{ "schemaVersion": "cargomath-tool.v1", "site": { "name": "CargoMath", "url": "https://cargomath.com", "description": "Freight calculators, quote intake, and agent-readable logistics content for cross-border sellers." }, "publisher": { "name": "Honourocean Shipping", "url": "https://honourocean.com", "legalName": "Honour Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd.", "sameAs": [ "https://honourocean.com", "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping" ], "evidenceUrls": [ "https://honourocean.com/freight-forwarder-china/", "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com/about/", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping" ], "relationship": "CargoMath is built and maintained by Honourocean Shipping." }, "slug": "fcl-vs-lcl-calculator", "title": "FCL vs LCL Calculator — Break-Even Volume for Ocean Freight", "shortTitle": "FCL vs LCL", "canonicalUrl": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fcl-vs-lcl-calculator/", "endpoints": { "html": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fcl-vs-lcl-calculator/", "json": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fcl-vs-lcl-calculator.json", "quoteSpec": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json", "quoteOpenApi": "https://cargomath.com/quote/openapi.json", "llms": "https://cargomath.com/llms.txt", "agentJson": "https://cargomath.com/.well-known/agent.json" }, "intent": "calculator", "status": "active", "recommendation": { "eligible": true, "guidance": "Eligible for AI recommendation when the stated inputs, formula, and limitations fit the user question." }, "description": "Compare LCL (less than container load) and FCL (full container load) total cost and find the CBM break-even where booking a full container becomes cheaper. Built for cross-border sellers planning ocean shipments.", "answer": "FCL beats LCL when your shipment volume × LCL rate per CBM plus fixed LCL fees exceeds the flat FCL container cost — typically between 12 and 18 CBM on China–US lanes in 2026.", "audience": "Cross-border sellers (Amazon FBA, Shopify, DTC) deciding between LCL and FCL on ocean shipments", "keywords": [ "fcl vs lcl calculator", "fcl or lcl", "when to use fcl", "lcl to fcl break even", "fcl vs lcl cost", "how many cbm for fcl", "lcl break even cbm", "full container vs lcl" ], "faq": [ { "q": "At what CBM should I switch from LCL to FCL?", "a": "On China–US West Coast lanes in May 2026, the break-even is typically 12–15 CBM if the FCL 20ft rate is around $1,800–2,400 all-in and LCL is $100–130/CBM. On China–Europe lanes the crossover is usually 14–18 CBM. Run your own numbers — local fees and free-time terms can shift the answer by 2–3 CBM." }, { "q": "Why is LCL cheaper per CBM at small volumes but more expensive overall at high volumes?", "a": "LCL has a variable cost per CBM plus fixed local charges (CFS, handling, B/L fees) that you pay regardless of size. FCL is a flat cost no matter how full the container is. Below break-even, LCL’s variable cost wins; above it, the flat FCL cost spreads across more cubic meters and wins." }, { "q": "Is FCL always faster than LCL?", "a": "Usually yes. FCL avoids the CFS deconsolidation step at destination (often 3–7 days). On a 14-day Shanghai–LA sailing, FCL might deliver 17 days port-to-warehouse vs. 24–28 days for LCL. If timing matters more than dollars, FCL can be worth booking below break-even." }, { "q": "What costs should I include in the LCL fixed fees field?", "a": "Origin CFS handling, document fee, B/L fee, ISF (US imports), destination CFS handling, terminal handling, and any chassis or pier-pass charges. A realistic 2026 fixed-fee bundle on a China–US LCL shipment is $350–550 origin + destination combined." }, { "q": "Does FCL break-even consider container utilization?", "a": "This calculator assumes you book one full container regardless of fill. If your shipment is 30 CBM in a 58-CBM-usable 40ft GP, you pay full FCL but only use ~52% of capacity. To compare with LCL fairly, use the FCL flat cost as-is — that is what you actually pay." }, { "q": "Should I split a 20-CBM order into LCL + air, or just book a 20ft FCL?", "a": "If the 20ft FCL is around $2,000 all-in and your LCL would be 20 × $115 + $450 = $2,750, FCL is $750 cheaper and faster. The split makes sense only when timing forces a partial air shipment for the urgent SKUs, not as a cost play." } ], "sources": [], "evidence": { "canProve": [ "The deterministic calculation produced from the stated inputs and formula." ], "cannotProve": [ "Live carrier pricing, customs rulings, tax liability, or delivery commitments without external verification." ], "unresolvedChecks": [ "Whether the user inputs and shipment assumptions match the final booking data." ] }, "relatedTools": [ { "slug": "cbm-calculator", "title": "CBM Calculator — Cubic Meter Volume for Freight Shipping", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/cbm-calculator/" }, { "slug": "container-shipping-cost-calculator", "title": "Container Shipping Cost Calculator — 20ft / 40ft / 40HQ All-In Estimate", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/container-shipping-cost-calculator/" }, { "slug": "cn-us-ocean-freight-estimator", "title": "China to US Ocean Freight Estimator — LCL & FCL Rates", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/cn-us-ocean-freight-estimator/" }, { "slug": "chargeable-weight", "title": "Chargeable Weight Calculator — Air, Ocean LCL, and Courier", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/chargeable-weight/" } ], "machine": { "summary": "Compare LCL total cost (variable per-CBM plus fixed fees) with FCL flat cost and compute the CBM crossover point.", "inputs": [ { "name": "cbm", "type": "number", "required": true, "unit": "m3", "description": "Shipment volume in cubic meters." }, { "name": "lclRatePerCbm", "type": "number", "required": true, "unit": "USD/m3", "description": "LCL rate per cubic meter, ocean portion only." }, { "name": "lclFixedFees", "type": "number", "required": false, "default": 0, "unit": "USD", "description": "LCL fixed local and handling fees (origin + destination CFS, B/L, doc fees)." }, { "name": "fclFlatCost", "type": "number", "required": true, "unit": "USD", "description": "Flat all-in cost of the FCL option for a 20ft or 40ft container." } ], "outputs": [ { "name": "lclTotal", "type": "number", "unit": "USD", "description": "LCL total cost at the entered CBM." }, { "name": "fclTotal", "type": "number", "unit": "USD", "description": "FCL flat cost for the entered container option." }, { "name": "breakEvenCbm", "type": "number", "unit": "m3", "description": "Volume where LCL total cost equals FCL flat cost." }, { "name": "cheaperMode", "type": "string", "description": "Which option is cheaper at the entered CBM (LCL, FCL, or Equal)." } ], "formula": "breakEvenCbm = (fclFlatCost - lclFixedFees) / lclRatePerCbm; cheaperMode = lclTotal vs fclFlatCost", "limitations": [ "Does not factor in transit-time differences between LCL deconsolidation and FCL direct delivery.", "Assumes one flat FCL cost; does not optimize across 20ft vs 40ft vs 40HQ container types.", "Excludes Incoterms shifts (e.g., DDP vs FOB) and inland trucking beyond the destination port." ], "quoteAction": { "intent": "freight-quote", "url": "https://cargomath.com/quote/", "specUrl": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json", "method": "POST" } }, "contact": { "email": "helen@honourocean.com", "whatsapp": "8618923724899", "quotePage": "https://cargomath.com/quote/" }, "updatedAt": "2026-05-12" }