Full container or shared container? How each works, what it costs and when to switch.
FCL (Full Container Load) means you have a 20ft or 40ft container to yourself. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods share a container with others.
LCL — best for smaller volumes
You pay for the space you use. It can take a little longer because goods are consolidated at origin and separated at destination.
FCL — best for volume and security
Your container is sealed at loading and opened at destination. Fewer touches mean less risk of damage, and once you fill roughly half a container FCL often costs about the same as LCL.
See container shipping to Kenya.
Container sizes at a glance
| Container | Approx. volume | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | About 33 m³ | 1–2 bedroom home, ~10 pallets |
| 40ft standard | About 67 m³ | Larger home, ~20–21 pallets |
| 40ft high cube | About 76 m³ | Bulky, light cargo |
How LCL works
Your cargo is delivered to a consolidation warehouse, loaded into a shared container with other shippers’ goods, shipped to Kenya, and separated (deconsolidated) at destination. You pay for the cubic metres you use, plus handling at both ends.
How FCL works
An empty container is delivered to you (or your goods are taken to a warehouse), loaded, sealed and trucked to the port. It stays sealed until it reaches destination unless customs inspects it. You pay a price per container regardless of how full it is.
The break-even point
Because LCL is charged per cubic metre and FCL per container, there is a point where a full container becomes better value — often around half a 20ft container, depending on rates. We compare both options on every quote.
See container shipping to Kenya and sea freight.
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