FCL (Full Container Load) means you book an entire container — typically 20ft or 40ft. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares space with other shippers. The choice affects cost, transit time, and handling.
FCL is cost-effective when you have enough cargo to fill at least 60–70% of a container. Below that, LCL is typically cheaper per cubic meter even accounting for consolidation fees.
LCL has longer transit times because cargo must be consolidated at origin and deconsolidated at destination. This adds 3–7 days vs FCL on the same route.
For e-commerce, most sellers start on LCL and move to FCL as order volume grows. The crossover point depends on product density and the specific trade lane pricing at the time of booking.