---
title: "FCL (Full Container Load)"
description: "FCL (full container load) is an ocean shipment in which the cargo occupies a full container of any size, as opposed to LCL (less than container load)."
language: en
canonical: https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/full-container-load/
lifecycle: live
dateModified: 2026-08-20T06:44:09Z
topics:
  - "Prep"
---

# FCL (Full Container Load)

FCL (full container load) is an ocean shipment in which the cargo occupies a full container of any size, as opposed to LCL (less than container load).

## What is FCL?

FCL (full container load) is an ocean shipment in which the cargo occupies a full container (of any size).

![Two trucks compared: FCL container filled entirely with one shipper's cargo (red); LCL container mixing red, blue and gray blocks from multiple importers' shipments.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ynj1yl20/development/ef1420ac281b8e697e3e5ea73fdf5e0e63b574f5-500x207.png)

An FCL shipment can be [stuffed](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/stuffing/) at the supplier, and then trucked directly to the CY (container yard):

![FCL flow diagram: factory and container labeled Supplier, then crane and ship at Origin CY, crane at Destination CY, ending at a warehouse labeled Destination.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ynj1yl20/development/11509055eb003fb450a3b9a3d675b9db485c19ac-2034x358.gif)

The container can either be [live unloaded](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/live-unload/) at the destination, or the trucker can do a [drop](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/drop/).

### How are FCL shipments charged?

FCL shipments are charged at a flat rate per container.

### What are the most common container sizes?

The most common container sizes are:

- 20' container

- 40' container

- 40' [HC (High Cube)](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/high-cube-container/) container

- 45' [HC (High Cube)](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/high-cube-container/) container

See [How Much Cargo Fits in a Container](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/help/container-size-volume/) for more information on cargo sizes and capacity.

Back to the [full glossary](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/).

---

*This is a markdown version of [https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/full-container-load/](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/full-container-load/) for AI/LLM consumption.*