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LCL vs FCL calculator: revenue tons and the 20-foot container break-even

Enter your shipment's volume and weight, your forwarder's LCL rate per revenue ton with its fixed fees, and a 20-foot container quote. The calculator shows the chargeable revenue tons, both totals and the break-even point. Every rate is your own quote.

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Last reviewed: November 15, 2026.

Compare LCL with one 20-foot container

Enter your own quotes. The defaults are illustrative assumptions, not market rates.

Volume after packing (CBM)Cubic metres of the packed cargo.

Gross weight (kg)Total weight of the packed cargo.

Weight per revenue ton (kg per CBM)Ask your forwarder which ratio applies to your route.

LCL rate per revenue ton (USD)Your forwarder's quote.

LCL destination charges per revenue ton (USD)Charges billed per revenue ton at arrival.

LCL fixed fees per shipment (USD)Documents, handling and other per-shipment fees.

20-foot container quote, all-in (USD)Your forwarder's full door or port quote.

Usable volume of one 20-foot container (CBM)Depends on your cargo and packing; ask your forwarder.

Chargeable revenue tons-

LCL total-

20-foot container total-

Break-even point-Revenue tons at which both totals are equal.

How the numbers are calculated

Revenue tons = the larger of the volume (CBM) and the weight divided by the kg-per-CBM ratio.
LCL total = revenue tons x (LCL rate + destination charges per revenue ton) + fixed fees.
20-foot container total = containers needed (volume / usable volume, rounded up, at least one) x container quote.
Break-even revenue tons = (container quote - LCL fixed fees) / (LCL rate + destination charges per revenue ton).

What this tool does not do

ChinaPayCheck is not a freight forwarder, customs broker, bank, escrow service or law firm. The calculators run in your browser on the figures you enter; nothing is sent anywhere, and the results are arithmetic, not quotes or advice.

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