LCL Ocean Freight Shipping
What is LCL ocean freight?
LCL (Less than Container Load) consolidates your cargo with other shippers' goods into a single shared container. You pay only for the space you use — billed per CBM (or weight/measure, whichever is greater). LCL is typically the most cost-effective option for shipments under 10–15 CBM that don't require a dedicated box.
Holo Cargo quotes return fast. Our AI-assisted operations team handles consolidation coordination and keeps pricing competitive — with a named operator on every shipment.
How LCL pricing works
LCL freight is billed on weight/measure (W/M): the greater of actual weight (per 1,000 kg = 1 CBM equivalent) or volumetric measurement in CBM. So a 2-tonne pallet measuring 1.5 CBM bills at 2 CBM; a 500 kg shipment at 3 CBM bills at 3 CBM.
Key LCL charges:
| Charge | Description |
|---|---|
| OFR — Ocean Freight Rate | Per-CBM rate on the main ocean leg |
| CFS — Container Freight Station | Consolidation/deconsolidation fee at origin and destination ports |
| BAF — Bunker Adjustment Factor | Fuel surcharge, applied per CBM |
| BL Fee | Bill of Lading fee (shared or house BL) |
| THC — Terminal Handling Charge | Port terminal fee both ends |
Consolidation: how Holo handles your cargo
Holo can self-consolidate your LCL shipments — grouping multiple bookings into our own containers — or receive co-loaded consolidations from partner consolidators. Cost allocation is calculated by CBM, by weight/measure, or manually for special cargo. This gives you flexibility whether you're shipping one pallet or a partial load.
For more detail on how consolidation works and the cost savings it unlocks, see consolidation services.
Indicative transit times
Transit times are indicative and confirmed at booking. LCL adds CFS dwell time (typically 2–5 days at each end) on top of vessel transit.
| Route distance | Typical ocean transit |
|---|---|
| Short-haul (less than 2,000 km) | ~7 days + CFS |
| Medium (less than 8,000 km) | ~21 days + CFS |
| Long (less than 16,000 km) | ~35 days + CFS |
| Ultra-long | up to ~45 days + CFS |
When LCL beats FCL
- Volume under 10–15 CBM — paying for a partial container beats hiring a full one
- Frequent small shipments — book as cargo is ready rather than waiting to fill a box
- Budget-conscious importers — pay only for what you ship
- Flexible schedules — regular consolidation departures on most trade lanes
Once your volume consistently exceeds 15 CBM per shipment, FCL ocean freight typically offers better per-unit economics and faster port turnaround.
Move types and Incoterms
LCL is available on door-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-door, and port-to-port moves. The Incoterm you're trading on determines who arranges and pays for which leg. See Incoterms explained to understand where your responsibility ends and your buyer's begins.