Sea containers: types, sizes and how to choose when importing from China

Sea freight moves the vast majority of imports from China for one reason: it's by far the cheapest option by volume. But choosing the wrong container type or load mode can inflate the cost per unit or, worse, damage your goods.

In this guide we go over the container types, their sizes, the difference between FCL and LCL, and how to optimise loading.

The most common container types

• 20' Dry (standard): about 33 m³ and up to ~28 tonnes; ideal for heavy, compact loads.
• 40' Dry: about 67 m³; the most used for medium-high volume that isn't too heavy.
• 40' High Cube (HC): like the 40' but about 30 cm taller, ~76 m³; perfect for bulky, light goods.
• Reefer (refrigerated): for products requiring controlled temperature.
• Open Top and Flat Rack: for oversized loads or those that don't fit through the door, such as machinery.

FCL or LCL: full container or groupage?

FCL (Full Container Load) is a whole container for you: cheaper per unit, faster at port and safer, because your goods aren't handled alongside others'. LCL (Less than Container Load) or groupage shares a container with other shipments: it's the option for small volumes, but the cost per cubic metre is higher, lead times somewhat longer and there's more handling.

Rule of thumb: from around 13-15 m³ it usually pays to switch from LCL to a full 20' container.

How much really fits in a container

The nominal volume is never used 100%: between packaging, pallets and gaps, you typically fill around 80-85% of the theoretical volume. So it's worth calculating real fill with your box dimensions and, if you use pallets, considering how they fit on the container floor.

Factors that most affect freight cost

• The season: rates rise before key dates such as Chinese New Year or the Christmas campaign.
• The origin and destination ports.
• The weight-to-volume ratio of the cargo.
• Surcharges (fuel, port congestion, etc.).

Common mistakes

• Ordering LCL when you almost fill a 20' and ending up paying more.
• Not checking packaging and stowage, and receiving damaged goods.
• Forgetting destination costs when comparing rates.

How R'S WARE helps you

We consolidate orders from several suppliers into one shipment, choose the container type and mode that best fit your volume, and supervise packaging and stowage at origin, so you make the most of every cubic metre and your goods arrive intact and at the lowest cost.