| FCL option | Your quote | Current difference | Simple break-even |
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How LCL W/M charging works
Many less-than-container-load quotations use a weight-or-measurement (W/M) basis. A common calculation compares shipment volume in cubic metres with gross weight in metric tonnes and uses the larger number as the revenue-ton quantity: W/M = max(CBM, gross kg ÷ 1,000, quoted minimum). DHL Global Forwarding describes LCL cost as being based on whichever of volume or weight is larger, while also noting that origin and destination charges can be significant.
Worked example: 12 CBM and 3,500 kg
3,500 kg equals 3.5 metric tonnes. Comparing 12 CBM with 3.5 tonnes gives a planning W/M quantity of 12 revenue tonnes, so measurement controls. At £75 per W/M plus £250 of fixed charges, the simple LCL estimate is £1,150.
There is no universal “switch to FCL at X CBM” rule
Rules of thumb can be useful for initial thinking, but the actual crossover depends on the lane, season, origin and destination charges, free time, pickup/delivery arrangements, container size and the rates you have been quoted. That is why this tool asks for your own LCL rate and FCL prices rather than inventing a universal threshold.
The simple break-even shown in the table answers a narrower question: at the entered LCL rate and fixed charges, approximately how much CBM would produce the same linehaul-style amount as the FCL quote? It does not prove that all-in LCL and FCL invoices are equivalent at that volume.
Costs to include before choosing LCL or FCL
- origin receiving/CFS and documentation charges;
- destination CFS, deconsolidation and handling charges;
- terminal, security, fuel or currency surcharges where applicable;
- pickup, delivery, customs clearance and examination fees;
- detention/demurrage exposure and warehouse handling;
- the commercial cost of extra consolidation or deconsolidation time.
Capacity still matters
A cheap FCL quote is not useful if the cargo exceeds the selected container's planning volume or payload. The main Shipment Workspace comparison checks the shipment against the dry-container reference capacities before including an FCL option in its recommendation set.
For dense cargo, weight can also control W/M: 2.0 CBM weighing 3,000 kg compares 2.0 with 3.0 tonnes, so weight produces 3.0 W/M before any quote-specific rounding or minimum.
Continue planning the shipment
Shipment Workspace
Enter mixed cargo once and carry the same data through volume, chargeable weight, pallets, containers and freight costing.
Methodology & sources
See the formulas, planning assumptions, source links and review dates behind ShipMeasure.
Packaging efficiency
Find the carton-volume threshold where dimensional weight stops exceeding actual weight.