FCL Shipping – Full Container Load Freight from the USA
FCL (full container load) shipping means your cargo has exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container. You pay a flat rate per container, and it usually becomes cheaper than LCL once cargo exceeds roughly 13–15 cubic metres.
Part of our ocean freight forwarding service, FCL gives you a sealed container, fewer handling points and a more predictable schedule.
Last updated: October 2026
What Is Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping?
With FCL, one shipper books an entire container. It's loaded at your facility or a warehouse, sealed, and stays closed until it reaches the consignee, unless customs selects it for inspection. Containers are measured in TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units): a 20ft container is 1 TEU and a 40ft container is 2 TEU.
- Your cargo isn't mixed with anyone else's
- Less handling means lower risk of damage or loss
- No waiting for consolidation, so transit is usually shorter than LCL
- You can use the full space even if the container isn't completely full
Container Types and Sizes
A standard 40ft container holds about 67 cubic metres; a 40ft high cube about 76. Here's how the common types compare:
| Container | Internal size (L × W × H) | Approx. capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft dry | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33 CBM · about 10 standard pallets | Dense or heavy cargo: machinery parts, tiles, metals |
| 40ft dry | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67 CBM · about 20 standard pallets | General cargo, furniture, retail goods |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 76 CBM | Light, bulky cargo that needs extra height |
| Open top | 20ft or 40ft, no fixed roof | Loaded from above | Tall cargo and items loaded by crane |
| Flat rack | 20ft or 40ft, no sides or roof | Out-of-gauge cargo | Vehicles, boats and heavy equipment shipping |
Dimensions are approximate and vary slightly by manufacturer. Maximum payload depends on the carrier, container and road weight limits, and is confirmed at booking.
When FCL Makes More Sense Than LCL
- Your shipment is over about 13–15 cubic metres
- The cargo is fragile, high-value or easily damaged by extra handling
- You have a firm delivery deadline
- Everything goes to one consignee at one destination
- You ship regularly and want predictable capacity
Not enough cargo to fill a container? LCL shipping lets you pay only for the space you use.
What's Included in an FCL Quote
An FCL quote is more than the ocean rate. Ask any forwarder to show these lines so you can compare like for like:
| Charge group | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Origin charges | Drayage (trucking the container), terminal handling at the US port, export documentation and AES filing |
| Ocean freight | The carrier's container rate plus surcharges such as fuel (BAF) |
| Destination charges | Terminal handling, documentation and delivery at the destination, depending on the Incoterm® |
| Possible extras | Demurrage, detention, chassis fees, storage, customs exams and waiting time |
Demurrage vs detention
Demurrage is charged when a full container stays inside the port terminal past its free days. Detention is charged when the container is kept outside the terminal past its free days before being returned. Both are avoided by planning pickup and unloading in advance. We flag free time on every booking.
Our FCL Shipping Process
Each step below is part of our full ocean shipping process, described on the ocean freight forwarding page.
- Booking. We confirm the container type, sailing and cut-off dates.
- Container delivery. An empty container is delivered for live loading (driver waits) or drop-and-pick (left for you to load).
- Loading and seal. You load and secure the cargo; the container is sealed and the weight (VGM) is declared.
- Export documents. We file the AES/EEI where required and prepare the shipping instructions.
- Sailing. The container is delivered to the port before cut-off and loaded on the vessel.
- Arrival and delivery. After clearance, the container is delivered or released for pickup.
Port-to-Port or Door-to-Door FCL
Port-to-port covers the ocean leg only; you or your buyer arrange trucking at each end. Door-to-door adds pickup at your facility and delivery to the consignee, so one team manages the whole move. See door-to-door shipping for details.
Request an FCL Shipping Quote
Choose ocean freight, then FCL, and tell us the container size, origin and destination. We'll reply with an itemized quote. Prefer to talk? Call +1 (888) 310-1917, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm ET.
FCL Shipping FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a 40ft container?
It depends on the trade lane, season, fuel surcharges and origin and destination charges, so prices change frequently. Request a quote with your origin, destination and cargo details for a current, itemized price.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is charged when a loaded container stays in the port terminal past its free days. Detention is charged when a container is kept outside the terminal past its free days before being returned empty or full.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?
Roughly 10 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) fit in a 20ft container and about 20 in a 40ft, single-stacked. The exact number depends on pallet size, stacking and weight.
Can I load the container at my own facility?
Yes. We can arrange live loading, where the driver waits while you load, or drop-and-pick, where the container is left for you to load and collected later.
How far in advance should I book an FCL shipment?
Booking one to two weeks ahead is a good habit, and earlier in peak season. Earlier booking gives more choice of sailings and equipment.
Can you ship oversized cargo that won't fit in a standard container?
Yes. Flat racks, open tops and breakbulk options handle out-of-gauge cargo. See heavy equipment shipping.