The Cost-effective Way to Ship cargo to Spain from the USA

Calculate International Shipping Costs to Spain in Minutes

For a budget-friendly option, use Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) sea freight to ship goods overseas in boxes or crates.

You might be surprised at how quickly you can get a quote and how affordable the prices can be.

Use this online LCL freight calculator to find the lowest prices for shipping cargo from the USA to Spain in a few clicks, without contacting an international shipping company.

You can access this tool 24/7 from anywhere in the world. It quickly calculates freight prices, and it is free to use. You can request as many quotes as you need, and there are no obligations.

This three-minute YouTube video should help you with your online quotes.

But what exactly is LCL freight?

Less-than-Container-Load is a sea freight service designed to ship overseas goods in boxes stacked on pallets and crates.

It is ideal for commercial commodities, e-commerce shipments, personal belongings, or moving household goods to Spain. You don’t need to book an entire container. It makes it cost-effective by allowing you to share container space.

How does LCL reduce international shipping costs?

It is an ideal solution when your shipment is too large for standard parcel service but too small to fill a 40-foot container. If your shipment meets these conditions and you can pack everything securely in boxes or crates, it is a much more cost-effective international shipping option than air freight, parcel services, or FCL.

Beyond the price, Less-than-Container-Load offers some other significant advantages:

Convenience: You can drop off your load at an ocean carrier terminal (CFS) or schedule a pickup from your business or residence. Many CFS terminals even offer professional palletizing services.
Flexibility: When delivering a load to a CFS, you can bring your load on any CFS's working day. No appointment is necessary. That means you’re in control of your timeline.
Simple Cost Structure: The price is determined by the volume of your cargo, not its weight. This makes it easier to budget and plan your shipment or move.

For more information on shipping to Spain from the USA using LCL, please visit this link.

How to start shipping to Spain with this online calculator?

It's simple: select the nearest city from the online calculator's dropdown list, follow a few simple steps, and get the international shipping cost in minutes. Then, email the quote to yourself, keep it on record, and proceed to booking online whenever you are ready to ship.

Helpful tips

If you're new to cargo transportation by sea, we've compiled this guide to help you understand the basics of sending goods from the U.S. If you already have experience in worldwide cargo transportation, you should consider these step-by-step instructions for utilizing the online sea freight calculator in your business.
Do you need to brush up on details such as palletizing cargo, understanding the volume a cubic meter holds, or complying with wood packing restrictions? Our helpful resource section provides everything you need, including access to essential documents and references, located on the top menu of our website.

Shipping to Spain from the USA remotely

You can quickly set up international deliveries using this online calculator when purchasing from Amazon, eBay, or other U.S. sellers. Click the image below to discover how simple it is.

Once you receive your price quote, please provide your email address so you can access it in your email inbox for future reference. A unique reference number accompanies each quote. You can book your shipment immediately or reply to the quote with follow-up questions.

About AMID Logistics

AMID Logistics is a licensed U.S. freight forwarder specializing in cargo transportation by sea. We offer Less-Than-Container Load services for transporting goods from the United States to overseas destinations. We support the transportation of commercial commodities, e-commerce shipments, personal belongings, and household goods for families relocating from the United States.

Our website features a 24/7 freight calculator for quick estimates of international shipping costs. This tool lets you easily quote and book loads shipping to Spain. You can manage your shipments anywhere, from your office or home.

Consider joining our Affiliates and Referrals Network. Check out our Customer Reviews.

We're always available by email, and our team is just a phone call away during business hours to help with your global cargo transportation needs. Please feel free to contact us via email or call us.

FAQs – Less-than-Container-Load

1. What is LCL?

It refers to a method of transporting goods overseas by sea, where the loads of multiple shippers are consolidated into a single container for shipment. This is ideal for businesses or individuals that don’t have enough volume to justify the cost of a whole 20- or 40-foot box. Consolidators combine shipments from various clients and manage the logistics, including consolidation and documentation.

2. What is the best suited for LCL?

It is ideal for:

Volumes below 15 cubic meters (CBM)
Non-time-sensitive shipments
Products with standard or manageable packaging dimensions
Businesses testing new markets with low-volume exports/imports
E-commerce sellers needing regular but smaller shipments
Personal belongings that are too large for standard parcel service but too small to fill a 40-foot box.

Not suitable for:

Oversized, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items
Fragile or perishable items without proper packaging
High-risk or high-value items that require private handling

3. How is pricing calculated?

Prices are based on:

Chargeable Volume (CBM): Most commonly used basis
Chargeable Weight: If cargo is dense, it may be charged based on weight using a "dimensional weight" formula
Minimum Billable CBM: Typically 1 CBM

Surcharges:

Origin Handling (OHC)
Destination Handling (DHC)
Documentation fees
Port and terminal charges
Customs clearance fees
Local delivery (if required)

CBM Calculation:
CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) × Number of units

For example:
2 pallets each 1.0m × 1.2m × 0.8m = 1.92 CBM total

4. What is the process of shipping to Spain from start to finish?

Booking: You contact a freight forwarder and provide shipment details (dimensions, weight, HS code, etc.)
Drop-off or Pickup: Deliver to a CFS or arrange pickup.
Consolidation: Groups your shipment with others.
Ocean Transport: The Container is loaded onto a vessel and transported to the destination port.
Deconsolidation: At the destination, the loads are unpacked and separated.
Customs Clearance: Import documents are submitted and reviewed by local customs.
Final Delivery: The import is delivered to your warehouse or the nominated address.

5. How long does it take?

It typically takes longer than FCL because of:

Pre-shipment consolidation time (2–5 days)
Transit time (varies by route; e.g., Asia to U.S. = 20–30 days)
Deconsolidation at destination (1–4 days)
Customs clearance (1–7 days, depending on the country and documentation)

Total transit time: Usually 25–45 days, depending on origin, destination, and customs procedures.

6. What documents are required?

Typical required documents include:

Commercial Invoice – Describes the commodity and value for customs
Packing List – Details quantity, dimensions, and packaging
Bill of Lading – Proof of shipment, issued by the carrier or forwarder
Certificate of Origin – May be needed for preferential trade agreements
Import/Export Licenses – For restricted commodities
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) – For chemicals or hazardous items

Optional but useful:

Insurance certificate
Inspection certificates (if required by buyer or authority)

7. What are the main advantages of the service?

Cost-effective for smaller volume shipments
Flexible: ship as little as 1 CBM
Regular schedules on popular trade routes
No need to wait until sufficient for FCL

8. What are the risks or disadvantages?

Longer transit times
Higher risk of damage or loss due to multiple handling stages
Increased paperwork and customs interactions
Complexity in tracking compared to FCL
Delays occur if one shipper faces customs issues

9. What is a Container Freight Station (CFS)?

A CFS is a bonded facility where LCL shipments are consolidated (stuffed) before export or deconsolidated (unstuffed) upon arrival. CFSs are key to the LCL logistics chain and often handle warehousing, inspections, labeling, and even short-term storage.

10. Is it insured by default?

No, shipments are not automatically insured. It may be worth purchasing insurance, especially since LCL shipments involve more touchpoints and are more susceptible to damage.

11. Can I ship hazardous or temperature-sensitive commodities?

Yes, but with strict conditions:

Hazardous items require UN classification, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and prior approval from the carrier.
Temperature-sensitive items generally cannot be shipped via standard LCL unless specialized refrigerated services are available, which are limited in scope.
Additional surcharges and documentation apply

12. Can I track an LCL shipment?

Yes. Most international shipping companies provide:

Tracking portals or updates via email
Major milestone tracking: Booking confirmed → Cargo received → Loaded on board → Vessel departed → Vessel arrived → Deconsolidated → Out for delivery

Note: The tracking is less granular than parcel or courier tracking.

13. How do customs clearance and duties work for LCL shipments?

Each consignee must clear their portion of the shipment separately
Import duties, VAT/GST, and brokerage fees are assessed per consignee
Customs inspections for one consignee may delay the entire release

14. What are the common causes of delay in LCL shipments?

Late delivery to CFS
Improper or incomplete documentation
Customs hold at the origin or destination
Port congestion or weather delays
Misdeclaration of a commodity by other shippers in the shared container