---
title: "LCL (Less than Container Load)"
description: "LCL (less than container load) is a mode of shipping via ocean, recommended when your shipment isn't large enough to fill an entire container. LCL shipments are consolidated with others into one container."
language: en
canonical: https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/less-than-container-load/
lifecycle: live
dateModified: 2026-08-20T06:44:11Z
topics:
  - "Inventory Management"
  - "Save Money on Intl Freight"
  - "Buyer's Consolidation"
  - "Ocean Freight"
---

# LCL (Less than Container Load)

LCL (less than container load) is a mode of shipping via ocean, recommended when your shipment isn't large enough to fill an entire container. LCL shipments are consolidated with others into one container.

## What is LCL?

LCL (less than container load) is a mode of shipping via ocean. If you don’t have [enough cargo to fill up an entire container](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/help/container-size-volume/), consider shipping LCL.

An LCL shipment will be [consolidated](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/consolidation/) with other LCL shipments into one container.

![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 LCL shipment will be consolidated at a [CFS (container freight station)](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/container-freight-station/) before [gating in](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/gating-in/) at the [CY (container yard)](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/container-yard/) at origin, and [deconsolidated](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/glossary/deconsolidation/) at destination:

![Horizontal LCL shipment flow with icons and labels: Supplier factory, Origin CFS warehouse, Origin CY crane and ship, Destination CY crane, Destination CFS warehouse, Destination building.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ynj1yl20/development/22b9b6a141a0cadc9da6209e573f38beaa7928b9-1904x254.gif)

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

---

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