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Overview
Ship smaller cargo, without the wait
Is your shipment too small to fill a whole container? LCL shipping lets you share a container that's consolidated with cargo from other businesses, so your boxes and pallets move when you need them to — instead of waiting to fill a full container with your cargo.
It works for palletised boxes, crates, and small package boxes, and accommodates both stackable and non-stackable cargo, fitting standard 20' and 40' containers. That means you're never held back by shipment size or cargo type. It also helps you find space during busy periods, when container availability is tight and demand is harder to predict.
Only pay for what you ship
LCL gives you the flexibility to ship smaller quantities more often, reacting to demand instead of waiting on it — ideal if you move small shipments frequently, or want to test a new market without committing to full-container volumes. You only pay for the space your cargo occupies, sharing both the container and the cost with other shippers.
That makes LCL cheaper than air freight and reduces how much you need to spend on inventory and warehousing since you're not stockpiling goods to justify a full container. It's a natural fit for industry sectors like fashion, lifestyle, automotive, technology, and FMCG.
Why Maersk Less-than-Container Load?
Tailor-made LCL solutions with the flexibility to switch transport modes, so you can ship per your needs instead of waiting to fill a full container.
Access more than 165 countries, 750+ direct main port-pairs, and 20,000+ point-pairs — giving you shipping options wherever your business needs to go.
Get loading priority for Maersk LCL consolidations, space commitment for every booking, and predictable lead times you can plan around.
Get an instant price based on your cargo volume, a clear breakdown of incoterm-based costs, and booking confirmation within 4 hours of request.
Track and monitor your shipments, with 24/7 end-to-end visibility into delivery timelines.
Shipping small volumes? Here’s how LCL works
Submit your cargo details. We offer pick-up services and can also take care of customs clearance on your behalf.
Cargo is grouped with compatible LCL shipments, loaded and sealed in a shared container at origin.
The container moves via Maersk's ocean network.
Cargo is separated at destination and delivered directly to you or to our warehouse.
How to book
Book online
Already a Maersk customer? Get instant prices and book your Less-than-Container Load shipments online with a few clicks.
Contact our LCL experts
If you need further information about our Less-than-Container Load services, get in touch with us by filling the form below.
Get additional services with your LCL booking
When you book your LCL digitally, you have the option to add additional logistics services that can speed up and simplify your supply chain.
You can add door-to-door delivery to your booking, which means that we will take care of the pickup and delivery of your cargo. The Maersk Customs Services team is also on hand to ensure seamless movement and simplification of your imports and exports anywhere in the world. Our team of experts are happy to support you to keep your goods moving round the clock.
In case your cargo is timebound, we recommend our Air Freight services instead of shipping LCL via ocean. With Maersk Air Freight, you can fly your small volume cargo quickly across the globe.
Take your supply chain all the way
No matter your industry, we provide global and local services for businesses of all sizes, helping you unlock the full potential of your supply chain.
Local info
Access your local office for detailed shipping information and local support.
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Contact our LCL experts
If you need further information about our Less-than-Container Load (LCL) services, please fill out the form below with your details and request, and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
To get instant price for the shipment of your small volume cargo, please register here. It just takes a few steps to register and get access to our online booking portal.
Please note that we only serve enterprises.
Thank you for contacting us!
Your enquiry has been successfully submitted. Our experts will review your request and get back to you shortly. We appreciate your interest and look forward to assisting you with your logistics needs.
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