What FCL and LCL mean
FCL (full container load) means you book a whole container. Only your goods are inside, it is sealed at origin and opened only for customs or at your premises. You pay per container, whether it is full or not.
LCL (less than container load) means your cartons or pallets share a container with other shippers' cargo. A consolidator receives everyone's goods at an origin warehouse, loads them together and ships them as one container. You pay only for the space your cargo takes.
Container sizes and usable volume
| Container | Internal volume | Practical load |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | About 33 cbm | About 25 to 28 cbm |
| 40ft standard | About 67 cbm | About 55 to 60 cbm |
| 40ft high cube | About 76 cbm | About 65 to 70 cbm |
You never fill the full internal volume. Carton sizes, pallets, door clearance and the need to stow cargo safely all leave gaps. Plan around the practical load. Heavy goods hit the weight limit long before the container is full, which is why dense cargo often travels in a 20ft.
Where the breakeven sits
As a rule of thumb, below about 15 cubic metres LCL is usually cheaper. Above that, a full 20ft container often costs about the same as LCL once all the per cubic metre charges are added, and it gives you a container to yourself.
The exact point moves with freight rates on your route and with the destination charges, so compare both options for shipments between about 10 and 18 cubic metres. If you regularly ship from several suppliers in the same country, consolidating them into one FCL at origin can beat several separate LCL shipments.
How LCL is charged
LCL is priced per revenue ton: one cubic metre or one metric tonne (1,000 kg), whichever is higher. A shipment of 4 cbm weighing 1,500 kg is charged as 4 revenue tons. A shipment of 2 cbm weighing 3,000 kg is charged as 3.
Most consolidators also set a minimum, often one cubic metre, and add origin and destination charges per cubic metre or per shipment. Those charges, including deconsolidation at Tema, are where LCL quotes differ most, so ask for them in writing.
Transit and clearance time
FCL is generally faster door to door. The container is loaded when your goods are ready and goes straight to the port. At Tema it can be cleared and moved to your site as soon as customs releases it.
LCL adds time at both ends. At origin, the consolidator waits until the container is full enough to sail. In Ghana, the container goes to a consolidation warehouse to be unpacked before each consignee's goods can be released. A problem with another shipper's documents should not hold your cargo, but the unpacking itself adds days. Allow extra time for LCL on any tight deadline.
Risk and handling
LCL cargo is handled more: loaded with other goods, unloaded at the Tema warehouse, then loaded again for delivery. Each move adds some risk of damage or mix ups. Pack well, use strong cartons and clear shipping marks on every package, and match the package count on your packing list exactly.
FCL suits high-value, fragile or sensitive stock, because the seal stays on until customs or you open it. Whichever you choose, we recommend cargo insurance.
Consolidation and deconsolidation in Ghana
For LCL into Tema, your goods travel under a house bill of lading issued by the consolidator. After discharge the container is moved to a deconsolidation warehouse, unpacked and checked against each house bill. Each consignee then clears their own goods through customs in ICUMS, with their own duty and permits, before collecting or arranging delivery.
Storage at the warehouse has its own free period, so documents and duty funds should be ready on arrival. As your clearing agent in Tema we handle the clearance, and our warehousing in Tema can hold goods until you need them.
See sea freight to Ghana for both options, container shipping costs for what to budget, and the import documents checklist for paperwork. Ask for FCL and LCL quotes side by side.
Questions
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL is a full container booked for your goods only, charged per container. LCL is a share of a container with other shippers, charged by the space or weight your cargo uses.
When is FCL cheaper than LCL?
As a rule of thumb, from about 15 cubic metres a full 20ft container usually costs about the same as LCL or less. Compare both for shipments between about 10 and 18 cubic metres.
How is LCL shipping to Ghana charged?
Per revenue ton: one cubic metre or one tonne, whichever is higher, usually with a minimum of one cubic metre. Origin and destination charges, including deconsolidation at Tema, are added.
How much fits in a 20ft container?
A 20ft has about 33 cubic metres of internal space, but a practical load is about 25 to 28 cubic metres, depending on carton sizes and how the cargo is stowed.
Does LCL take longer to clear in Ghana?
Usually a little longer, because the container must be unpacked at a consolidation warehouse before each shipper's goods are released. Your own clearance then follows the normal customs steps.
Is LCL safe for fragile goods?
LCL cargo is handled more often, so pack fragile goods well and insure them. For high-value or fragile stock, FCL is the safer choice.
Talk to our customs team.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.