Enter your cargo and your forwarder's quotes. See the cheapest option, the cost per carton, how full a container would be, and the break-even point — instantly and free.
Going FCL? See exactly how your cartons fit — carton count, 3D load plan, PDF & Excel for your warehouse.
Get the 3D load plan free →LCL is charged per revenue ton (W/M): the larger of your volume in CBM or your weight in tonnes, never less than the minimum, plus fixed CFS and documentation fees. FCL is a fixed price per container plus local fees, so the cost only changes when you need another container.
The calculator compares LCL with one or more 20ft, 40ft and 40ft High Cube containers, checks both volume and weight, and shows where the lines cross — your break-even CBM.
| LCL | FCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Charged by | W/M (CBM or tonnes, whichever is higher) | Per container |
| Typically cheaper for | Under ~12–15 CBM | Above ~12–15 CBM |
| Transit & handling | Longer — consolidated at CFS | Faster — door to door sealed |
| Damage risk | Higher — handled more often | Lower — only your cargo |
More detail in our guide FCL vs LCL shipping: meaning, cost & when FCL is cheaper. Need the volume first? Use the CBM calculator. Want the exact carton count for a container? Use the container loading calculator.
Usually once your shipment is above about 12–15 CBM, because a 20ft container costs a fixed amount while LCL is charged per cubic metre. The exact point depends on your own rates — this calculator finds the break-even for your quotes.
LCL is charged per revenue ton (W/M): the larger of your volume in CBM or your weight in tonnes (1,000 kg = 1 W/M), usually with a 1 CBM minimum. Origin and destination CFS handling and documentation fees are added on top.
In practice about 26–28 CBM in a 20ft (33 CBM inside), 56–58 CBM in a 40ft (67 CBM) and 66–68 CBM in a 40ft High Cube (76 CBM), because cartons never fill every gap. For an exact count use the container loading calculator.
No — they are example figures so you can see how the comparison works. Replace them with the rates from your freight forwarder for your route and date.