How is LCL freight calculated?

Per weight or measure: the greater of the cubic metres or the tonnes of 1,000 kg, with a minimum of one W/M. A shipment of 3 m³ weighing 1,800 kg pays freight on 3 W/M.

What is the maximum size for an LCL shipment?

It depends on the forwarder. DHL's terms cap LCL at 20 m³ or 10,000 kg ex Asia Pacific, and 30 m³ or 15,000 kg in the Americas and EMEA, with no piece over 2,500 kg.

Term

Less than container load (LCL)

Less than container load (LCL) is ocean freight for shipments too small to fill a container: a forwarder or NVOCC packs several shippers' cargo into one box at a freight station and unpacks it at destination. It is priced per weight or measure (W/M) — the greater of cubic metres or tonnes — usually with a one-W/M minimum.

Also called LCL, LCL shipping, LCL freight, CFS/CFS, shared containerUpdated 14 October 2026

How LCL is priced

Freight is charged per cubic metre or per 1,000 kg, whichever gives the carrier more revenue — Seko Container Lines' tariff says so in those words.
Each shipment pays at least the charge for 1 m³ or 1,000 kg.
Local charges often use the same basis: Maersk's Japan tariff of September 2025 charges an export CFS handling fee of JPY 6,680 per W/M, minimum 1 W/M.
Non-stackable cargo costs more: Maersk applies a universal 1.5× multiplier to charges billed per W/M or per m³.

Who carries the risk

On CFS/CFS terms the carrier packs the cargo into containers at its origin freight station and unpacks it at the destination station — in Seko's tariff, all at the risk and expense of the cargo. The goods share a box with other shippers' cargo and wait at both ends: for the consolidation to close at origin, and for the box to be stripped at destination.

LCL has limits. DHL Global Forwarding's terms require LCL cargo to be stackable and under 2,500 kg a piece, and cap a shipment ex Asia Pacific at 20 m³ or 10,000 kg, and in the Americas and EMEA at 30 m³ or 15,000 kg.

Worked example: one shipment, two ratios

3 m³ weighing 1,800 kg · ocean freight at 1:1 (1 m³ = 1,000 kg) → 3 W/M, billed on volume · origin and destination charges at 1:3 (1 m³ = 300 kg) → 900 kg volumetric < 1,800 kg gross → billed on weight · Japan export CFS fee: 3 W/M × JPY 6,680 = JPY 20,040

Ratios from DHL Global Forwarding's Singapore ocean freight terms (valid from 16 December 2021), which use 363 kg per m³ for US inland points; CFS fee from Maersk's Japan local charges, 4 September 2025.

The mistake people make

Using one ratio for every line of the quote. The freight may bill on volume while the origin and destination charges, at a different density ratio, bill on weight — so a dense shipment that looks cheap on freight costs more at both ends. Read each charge's basis before comparing quotes.

FAQ