Quick Answer: Shipping LCL (consolidated) cargo from the USA to El Salvador is priced per cubic meter (CBM). With AB Group Shipping, 2 m³ and 500 kg from Miami costs from $431 (October 2026 quote), approx. $215.60 per m³, with 7 days of transit to San Salvador. Prices exclude import taxes and destination charges.
- LCL is priced per CBM using the W/M rule: 1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. Your calculator input needs both numbers.
- Transit from US gateways to Acajutla runs about 14-22 days by water, plus 3-7 days for CFS deconsolidation and DUCA-D clearance.
- LCL usually loses to a 20' FCL somewhere around 10-13 CBM — run both in the calculator before you book.
- Destination charges (THC, CFS deconsolidation, DO fee, ISPS) plus 13% IVA are not ocean freight. Budget them separately.
El Salvador's container traffic runs almost entirely through Acajutla on the Pacific coast, about 85 km from San Salvador. That single fact shapes your routing, your transit time and what the lcl shipping calculator el salvador quote actually covers.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: consolidated cargo from the USA to El Salvador
| Departure port | 2 m³ | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| MiamiCheapest | $431 | 7 days |
| Houston | $1,028 | 17 days |
| Los Angeles | $950 | 43 days |
| New Jerseyleaves from Miami | $431 | 7 days |
Port to port to San Salvador, in USD, quoted with our system on September 28, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. 2 m³ and 500 kg of general cargo; the price changes with the volume. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery.
Shipping from another state? Which port to read
Each port in the table is the one that cargo from these states usually leaves through. Miami: Florida. Houston: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Los Angeles: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and West Virginia ship through New York / New Jersey; Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama ship through Savannah; Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota ship through Chicago (rail); Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska ship through Seattle / Tacoma: those ports are not in the table yet. We pick up in every state, and the calculator finds the best port from your city.
What Is an LCL Shipping Calculator for El Salvador?
Quick Answer: An LCL shipping calculator is a tool that converts your cargo dimensions and weight into a chargeable CBM figure, then applies the per-CBM ocean rate for your lane. It prices the freight leg. It does not automatically price El Salvador import duty, 13% IVA or inland delivery unless you select those options.
LCL stands for less than container load. Your pallets share a 40' container with cargo from other shippers. A consolidator combines the loads at an origin CFS warehouse (container freight station), seals the box, and ships it as one unit.
At destination the container is opened at a bonded CFS in Acajutla. Each consignment gets separated out. That step is called deconsolidation, and it is why LCL always takes longer at destination than FCL.
What the calculator prices
- Origin pickup from your ZIP code, or CFS receiving if you deliver the cargo yourself
- Consolidation and loading at the origin CFS
- Ocean freight per chargeable CBM on your selected lane
- House bill of lading issuance under our NVOCC authority
- Base destination handling at the discharge port
What the calculator does not price
- El Salvador import duty under the Central American common tariff (SAC)
- 13% IVA assessed on CIF value plus duty
- DUCA-D filing fees from your licensed El Salvador customs broker
- Port storage or CFS demurrage after free time expires
- Special handling: hazardous goods, temperature control, oversize pieces
Pro Tip
An instant number beats an email quote for one reason: iteration. You can test 2 CBM against 4 CBM against a 20' FCL inside the same minute. Most importers discover that adding one pallet drops their cost per CBM by 15-25%. You never learn that from a single emailed rate sheet.
The calculator embedded on this page is pre-set for LCL to El Salvador. No email required, no sales call afterward.
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Go to the calculator →How Do I Calculate LCL Shipping Costs to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: Measure each pallet in meters, multiply length by width by height for CBM, then add the pieces together. Compare total CBM against gross weight in metric tons. The larger number is your chargeable unit. Multiply by the per-CBM lane rate, then add origin and destination charges.
- Measure the loaded pallet, not the product. Include the pallet base (about 0.15 m tall) and any carton overhang past the deck edge. Consolidators measure the outer footprint, not your packing list.
- Apply the CBM formula. CBM = length (m) × width (m) × height (m). A standard 48 × 40 × 50-inch pallet converts to 1.22 × 1.02 × 1.27 = about 1.58 CBM.
- Run the W/M rule. One cubic meter equals 1,000 kg. A 3.2 CBM load weighing 4,100 kg bills as 4.1 revenue tons, not 3.2.
- Enter your origin ZIP. The calculator selects your gateway automatically — Florida to PortMiami, Texas to Port Houston, California to Los Angeles/Long Beach.
- Select the destination. Acajutla port of discharge, or a door address in San Salvador, Santa Ana or San Miguel.
- Choose your Incoterm. The same cargo prices very differently under FOB Acajutla versus DAP San Salvador.
A 48 × 40-inch pallet stacked to 50 inches works out to about 1.58 CBM. Two of those pallets put you at 3.16 CBM — above the 1 CBM minimum, and squarely in LCL territory. Ten pallets at that size hit roughly 15.8 CBM, which is past the point where a 20' container usually wins.
Most LCL tariffs round up to the next 0.1 CBM and enforce a 1 CBM minimum charge. A 0.6 CBM crate therefore costs the same as a full cubic meter. Tools like the Calculate Air and Sea Shipping Freight Rates reference explain the same volumetric logic used across the industry.
How Much Does LCL Shipping to El Salvador Cost Per Cubic Meter?
Quick Answer: Cost per CBM to El Salvador depends on five things: your US origin gateway, total chargeable CBM, cargo density, the Incoterm you buy on, and the season. Small loads under 2 CBM pay a minimum charge that raises the effective per-CBM rate. The calculator prices your exact origin ZIP instantly.
We do not publish a flat per-CBM price for this lane, because there is no honest single number. Here are the drivers, ranked by how much they move the figure.
Cost drivers, ranked
- Gateway and inland trucking distance to the CFS — the single biggest variable for inland shippers
- Chargeable volume versus weight — dense cargo like tile, batteries or machinery parts gets billed on weight
- Hazardous or oversize status — DG cargo carries a surcharge and limits which consolidations accept it
- Peak-season surcharge — October through December and the pre-Mother's Day window in April
- Incoterm — FOB covers less than DAP, so the quotes are not comparable
Why the gateway matters more than shippers expect
Your region decides your port, and your port decides your water time. Florida cargo routes through PortMiami. Texas and the central states feed Port Houston. California and the Southwest use Los Angeles/Long Beach. The Northeast moves through New York/New Jersey, the Southeast through Savannah, and the Midwest by rail via Chicago to a Gulf or East Coast gateway.
An inland pickup in Denver or Minneapolis can add several hundred dollars of drayage before the cargo ever reaches a CFS dock. That cost lands in the same quote as the ocean leg, which is why ZIP-level pricing matters.
Watch the surcharge stack
An "all-in" LCL rate is rarely all-in. Ask whether BAF (bunker adjustment factor), CAF (currency adjustment factor), ISPS security and low-sulfur fuel adjustments are already inside the number. On Central American lanes those line items can add 10-20% to a quoted base rate. An itemized quote is slower to read but easier to audit.
For a neighboring-lane benchmark, see LCL Shipping USA to Guatemala 2026: Instant Quotes. Guatemala and El Salvador share feeder services and transshipment hubs, so the cost structures behave similarly.
Enter your ZIP, total CBM and gross weight at #quote-calc for a real figure on your lane.
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Go to the calculator →LCL Rates and Transit Times by US Origin Gateway
Quick Answer: Every US region feeds a different gateway, and the gateway sets both your transit time and your inland trucking cost. Miami and Houston are the shortest water legs to Acajutla. West Coast cargo moves through Los Angeles/Long Beach. Northeast and Midwest cargo adds 4-8 days of inland positioning before the vessel loads.
| US gateway | Region served | Routing to El Salvador | Water transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami (USMIA) | Florida, Southeast | Direct or transship Puerto Quetzal / Caucedo | 7 days | $431 for 2 m³ / 500 kg (Oct 2026 rates); weekly consolidations, shortest paperwork cycle |
| Port Houston (USHOU) | Texas, central states | Gulf service via Puerto Cortés or direct | 17 days | $1,028 for 2 m³ / 500 kg (Oct 2026 rates); strong Gulf coverage, good for heavy cargo |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | California, Southwest | Pacific coastwise to Acajutla | 43 days | $950 for 2 m³ / 500 kg (Oct 2026 rates); best for Asian-origin cargo arriving Pacific side |
| New York / New Jersey | Northeast | Transship Caucedo or Manzanillo, feeder to Acajutla | 7 days | $431 for 2 m³ / 500 kg, leaving from Miami (Oct 2026 rates); relay adds 5-10 days versus Gulf direct |
| Savannah (USSAV) | Georgia, Carolinas | Transship Caribbean hub, feeder to Acajutla | 17-22 days | Approx. $431 for 2 m³ / 500 kg; good CFS capacity, fewer direct sailings |
| Chicago (rail) | Midwest | Rail to Gulf or East Coast gateway, then ocean | +4-7 days pre-vessel | Approx. $431 for 2 m³ / 500 kg; rail transit lands before CFS cut-off, not vessel ETD |
Transit figures above are water time to Acajutla. They exclude origin CFS receiving and destination deconsolidation.
Cut-off is not ETD
CFS cargo cut-off usually closes 3-5 days before the vessel sails. Your cargo must be physically received, measured and documented before that gate. Shippers who plan to the published ETD routinely miss the sailing by two days and wait a full week for the next consolidation. Book to the cut-off, not the departure.
For a full timeline breakdown across every mode on this lane, read Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days.
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Go to the calculator →How Long Does LCL Ocean Freight from the USA to El Salvador Take?
Quick Answer: LCL ocean transit from US gateways to Acajutla runs about 14-22 days port to port, depending on whether the service is direct or transships through Puerto Quetzal, Caucedo or Manzanillo. Add 3-7 days at destination for CFS deconsolidation, DUCA-D filing and release before delivery.
Break your door-to-door timeline into four blocks. Quoting only the water leg is how importers miss delivery dates.
| Stage | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Origin pickup + CFS receiving | 2-5 days | Drayage to the CFS, measuring, weighing, documentation |
| Consolidation + cut-off wait | 3-7 days | Container fills, loads, gates in before cut-off |
| Ocean transit | 14-22 days | Direct sailing or transshipment relay |
| Destination CFS + clearance | 3-7 days | Deconsolidation, DUCA-D filing, DGA release |
| Total door to door | 22-41 days | Shorter from Gulf gateways, longer from the Northeast |
The main gateways run weekly consolidations to Central America. Smaller feeders sail biweekly, which can add seven days of waiting before your cargo even moves.
When overland routing beats a direct sailing
Some cargo clears faster through a neighbor. A vessel into Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala) or Puerto Cortés (Honduras) plus a bonded truck leg into San Salvador can undercut a slow East Coast relay by five to eight days. That routing needs a Central American transit declaration, so your broker has to be set up for it.
Every relay at Caucedo, Manzanillo or Puerto Quetzal adds dwell time while your container waits for the feeder vessel. A direct Gulf service to Acajutla is almost always the fastest LCL option from the United States. Ask which service your consolidation is booked on before you commit to a delivery date.
December and the pre-Mother's Day window stretch CFS dwell time in both directions. Book two to three weeks earlier than usual during those peaks. For a comparable Central American lane with the same seasonality, see LCL Shipping Miami to Panama 2026: Small Business Cost Calculator and Transit Times.
Which Port Should I Ship LCL Cargo To in El Salvador?
Quick Answer: Acajutla is the working choice for almost all LCL cargo to El Salvador. It handles the country's container volume and hosts the CFS warehouses where consolidated boxes are deconsolidated. Puerto La Unión runs limited traffic. San Salvador is an inland delivery point and a customs location, not a seaport.
MiamiUSMIA
AcajutlaSVAQJ
HoustonUSHOU
AcajutlaSVAQJ
Los AngelesUSLAX
AcajutlaSVAQJ
Acajutla (SVAQJ)
Acajutla is El Salvador's primary Pacific container gateway, roughly 85 km from San Salvador. CFS deconsolidation happens on site or at nearby bonded warehouses. Almost every US LCL consolidation to El Salvador discharges here.
Puerto La Unión
La Unión sits on the Gulf of Fonseca and is a modern facility on paper. Liner service remains thin and inconsistent, so it is rarely the right LCL choice. Booking there often means a longer wait than shipping to Acajutla and trucking east.
San Salvador and the air alternative
San Salvador is an inland delivery point and a customs location where brokers complete release. It is not a port of discharge. For urgent or high-value partial loads, air freight into Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International (SAL) cuts weeks off the timeline at a higher rate per kilo.
Pick your discharge port inside the calculator. It changes both the rate and the transit estimate.
What Destination Charges and Taxes Apply in El Salvador?
Quick Answer: Destination charges are separate from ocean freight and most online calculators hide them. Expect terminal handling (THC), CFS deconsolidation, a documentation or delivery-order fee, ISPS security, and port storage after free time. On top of that El Salvador applies import duty plus 13% IVA on the CIF value.
| Charge | Who bills it | Basis | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTHC / terminal handling | Carrier or NVOCC agent | Per CBM or per B/L | On arrival, before release |
| CFS deconsolidation | Destination CFS warehouse | Per CBM (W/M applies) | 1-3 days after discharge |
| Delivery order / documentation | NVOCC destination agent | Per B/L | At release request |
| ISPS security | Terminal | Per B/L or per CBM | With THC |
| Port storage / CFS demurrage | Terminal or CFS | Per CBM per day after free time | Only if clearance stalls |
| Import duty (SAC tariff) | DGA (customs) | % of CIF value by HS code | At DUCA-D payment |
| IVA | DGA (customs) | 13% of CIF + duty | At DUCA-D payment |
| Broker fee | Licensed El Salvador broker | Per declaration | At filing |
How the 13% IVA is actually calculated
El Salvador assesses 13% IVA on CIF value plus duty, not on the invoice value alone. Freight and insurance enter the tax base. That surprises importers who buy FOB and assume tax applies only to the goods.
Worked landed-cost example: 3 CBM shipment
Assume a 3 CBM, 900 kg consumer-goods shipment with a commercial invoice value of USD $8,000. Volume exceeds weight, so 3 CBM is the chargeable unit.
- Line 1 — Origin charges: drayage from your ZIP to the CFS, receiving, consolidation. Varies by distance. Priced by the calculator.
- Line 2 — Ocean freight: chargeable CBM × lane rate, plus BAF, CAF and ISPS. Priced by the calculator.
- Line 3 — Destination charges: THC, CFS deconsolidation, DO fee, ISPS. Quoted on request.
- Line 4 — CIF value: $8,000 goods + ocean freight + insurance = the customs base.
- Line 5 — Duty: CIF × the SAC rate for your HS code. Many US-origin goods qualify at 0% under CAFTA-DR.
- Line 6 — IVA: (CIF + duty) × 13%. If CIF lands at $8,900 and duty is $0 under CAFTA-DR, IVA = $1,157.
That math is the point. A duty-free classification does not make the shipment tax-free — the 13% IVA still applies on the full CIF base.
Confirm duty classification with a licensed broker
HS classification decides your duty rate and your CAFTA-DR eligibility. A wrong code triggers reclassification, penalties and storage charges while the cargo sits at the CFS. AB Group Shipping is a freight forwarder and NVOCC, not tax counsel. Have a licensed El Salvador customs broker confirm the classification before the vessel sails.
Destination charges and door delivery inside El Salvador are quoted on request. Submit your details at #quote-calc and we price them for your exact consignment.
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Go to the calculator →What Documents Do I Need to Clear LCL Cargo Through El Salvador Customs?
Quick Answer: El Salvador customs requires a DUCA-D import declaration filed by a licensed broker, the commercial invoice, the house bill of lading, a packing list, and a CAFTA-DR certification of origin when you claim duty-free treatment. Registered importers also need their NIT and NRC on file.
The DUCA-D is the Declaración Única Centroamericana used for definitive imports across the Central American customs union. Your broker files it electronically with the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA). The "D" version covers definitive import, as opposed to the DUCA-T used for regional transit.
Core document set
- Factura Comercial (commercial invoice) with HS codes, unit values and Incoterm stated
- House Bill of Lading issued by the NVOCC, matching the consignee's legal name exactly
- Lista de Empaque (packing list) with piece count, dimensions and gross weight
- Certificado de Origen — CAFTA-DR certification when claiming preferential duty
- DUCA-D filed by your licensed El Salvador customs broker
- Importer NIT and NRC registered and current with the DGA
CAFTA-DR duty relief
Under CAFTA-DR, qualifying US-origin goods enter El Salvador free of duty. The catch is procedural: the origin certification must match the HS classification declared on the invoice. A mismatch voids the claim and the full SAC duty applies.
Regulated categories that need permits
- Food, beverages and dietary supplements — health registry requirements
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Medical devices and pharmaceuticals
- Agrochemicals, fertilizers and pesticides
- Telecom and radio-frequency equipment
Personal effects and household goods follow a separate regime. On the US export side, returning residents use CBP Form 3299 for duty-free entry of personal effects. If you are moving boxes rather than commercial cargo, the pricing logic differs — see Boxes to Haiti Shipping Calculator: 2026 Instant Quotes for how box-based tariffs work on Caribbean and Central American lanes.
Three common rejection triggers
First: invoice value that does not match the declared customs value. Second: missing or incomplete HS codes on the commercial invoice. Third: a consignee name on the bill of lading that does not match the NIT registration. Any of the three stops release and starts the storage clock at the CFS.
Is LCL or a Full Container Cheaper for Shipping to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: LCL wins below roughly 10 CBM. A 20' container holds about 28-30 CBM of usable space and sells as one flat price, so cost per CBM keeps falling as you fill it. Break-even typically lands between 10 and 13 CBM, earlier if your cargo is dense or your Incoterm shifts handling to you.
The math is straightforward. LCL cost scales linearly — each added CBM costs about the same as the last. FCL is a fixed lump sum, so the per-CBM cost drops with every pallet you add.
| Mode | Cost basis | Door-to-door transit | Minimum volume | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCL ocean | Per chargeable CBM (W/M) | 22-41 days | 1 CBM | 1-10 CBM, repeat small orders, e-commerce restocks |
| 20' FCL | Flat per container | 18-30 days | None (you pay for the box) | 10+ CBM, sealed door-to-door, high-value goods |
| Air freight | Per kg, volumetric 1:6 | 3-8 days | None | Urgent, light, high-margin cargo under 500 kg |
What shifts the break-even earlier
- Dense cargo. The W/M rule charges weight over volume, so 8 CBM of tile can price like 12 CBM
- High per-CBM CFS handling at destination — those fees hit every cubic meter of LCL cargo
- Tight delivery dates. Skipping deconsolidation saves 3-7 days at Acajutla
- Inspection-prone commodities. One co-loader's flagged cargo holds the whole container
Choose LCL
You ship 1-10 CBM, you restock monthly, and cash flow matters more than speed. LCL gives you weekly sailings from the main US gateways with no minimum beyond 1 CBM. You pay only for the space you use, and you keep working capital free instead of tying it up in a full container of inventory.
Choose a 20' FCL
You ship 10+ CBM, your cargo is fragile or high-value, or you need a predictable arrival date. A sealed container skips CFS deconsolidation, removes co-loader damage risk, and reduces inspection triggers. One seal from origin door to San Salvador door also simplifies your insurance claim if anything goes wrong.
How Incoterms change the comparison
Two quotes are only comparable under the same Incoterm. EXW puts origin drayage on you. FOB Miami covers everything to the vessel rail. CIF Acajutla adds ocean freight and insurance. DAP San Salvador includes delivery but leaves duty and IVA with the buyer.
DDP looks attractive on paper and is a trap for sellers. It makes the seller responsible for El Salvador import duty, IVA and DGA compliance — in a country where they usually have no tax registration. DAP gives the buyer the same delivered convenience without the import-side liability.
Shipping a vehicle alongside your commercial cargo changes the routing entirely. Vehicles move by RoRo, container or consolidation, each priced differently — see the International Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Rates for that side of the equation.
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Go to the calculator →Run Your Numbers Before You Book
Quick Answer: The fastest way to price an LCL shipment to El Salvador is to enter your origin ZIP, total CBM, gross weight, discharge port and Incoterm in the calculator on this page. It applies the W/M rule automatically and selects the correct US gateway for your region.
With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, one pattern repeats: importers underestimate CBM and forget destination charges. Measure the loaded pallet, add the pallet base, and treat destination handling plus 13% IVA as separate budget lines.
Then test the alternatives. Run 3 CBM, run 8 CBM, run a 20' FCL. The lcl shipping calculator el salvador tool embedded above prices your exact origin ZIP and shows where the break-even sits for your cargo. No email required, no follow-up calls — real numbers in seconds at #quote-calc.
Cost per CBM depends on your US gateway, total chargeable volume, cargo density and the Incoterm you buy on. Loads under 2 CBM pay a minimum charge, which raises the effective per-CBM rate. Enter your origin ZIP, CBM and gross weight in the calculator on this page for a real number in seconds.
Multiply length by width by height in meters for each piece, then add the pieces together. A 48x40x50-inch pallet works out to about 1.58 CBM. Then compare total CBM to gross weight in metric tons — carriers charge whichever is greater under the weight-or-measure (W/M) rule.
About 14-22 days port to port to Acajutla, depending on whether the service is direct or transships through Puerto Quetzal, Caucedo or Manzanillo. Add 2-5 days for origin CFS receiving and 3-7 days at destination for deconsolidation, DUCA-D filing and release before delivery in San Salvador.
LCL is cheaper below roughly 10 CBM. A 20' container holds about 28-30 CBM of usable space at one flat price, so break-even usually falls between 10 and 13 CBM. Heavy cargo hits the break-even sooner because the W/M rule charges weight instead of volume.
You need a DUCA-D declaration filed by a licensed El Salvador customs broker, the commercial invoice, the house bill of lading, a packing list, and a CAFTA-DR certification of origin if you are claiming duty-free treatment. Registered importers must also have a valid NIT and NRC on record with the DGA.
Acajutla, in almost every case. It handles the country's container volume and has the CFS warehouses that deconsolidate LCL cargo. Puerto La Unión has limited liner service, and San Salvador is an inland delivery and customs point rather than a seaport.
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