LCL Container Shipping

LCL Shipment Meaning 

What is LCL shipment? LCL container shipping stands for “less than full container load”. It’s a cost-effective sea freight method, where you share a container with other customers. With this method, you only pay for the space you occupy. This way, you pay less money but continue to have an efficient service. 

FCL vs LCL  

The FCL meaning in shipping, also known as “full container load,” is a regular container shipping method where you pay for utilizing an entire container.  

Check the table below for a comparison of both services: 

 LCL Shipping Rates 

To calculate your LCL shipping cost, you must first know the total volume of your move. Because you only pay for the space occupied by your items, your sea freight rates vary significantly. 

Read more information on our page about container shipping rates in the UAE. 

How to Choose Between FCL and LCL Shipments? 

If you are not sure if you should hire an LCL service over an FCL shipment, follow the next steps to understand your needs: 

The Volume of Your Move 

The first and easiest step to find out which shipment method matches your needs is to calculate the total size of your belongings. To do so, you can use our Furniture Volume Calculator for free. This will not only help you decide which method of transportation to choose but will also ease things up when contacting moving companies. 

If you have items that can be sold or left behind, do so, as you may earn some extra cash while downsizing the LCL shipping cost. 

Container Sizes: 

• 20ft container – 32m3, suited for a one-bedroom home. 
• 40ft container – 67m3, good for a three-bedroom house. 

Routes and Destinations 

Before making a definitive decision, it is wise to consider all aspects of LCL container shipping: 

• The transit time is longer than FCL shipping. 
• When you are sharing a container with someone else, they must be headed to the same destination. 
• After arrival at the new location, the shipment is brought to a port or hub, where the items are distributed accordingly, and then delivered to your home. 

Request LCL Freight Quotes 

The first thing you must do is to request LCL freight quotes from Sirelo. By simply clicking the button below, you can receive up to 5 free moving quotes in less than 24 hours. 

How to Prepare Your Less Than Container Load Shipment? 

Before Moving 

Before starting your relocation, there are a few things you need to take care of in your household: 

• Decluttering: Get rid of all the items that no longer serve you. You can either sell them and earn extra money or donate them to charity. This will help you reduce the shipping costs. 
• Make a Record: Do an inventory of all the belongings you plan on moving abroad. This is necessary for customs and for keeping track of everything in case of theft, damage, or loss. 

Packing and Sorting 

After you decide which items to take with you to the new location, you must start the packing process. Here is what you should do:  

• Boxes: Use boxes to pack furniture and small objects. By doing this, you can easily keep track of everything by writing on the boxes themselves. Moreover, it will help keep everything organised. 
• Sort: Organize the items based on size, type, and priority. Fragile items need to stay close to the exit of the container for easy access and safety reasons. 

Arrival at the New Location 

If you opted for LCL door-to-door, you normally don’t have to worry about anything. However, following these steps can make it smoother: 

• Be present at the time of arrival. 
• Check the record you made and see whether you have missing or broken items. 

Ready For LCL International Shipping? 

 Thank you for reading. We hope you found what you were looking for. If you want more information, check our FAQ section below.