Wood flooring is heavy, dense cargo. Shipping method can swing your per-m² landed cost by 20-60%. Here’s how to pick between LCL (Less than Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load) — and why the answer isn’t always “bigger is better.”
The 90-second framework
- Under 400m² engineered flooring → LCL almost always wins
- 400-800m² → It depends. Run both quotes.
- Over 800m² → FCL almost always wins (even with partial fill)
- Mixed SKUs totaling 1,200-1,800m² → FCL hands-down; consolidate with supplier
FCL (Full Container Load) economics
| Container size | Capacity (engineered flooring) | Shanghai → LCB freight (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 20’GP | ~900 m² | $650 – $1,200 |
| 40’GP | ~1,500 m² | $1,000 – $2,100 |
| 40’HQ (high-cube) | ~1,800 m² | $1,100 – $2,400 |
Per-m² freight in FCL: $0.70 – $1.35 at full load.
LCL (Less than Container Load) economics
LCL bills by CBM (cubic meters) or weight, whichever is higher. Engineered flooring is dense — CBM bill is usually the binding constraint.
- 1 m² of 15mm engineered flooring ≈ 0.018 m³ packaged
- 100 m² ≈ 1.8 CBM
- LCL Shanghai → Bangkok: $60-90 per CBM
- Per-m² freight in LCL: $1.10 – $1.60
LCL looks competitive per m², but:
The 5 hidden LCL costs buyers miss
- CFS handling fees (Container Freight Station) — both origin and destination: $80-150 each side
- Documentation fees — $50-100 per shipment
- Delivery to consolidation warehouse — $100-200
- Longer transit time — LCL typically 18-28 days vs FCL 14-18. Planning cost.
- Higher damage risk — multiple handling points, shared container = scratches/scuffs. Budget 3-5% breakage instead of FCL’s 1-2%.
Add these up: LCL’s real total cost often exceeds FCL even at 400-600m² volumes.
Head-to-head: 600m² Herringbone Oak example
| Cost item | LCL | FCL (half-filled 20’GP) |
|---|---|---|
| Freight | $720 (12 CBM × $60) | $850 |
| CFS fees (both ends) | $250 | $0 |
| Documentation | $80 | $60 |
| Delivery to consolidator | $150 | $0 |
| THC (destination) | $80 | $220 |
| Damage allowance (5% vs 1%) | $900 | $180 |
| Total | $2,180 | $1,310 |
| Per m² | $3.63 | $2.18 |
FCL half-empty still beats LCL by 40%, because you avoid CFS, delivery-to-consolidator, and most damage risk.
When LCL actually wins
- Under 200m² sample or trial order — FCL’s fixed costs dominate
- Irregular shipment timing when consolidation with other cargo is impossible
- Buyer has own warehouse in origin region (skips CFS origin fee)
- Air-freight for urgent replacement (different use case, but sometimes faster than LCL ocean)
The smart B2B approach: consolidate with your supplier
If your project needs 500m² of one SKU and your factory has other buyers needing Thailand-bound flooring, ask to co-load into a shared FCL. We do this routinely for Thailand buyers — you get FCL economics at LCL volume.
Ask any Thai supplier: “Can you consolidate my 500m² with another buyer’s shipment to Laem Chabang this month?”
Decision table — use this
| Your volume | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 200 m² | LCL or Air | FCL fixed costs dominate |
| 200-500 m² | Ask for co-load FCL | Supplier consolidates with others |
| 500-900 m² | 20’GP FCL | Even half-full, beats LCL |
| 900-1,500 m² | 40’GP FCL | Sweet spot |
| 1,500-1,800 m² | 40’HQ FCL | Maximum per-m² efficiency |
| Multi-SKU under 1,800 | Mixed FCL | One freight, no extra charge |
Have a specific volume? Share your SKU + quantity list and we’ll quote both LCL and FCL side by side so you see the real total landed cost difference. LINE: @yongjifloors · [email protected].
Related: Full Landed Cost Breakdown · MOQ Negotiation Guide
📚 Working on a wood flooring project?
Yongji is a 28-year wood flooring manufacturer (China Top 100, FSC/CE/Blue Angel/ENF certified) shipping direct to Thailand & Asia-Pacific B2B projects. Multilingual sales support in English, Thai, and Chinese. Free 2026 catalog + 5-piece sample box for first 10 inquiries each month.