LCL vs 20GP vs 40HQ: Choosing the Right Load
The three options, in real numbers
| LCL | 20GP | 40HQ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable volume | per shipment | ~28 m³ | ~65 m³ |
| Cargo weight limit | 1–15 t | 22 t | 22 t |
| Typical PP sets | 5,000–100,000 | 130,000–400,000 | 250,000–700,000 |
| Cost per m³ | highest | mid | lowest |
| Loading problem | shared container, damage risk | volume wasted first | weight never reached |
Our catalogue sits between 5.8 and 17.5 tonnes per 40HQ. Not one model in the range is weight-limited. PF-NT176-2 reaches 17.5 t — the only near-exception, and still 4.5 t short.
Where each option breaks even
Rough rule from real carton data:
- Under 10 m³ — LCL. Consolidation fees hurt, but a container minimum hurts more.
- 10–28 m³ — 20GP. Fits cleanly, no shared handling.
- 28–65 m³ — 40HQ. Best cost per piece, always.
- Over 65 m³ — 40HQ plus a second shipment, or split SKUs across two departures.
The transition at 28 m³ is not about price alone. A 20GP at full volume holds about 43% of a 40HQ, so once you pass roughly 26–28 m³ you are paying for air in the second container.
What a 40HQ actually holds
Sorted by how much volume one model can consume:
| Model | Capacity | 40HQ sets | 40HQ tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF-SC15 | 44 ml | 2,314,000 | 8.1 |
| PF-SC20 | 59 ml | 1,633,000 | 7.2 |
| PF-NT150 | 150 ml | 1,032,480 | 10.3 |
| PF-GG428 | 428 ml | 602,700 | 8.4 |
| PF-SQ750S | 750 ml | 428,400 | 9.3 |
| PF-RG750 | 750 ml | 309,750 | 9.3 |
| PF-3C900 | 900 ml | 182,700 | 8.8 |
| PF-RW2000 | 2000 ml | 104,940 | 6.1 |
| PF-RW4850 | 4850 ml | 59,280 | 7.4 |
The spread is 39× between the smallest cup and the largest basin — but the tonnage barely moves. Volume, not weight, is your constraint in every row.
Mixed loading: the real reason distributors use 40HQ
A distributor selling to restaurants rarely needs 400,000 pieces of one SKU. They need 60,000 of eight SKUs. Eight SKUs at 60,000 pieces each is roughly one 40HQ, and the arithmetic works out because small items fill the gaps around large ones.
Practical mixed-load rules:
- Load heavy, dense items (inner trays, sauce cups) first — they consolidate at the bottom
- Load large basins last — they occupy the top and the door end
- Never exceed 20 t gross; port weighbridges in Europe and Australia check
- Keep at least six SKUs per container if the buyer is a distributor, three if a chain
LCL: when it makes sense, and the hidden costs
LCL is correct for sample runs, first orders under 10 m³, and new-market tests. It is wrong for anything with a printed lid.
Hidden costs beyond the freight rate:
| Cost | Typical | Why it bites PP |
|---|---|---|
| CFS handling, both ends | USD 80–180 | charged per shipment, not per m³ |
| Consolidation damage | uninsured unless declared | PP cracks at the corner, invisible until unpacked |
| Longer transit | +7–14 days | cartons sit in a shared container through 2–3 handlings |
| Documentation | same as FCL | no saving |
If the order has IML print or a custom colour, do not ship LCL. The cost of one damaged pallet usually exceeds the LCL saving on the whole shipment.
What to give your forwarder
Three numbers, no more:
- Total CBM — sum of (carton CBM × carton count)
- Gross weight — sum of (carton gross × carton count)
- Carton count and max carton dimension
Anything else invites a wrong quote. Our cartons run from 35.5×25×48.5 cm (PF-L350) to 74×25×29 cm (PF-GG3000) — the long-thin cartons stack badly against the wide-flat ones, and a forwarder who assumes uniform pallets will misplan the load.
FAQ
How many cartons fit in a 20GP? About 43% of the 40HQ figure in the tables above. PF-SQ750 at 1,395 cartons per 40HQ becomes roughly 600 cartons per 20GP.
Can I mix LCL and FCL? Yes — send the sample order LCL, then consolidate the production run into FCL. Keep the same carton marks so the warehouse can merge them.
Is a 40HQ always cheaper per piece? Per piece, yes, above 28 m³. Per shipment, no — if your annual volume is 30 m³, a 40HQ every 18 months is worse than a 20GP twice a year, because inventory ages and specifications change.
What about 45HQ? Available in some lanes, about 76 m³. Rarely worth it for PP — the extra volume is often over the road-weight limit in the destination country.
Related reading
- How Many PP Containers Fit in a 40HQ: Real Numbers
- ml to oz: PP Food Container Capacity Chart
- Carton Optimisation: The Cheapest Freight Saving Nobody Asks For
Models covered on this site: 750 ml PF-418 · 750 ml PF-L750 · 750 ml PF-RG750 · see all models in this category.
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