AnalysisChina trade · The arithmetic, in four steps
How is LCL calculated, and why the same box can bill two different amounts
Less-than-container load is billed on the weight-or-measure rule: the carrier calculates both the volume in cubic metres and the weight in tonnes, and charges on whichever produces the larger figure. One cubic metre is 35.3 cubic feet, and the revenue ton is conventionally one tonne set against one cubic metre. Everything else on an LCL invoice — the CFS line, the entry, the ISF — is fixed per shipment and does not scale with the cargo, which is why small LCL shipments are expensive per unit.
Step one: the volume
Measure each carton at its largest points, including pallet if it is palletised, because the carrier gauges the outside of what it handles rather than the goods inside.
Length × width × height in metres gives cubic metres per carton. Multiply by the carton count. If you are working in inches, divide the cubic inches by 61,024 to get cubic metres, or work in cubic feet and divide by 35.3.
A pallet is the common error: a 1.2 × 1.0 metre pallet at 1.5 metres loaded is 1.8 CBM whatever the cartons on it measure.
Step two: the weight, and the comparison
Take the gross weight in tonnes — the goods plus packaging plus pallet. Then compare:
| Shipment | Volume | Gross weight | Billed on | Chargeable units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light and bulky | 8 CBM | 2.1 t | Measure | 8 |
| Dense | 3 CBM | 4.4 t | Weight | 4.4 |
| Balanced | 6 CBM | 5.9 t | Measure | 6 |
Whichever number is larger is the number you are charged on. That is the whole rule, and it is why two shipments of identical volume can bill very differently.
Step three: the lines that do not scale
The per-unit rate is not the invoice. Fixed charges land on top and stay the same whether the shipment is 2 CBM or 12:
- Customs brokerage entry, $100-250 per entry.
- ISF filing, $35-100 per shipment.
- Documentation, $50-100 per bill.
- Destination CFS handling, $15-165 per CBM — this one does scale, and it is the largest
variable on the destination side.
Divide the total by the chargeable units and the per-CBM cost of a small shipment is often several times the quoted rate.
Step four: check it against a full container
Once the fixed lines are in, compare against a 20-foot booking. The crossover usually sits between 13 and 15 CBM and moves with density: dense cargo hits it sooner because the weight side of the rule takes over.
If you are within a few cubic metres of the boundary, price both. A full container also removes the CFS line, the consolidation wait and the shared-box risk, none of which appears in a per-CBM comparison.
Where this goes next
Three pages carry the rest of this question: the number behind it, the comparison of whoever would do it, and the check that runs before you pay.
- where the freight quote stops and the invoice continues — the figure behind it
- who consolidates less-than-container loads — who does it
- the licence and bond behind the company name — check the licence
Two neighbouring pieces sit closer to this one than any of them: What is the cheapest way to ship from China to the USA, and what sets the bill on a vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
How is LCL calculated?
The carrier works out the volume in cubic metres and the weight in tonnes and bills on whichever is larger. One cubic metre is 35.3 cubic feet, and the revenue ton is one tonne set against one cubic metre.
How do I calculate CBM?
Length × width × height in metres per carton, multiplied by the carton count. From cubic inches, divide by 61,024. Measure the outside of what the carrier handles, pallet included.
Does the pallet count in the volume?
Yes. A 1.2 × 1.0 metre pallet loaded to 1.5 metres is 1.8 CBM regardless of what the cartons on it measure, because that is the space it occupies in the box.
Why is my small LCL shipment so expensive per CBM?
Entry at $100-250, ISF at $35-100 and documentation at $50-100 are fixed per shipment and do not shrink with the cargo. Divided over few cubic metres they dominate the per-unit cost.
At what volume should I switch to a full container?
Usually between 13 and 15 CBM, earlier for dense cargo. Price both near the boundary: a full container also removes the CFS charge and the consolidation wait.
Sources
- SeaRates measurement of 299 pages ranking for landed cost queries, 07/26/2026 — published ranges for the handling lines.
- Unit conventions: 1 CBM = 35.3 cubic feet, 61,024 cubic inches; revenue ton as one tonne against one cubic metre.
- SeaRates measurement of 23 pages ranking for LCL consolidator queries, 07/26/2026.