Full container
A 20', 40' or 40' high cube with only your cargo in it. Booked with licensed ocean carriers through FMC-licensed forwarders, from China, Southeast Asia and North Europe into US ports.
What's in an FCL booking
- 01Space on a vessel, booked through an FMC-licensed forwarderport to port
- 02Booking confirmation and cut-off dates sent to you and your supplierincluded
- 03Document check before the cut-off: invoice, packing list, bill of lading draftincluded
- 04ISF and customs entry through a licensed broker partneroptional, priced separately
- 05Drayage from the US port to you or a partner warehousequoted per address
- 06One contact for the whole thingus
What fits
Approximate figures. Boxes vary a little by carrier and age.
| Measure | 20' | 40' | 40' high cube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside length | about 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) | about 12.0 m (39 ft 5 in) | about 12.0 m (39 ft 5 in) |
| Inside width | about 2.35 m (7 ft 8 in) | about 2.35 m (7 ft 8 in) | about 2.35 m (7 ft 8 in) |
| Inside height | about 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) | about 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) | about 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Space you'll realistically fill | 25–28 CBM | 55–58 CBM | 65–68 CBM |
Weight. Rated payload is printed on the door. US road limits usually cap you lower, so give us the weight early.
"Realistic" assumes cartons or pallets with normal gaps. Floor-loaded cartons fill more of the box; odd shapes fill less.
Base rates by lane
| Lane | 20' | 40' / 40'HC |
|---|---|---|
| China / Southeast Asia → US West Coast | from $2,150 | from $2,950 |
| China / Southeast Asia → US East Coast | from $3,050 | from $4,100 |
| North Europe → US East Coast | from $2,400 | from $3,600 |
| US → Europe (export) | on request | from $2,250 (40') |
Base port-to-port freight. BAF / fuel surcharge, terminal handling and government fees are added on top, and they change with the market. Your written quote lists each one.
Indicative prices. Your written quote is what counts. Rates updated October 2026. Written quotes hold for 7 days, because ocean and air rates move.
Lane not here? We price it on request. Full rate card →
Free time, and what happens after it
When your container lands, the clock starts. The terminal and the carrier each give a few days free. After that, two different daily charges can start, and people mix them up all the time.
Demurrage is the terminal's charge for a full container sitting there past its free days. It usually builds when customs isn't cleared yet, or nobody has a truck booked.
Detention is the carrier's charge for keeping its container outside the terminal too long, usually because it's waiting to be unloaded or returned empty.
Who pays? The importer, in almost every case. The way to avoid both is dull: ISF on time, entry documents ready before arrival, a delivery slot booked, and somebody ready to unload. We chase all four, but we can't unload it for you.
Free days differ by carrier and port. Your quote states them.
To quote a container we need
- Pickup city or port, and the US delivery address or port
- Container size, or the total CBM and weight so we can suggest one
- What the goods are, and roughly what they're worth
- Your Incoterm with the supplier (FOB, EXW, etc.), or "not sure"
- When the cargo is ready to load
On top of the base rate
- BAF / fuel surcharge and terminal handling (always; listed in the quote)
- Demurrage and detention, if the container overstays free time
- Chassis days for the trucker
- CBP exam fees, if your container is picked
- Duties, MPF and HMF (passed through at cost)
The vessel space is booked with licensed ocean carriers through FMC-licensed forwarders. We don't operate ships or issue the bill of lading ourselves. ISF and entries go through licensed customs broker partners.
| Task | Done by |
|---|---|
| Quote, booking, coordination, paperwork chasing | We✓Us |
| Packing, crating, palletizing | PackersOur packers or a partner crating shop near the cargo (named in your quote) |
| Ocean carriage | CarrierLicensed ocean carriers and FMC-licensed forwarders |
| Air carriage | AirlineAirlines, booked through air freight forwarder partners |
| ISF, customs entries, bonds | Broker partnerLicensed customs broker partners |
| Storage, devanning, pick & pack, FBA prep | Partner warehousePartner warehouses |
| Cargo insurance | Third-party insurerThird-party insurers |
| Pickup and final delivery in the US | Carrier partnerCarrier partners |
Container questions
Q01Is a 40' high cube more expensive than a standard 40'?
On the lanes we publish, we start both at the same price. The high cube gives you about a foot more height, which matters for tall pallets and furniture.
Q02Can my supplier load the container themselves?
Yes, and on FOB or EXW deals they usually do. Ask them for photos of the load and the seal number. If you'd like us to arrange loading at origin, say so in the quote request.
Q03Is fuel included in the price on your site?
No. The published figure is the base rate. Fuel (BAF), terminal charges and government fees are added in the written quote, line by line.
Q04When does FCL make sense over LCL?
As a rough rule, once you're around 13–15 CBM it's worth pricing both. Our guide walks through the numbers.
Got a cargo ready date? That's enough to start.
A few details about the cargo and where it's going. We reply within one business day, Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 ET, with a written quote or the questions we need answered first.
No online payment · Written quote first