it is worth comparing both, because FCL is often cheaper already there and travels faster.
How much does LCL from Europe cost?
From €200 per package and from €500 per euro pallet door to door. The exact price depends on volume, weight and route; volumes under 1 m³ are billed as 1 m³.
How much fits into a 20′ and a 40′ container?
About 33 m³ in a 20-foot container and about 67 m³ in a 40-foot container.
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