FCL entails transporting your items in a full container, as their titles suggest. With this choice, you pay for the full container, leaving only the space for your belongings. Shippers that have a lot of goods—enough to fill a 20 or 40-foot container—typically choose this option. However, a lot of people also choose FCL when their items are close enough to filling the container that the distinction is irrelevant. This typically has a tipping threshold of 10 cubic meters (CBM).

LCL involves sharing container space with shipments belonging to other people. While FCL lets you control an entire container, LCL consolidates your shipment with those of others. Shipping less than a container load is an option often explored by people shipping smaller volumes or looking for flexible delivery options. LCL is typically considered for shipments that weigh between 1 to 10 CBM.