Full container or consolidated cargo? Which one to choose
By Martín Novoa, Founder of Dinasty Partners · Updated · 4 min read
Short answer
A full container (FCL) makes sense when your cargo comes close to filling a 20-foot container, about 25 to 28 m³ of usable space. Below that volume, consolidated cargo (LCL) is the better choice: you share the container with other importers and pay only for the cubic meters you use, in exchange for a bit more handling and lead time.
Capacity of each container
| Container | Internal volume | Usable in practice |
|---|---|---|
| 20-foot (20') | ~33 m³ | ~25 to 28 m³ |
| 40-foot (40') | ~67 m³ | ~55 to 60 m³ |
| 40-foot high cube (40'HC) | ~76 m³ | ~65 to 68 m³ |
FCL vs LCL
| Full container (FCL) | Consolidated (LCL) | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay for | The whole container | The m³ you occupy |
| Makes sense from | Volume close to a 20' | 1 m³ and up |
| Handling | Sealed at the factory, opened at destination | Loaded and unloaded with other cargo |
| Lead time | Ships as soon as your cargo is ready | Depends on the consolidation cut-off date |
At Dinasty Partners we bring in several containers a month at pre-negotiated rates: if your volume doesn't fill a container, you join the next shipment without paying for empty space.