FCL: full container load shipping
FCL, or full container load, is ocean shipping where one shipper books an entire container, usually a 20-foot, 40-foot or 40-foot high cube, and the container travels sealed from loading to destination. Most closeout exports move FCL because freight is paid per container and the goods are not mixed with other shippers' cargo.
Reviewed by Tyler Kober · Updated
Key takeaways
- FCL is priced per container, so cost per unit falls as you fill the box.
- A 40-foot high cube is about one foot taller than a standard 40-foot, which suits light, bulky closeouts.
- Dense goods hit the weight limit before the container is full; check limits at origin and destination.
What does FCL mean?
FCL stands for full container load. One shipper books an entire ocean container, packs it (or has it packed), and it is sealed and shipped to the destination without other shippers' cargo inside. You pay a rate for the container, not for the space your goods use, so the fuller the box, the lower the freight per unit.
How FCL is used for closeouts
For closeout exporters, the container is the unit of planning:
| Container | Typical use in closeouts |
|---|---|
| 20-foot | Dense goods (liquids, hardware) that hit weight before volume; smaller first orders |
| 40-foot | General mixed loads |
| 40-foot high cube | Light, bulky goods such as apparel, bedding, plastics and toys |
Key choices when loading:
- Floor-loaded or palletized. Floor-loading fits more; pallets load and unload faster.
- Mix. Combining dense and light goods can fill both the weight and the space.
- Loading order. Goods needed first at destination go in last.
- Seal and documents. The seal number goes on the bill of lading and packing list.
Weight limits come from the container's rating and from road rules at origin and destination, which can be lower than the container's limit. Check both.
Example
An exporter buys a mix of closeout apparel, shoes and household goods for a store network at home. Apparel is light and bulky, so the exporter books a 40-foot high cube and floor-loads cartons to fill the height. Heavier household goods go on the floor at the back, apparel on top and toward the doors. The container is sealed at the seller's dock and trucked to the port.
The common confusion
"Container" and "truckload" are not interchangeable. A 53-foot US trailer and a 40-foot container have different lengths, heights and weight rules, so a load that fills one may not fit the other. FCL is also different from LCL shipping, where your cargo shares a container with others. For pallet counts and fit, see pallet and FCL vs LCL for export.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What container sizes are used for FCL?
The common dry containers are 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube. Standard containers are 8 feet 6 inches tall outside; high cubes are 9 feet 6 inches. Internal volume is roughly 33 cubic meters for a 20-foot, 67 for a 40-foot and 76 for a 40-foot high cube, but exact figures vary by container.
Is FCL cheaper than LCL?
Per cubic meter, usually yes once you have enough goods to fill most of a container, because you pay one price for the box instead of a rate per cubic meter plus consolidation handling. For small first orders, LCL can cost less overall. Compare both quotes when volume is in between.
Should a closeout container be palletized or floor-loaded?
Floor-loading cartons uses more of the container's space and avoids pallet weight, so more goods fit. Palletizing makes loading and unloading faster and reduces carton damage. Exporters often floor-load light goods to maximize cube and palletize heavy or fragile goods. Check what the destination warehouse can unload.
Related
Send a list or manifest and we'll come back with an offer. Approved buyers see live loads, prices and manifests. Or call +1 215 278 4122.