What does FCL mean in shipping?

Full container load: one shipper books a whole container for its own goods and pays a fixed rate for the box, whether or not the goods fill it.

When is FCL cheaper than LCL?

When the goods take up most of the container. Maersk suggests FCL for shipments of about 15 cubic metres or more; below that, paying by volume in a shared box is usually cheaper.

Who is responsible for packing an FCL container?

Usually the shipper, which also seals it. Under Maersk's terms, a container delivered with its original seal intact leaves the carrier not liable for a shortage found inside.

Term

Full container load (FCL)

Full container load (FCL) is a container booked by one shipper for its own goods, priced per container rather than by volume — even if the goods do not fill it. The shipper usually packs and seals it, and it stays sealed from origin to destination. Maersk suggests FCL from about 15 cubic metres.

Also called FCL, FCL shipping, full container, FCL vs LCLUpdated 13 October 2026

How FCL works

Maersk defines FCL as goods from a single shipper occupying the entire container. The box is fully booked by that shipper even if it is not 100% full, priced at a flat rate per container, and stays sealed from origin to destination. LCL is the opposite: several shippers share a box, each paying by volume, with more handling along the way.

	FCL	LCL
Price	Fixed rate per container	Pay by volume, in cubic metres
Handling	Sealed from origin to delivery	More handling, more exposure to risk
Suits	High-volume shipments, typically 15+ CBM	Smaller shipments

Maersk's own comparison, 2025

Worked example: what a 40ft costs to land

Forto's UK import charges, 1 July–30 September 2026: per container THC £215 + ISPS £30 + inspection £40 + handling £50 + energy levy £25 + fuel transition £35 = £395 · per bill of lading documents £55 + entry £20 = £75 → £470 for one 40ft on one bill

The same £470 whether the 67.6 m³ box is full or a third full — which is why FCL pays off only once the goods fill most of it.

Who packs it, and who answers for it

On FCL the shipper normally packs and seals the container. Maersk's terms make the merchant responsible for packing and sealing shipper-packed containers, and if the container is delivered with its original seal intact, the carrier is not liable for any shortage found at delivery. The international CTU Code adds that the packer must make sure the box is not overloaded and the cargo is secured.

The mistake people make

Filling the box past its rating to use the space already paid for. A wrong weight can put the container in an unsuitable stowage position on the ship, the CTU Code warns, and terminals charge for it: ONE's Jebel Ali tariff carries a penalty of AED 1,300 for containers loaded beyond their rated capacity.

FAQ