Ocean freight rates: FCL, LCL and what you actually pay
Ocean freight is the cheapest way to move cargo between continents, and the quote is rarely one number. Here's how full-container and shared-container shipments are priced, what fits in each box, and every charge between your door and theirs.
Short answer: Ocean freight is priced per container for a full container load (FCL) or per revenue ton for less than a container (LCL): the greater of the cargo's cubic meters and its weight in metric tons. On top of the ocean rate come fuel and other surcharges, terminal handling at both ports, customs filings, duties and taxes, and trucking at each end. A 20' container holds about 33 m³, a 40' about 67 m³ and a 40' high cube about 76 m³.
Updated November 2, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group
Full container or shared container
FCL: full container load
One price per container. Sealed at origin, opened at destination, less handling and lower damage risk. You pay for the whole box whether or not it’s full.
LCL: less than container load
Billed per revenue ton (1 m³ or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater). Your cargo is consolidated with others at origin and split out at destination, which adds handling and a few days.
Worked LCL example
Three pallets, each 120 × 100 × 150 cm and 400 kg. Volume is 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 = 1.8 m³ per pallet, 5.4 m³ in all. Weight is 1,200 kg, or 1.2 metric tons. The larger number wins: the shipment bills as 5.4 revenue tons.
Check yours with the chargeable weight and LCL W/M calculator.
What fits in each container
| Container | Internal volume | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | About 33 m³ (1,170 ft³) | Heavy, dense cargo; often hits the weight limit before it fills |
| 40' standard | About 67 m³ (2,390 ft³) | General cargo; usually the best price per cubic meter |
| 40' high cube | About 76 m³ (2,690 ft³) | Light, bulky cargo; a foot taller than a standard 40' |
Nominal internal volumes; usable space is lower once cargo is packed. The weight you can load is often capped by road limits at the origin or destination, not by the container.
Every charge between your door and theirs
- Origin
- Pickup or drayage to the port, export documentation, origin terminal handling (THC); for LCL, loading at the consolidation warehouse (CFS).
- Ocean freight
- The base rate per container (FCL) or per revenue ton (LCL).
- Surcharges
- Bunker (fuel) adjustment, peak season and other carrier surcharges, often quoted as separate lines.
- US import filings
- An Importer Security Filing (ISF, “10+2”) is due before cargo is loaded at the foreign port; a customs entry is filed on arrival.
- Destination
- Destination terminal handling; for LCL, unloading at the deconsolidation warehouse.
- Duties and taxes
- Set by the commodity's tariff classification, value and origin; paid by the importer of record.
- Delivery
- Drayage or LTL/truckload from the port or warehouse to the consignee.
- If boxes are kept too long
- Demurrage (container held at the terminal) and detention (container kept outside it) accrue per day after the free time.
Ocean rates move too fast, and vary too much by port pair, for a dated table to be useful. GetShippingRates publishes historical price benchmarks only for LTL.
Ocean, air standard and air express compared for your shipment, door to door or port to port, with transit days and how long each price is valid. How international quoting works or compare with air freight rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (full container load) means you pay for a whole container, whether or not you fill it, and it travels sealed from origin to destination. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers' cargo and is billed per revenue ton, with extra handling at consolidation warehouses at each end.
What is a revenue ton (W/M)?
The billing unit for LCL: weight or measure, whichever is greater. One revenue ton is 1 cubic meter or 1,000 kg. Light, bulky cargo bills on cubic meters; dense cargo bills on weight.
When should I switch from LCL to a full container?
When the LCL charges for your volume approach the price of a 20' container. Because LCL carries extra warehouse handling at both ends, a container can win before it's full. Ask for both prices once your shipment is a large share of a 20' box.
Why don't you publish ocean freight rates?
Container rates swing with capacity, fuel and demand, often by large amounts within a few weeks, and differ by port pair. GetShippingRates publishes historical benchmarks only for LTL; ocean is quoted live for your route and date.
Do ocean freight quotes include customs and duties?
Customs filing can be part of the service, but duties and import taxes are separate and depend on the commodity's classification, value and origin. Check whether a quote is port to port or door to door before comparing.
More shipping cost guides
Get a live ocean freight quote
Send the origin and destination (door or port), pallets or cartons with dimensions and weight, and the commodity. Armstrong's team prices ocean against air express and air standard, with transit days for each, and books the route you choose.
Prefer to talk? Call 877-240-1181 or email info@getshippingrates.com. Shipping several modes? Request a free multimodal shipping review.