LCL-vs-FCL-Rechner
Vollcontainer oder Sammelladung? Geben Sie Ihr Ladevolumen ein und sehen Sie den Break-even — inklusive der Ziel-CFS-Gebühren, die die meisten LCL-Angebote verschweigen.
Unsicher? Nutzen Sie zuerst den CBM-Rechner.
Die Spannen überlappen bei 12 CBM (Break-even ≈ 10.7–33.3 CBM für USA). Live-Tarife entscheiden — wir koten LCL und FCL nebeneinander, jede Gebühr aufgelistet.
Nur Referenzschätzungen — die Endkosten hängen vom exakten HS-Code, deklariertem Wert, Abholstadt und Live-Tarifen ab. Fordern Sie ein exaktes Komplettangebot an.
LCL- & FCL-Angebote für USA →How the break-even works
The math is one division: break-even CBM = container price ÷ effective LCL rate per CBM. The catch is the word “effective” — the LCL rate on your quote is not the whole price. At destination, the container freight station (CFS) charges $30–60 per CBM to deconsolidate your cargo, and most quotes list it as a separate line you only see on the invoice.
Worked example, US: a 20ft runs ~$1,500–2,500; LCL is ~$45–80/CBM plus $30–60 CFS — so ~$75–140/CBM effective. Divide and the break-even lands around 11–33 CBM. That's why between 10 and 15 CBM the honest answer is always “quote both”.
Container cheat sheet
| Container | Capacity | Payload | Pallets (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft | 33.2 CBM | ~25,000 kg | 9–11 |
| 40ft | 67.7 CBM | ~27,600 kg | 20–24 |
| 40ft High Cube | ~76 CBM | ~26,500 kg | 20–24 |
A 40ft costs only ~20–25% more than a 20ft but carries twice the volume — past ~34 CBM it's almost always the better unit economics.
Money isn't the only difference
- FCL transits faster: no waiting for co-loaders to fill the container — typically 3–7 days saved port-to-port.
- FCL handling is gentler: your cargo is loaded once at origin and unloaded once at destination. LCL cargo gets handled at both CFS stations.
- LCL only pays for space used: below ~10 CBM, renting a whole container for 30 CBM of air never wins.
- FCL clears customs as one entry: one manifest, one inspection risk — LCL shipments share the container's fate.
Rechner-FAQ
+ Does the calculator include customs duties?
No — it compares the freight modes only. Duties depend on your goods' HS code and declared value; our CBM & Landed Cost Calculator handles the full landed picture.
+ My cargo is light but bulky. Does weight matter?
For sea freight, rarely — you're billed by CBM unless density exceeds ~1,000 kg/CBM. A 20ft's payload (~25t) only binds on genuinely dense goods like tiles or metal.
+ Why does the break-even range look so wide?
Because both container prices and LCL rates are live market ranges. The overlap zone is real — that's exactly when you should force both quotes and compare line by line.
Wollen Sie beide Zahlen — komplett und schriftlich?
Schicken Sie uns Ihre Ladungsdetails — wir koten LCL und FCL nebeneinander, jede Gebühr aufgeschlüsselt, innerhalb von 24 Stunden.
LCL- & FCL-Angebote anfordern