What Is “Dead Freight”? Why You Might Pay for Empty Space in a Shipping Container (And How to Avoid It)

Imagine you rent a 20ft shipping container to send 15 cubic meters of furniture from China to the U.S. The container can hold 33 cubic meters—but since you’re only using half the space, the shipping company still charges you for the full container. That extra cost for the empty space? That’s dead freight.

Dead freight is a common (and often unexpected) expense in logistics, especially for businesses that ship large items via ocean freight. It happens when you book a full container (FCL) but don’t fill it to capacity—or when a carrier can’t find other shipments to fill the empty space you left. For small business owners, entrepreneurs, or anyone new to international shipping, dead freight can add hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to a shipment’s cost.

Today, we’ll break down what dead freight is, why it happens, real-world examples of when you might face it, and most importantly—how to avoid paying for empty space. No confusing logistics jargon—just practical answers for anyone who ships goods globally.

✅First: What Exactly Is Dead Freight?

Let’s start with a clear definition: Dead freight (sometimes called “dead space charge”) is a fee a shipping carrier charges when you book a full shipping container (FCL) but fail to use all the container’s available space. Carriers charge this because the empty space in your container can’t be used to ship other customers’ goods—so they bill you for the “lost revenue” from that unused space.

Think of it like renting an apartment: If you rent a 2-bedroom apartment but only use 1 bedroom, your landlord still charges you the full rent—they don’t give you a discount for the empty room. Similarly, carriers book containers based on their total capacity, not how much of it you actually use.

It’s important to note: Dead freight only applies to FCL (Full Container Load) shipments. If you use LCL (Less Than Container Load)—where you share a container with other shippers—you won’t face dead freight, because you only pay for the space your goods use. Dead freight is unique to FCL, where you “own” the entire container.

✅Why Does Dead Freight Happen? (3 Common Scenarios)

Dead freight isn’t a “gotcha” fee—carriers charge it because empty space costs them money. Here are the three most common situations where you might end up paying dead freight:

1. You Underestimate How Much Space Your Goods Will Take

This is the most common cause. Let’s say you tell your supplier you need to ship 25 cubic meters of goods (enough to fill most of a 20ft container, which holds 33 cubic meters). But when your supplier packs the goods, they only use 18 cubic meters—leaving 15 cubic meters empty.

The carrier can’t fill that empty space last-minute (containers are loaded onto ships on tight schedules), so they charge you for the 15 cubic meters of dead freight. For example, if the carrier’s rate is $50 per cubic meter, that’s an extra $750 you didn’t plan for.

2. Your Goods Are “Bulky but Light” (Low Density)

Even if you think you’re filling the container, low-density goods (like foam furniture, pillows, or inflatable products) can leave empty space. For example:

A 20ft container can hold 33 cubic meters by volume—but it also has a weight limit (usually around 28,000 kg for a standard container).
If you’re shipping foam sofas, each sofa is large (takes up space) but light (only 10 kg each). You might fill the container’s volume (33 cubic meters) with 50 sofas—but the total weight is only 500 kg, way under the weight limit.

Wait—why is this a problem? Because some carriers use “weight/volume ratios” to calculate FCL costs. If your goods are too light for the space they take, the carrier might charge you for the “missing weight” as dead freight. For example, if the carrier expects 1,000 kg per 10 cubic meters, and you only have 500 kg for 10 cubic meters, they’ll charge you for the 500 kg of “dead weight.”

3. The Carrier Can’t “Backfill” the Empty Space

Sometimes, you book a container knowing you’ll leave some space—but you assume the carrier will fill that space with other customers’ small shipments (called “backfilling”). Unfortunately, this isn’t guaranteed.

For example: You book a 40ft container (holds 67 cubic meters) to ship 50 cubic meters of goods. You ask the carrier to backfill the remaining 17 cubic meters with other shipments. But if the carrier can’t find any other customers shipping to your destination port, they’ll charge you for the 17 cubic meters of dead freight—you still pay for the full container.

✅Real-World Example: How Dead Freight Adds Up

Let’s make this concrete with a small business scenario:

Maria owns a boutique that imports handmade wooden furniture from Vietnam. She books a 20ft FCL container to ship 20 cubic meters of tables and chairs (the container holds 33 cubic meters). She assumes she’ll only pay for the 20 cubic meters she uses—but here’s what happens:

Maria’s supplier packs the furniture, but due to inefficient packing (leaving gaps between chairs), the goods only take up 18 cubic meters—2 cubic meters less than planned.
The carrier can’t backfill the 15 cubic meters of empty space (no other shipments to Maria’s U.S. port that week).
The carrier’s FCL rate is $800 for a 20ft container—but they add a dead freight fee of $40 per cubic meter for the 15 empty cubic meters: $40 × 15 = $600.
Maria’s total cost goes from $800 to $1,400—an extra $600 she didn’t budget for.

This is why dead freight is such a pain for small businesses: it turns a predictable cost into an unexpected expense.

✅How to Avoid Dead Freight (5 Practical Tips)

The good news is, dead freight is avoidable with a little planning. Here are the five best ways to skip the empty-space fees:

**1. Measure Your Goods’ Volume Accurately (Before Booking)**

Don’t guess how much space your goods will take—get precise measurements from your supplier. Ask for:

The “cubic meter (CBM)” measurement of each item (length × width × height in meters).
A packing plan (how the items will be arranged in the container to minimize gaps).

For example, if your supplier says a table is 1m × 0.8m × 0.7m, its volume is 0.56 CBM. Multiply by the number of tables (e.g., 10 tables = 5.6 CBM) and add the volume of other items to get the total. This way, you’ll know exactly how much space you need—and won’t book a container that’s too big.

2. Choose the Right Container Size (Don’t Overbook)

If your goods only take up 18 cubic meters, don’t book a 20ft container (33 cubic meters)—consider a “smaller FCL” option or switch to LCL:

Smaller containers: Some carriers offer 10ft FCL containers (holds ~16 cubic meters) for smaller shipments. If your goods are 18 cubic meters, a 10ft container is too small—but a 20ft is too big. In this case, LCL might be better (you pay for 18 cubic meters, no dead freight).
LCL instead of FCL: If your goods are less than 15–20 cubic meters (half a 20ft container), LCL is usually cheaper and avoids dead freight. You only pay for the space you use, and the carrier fills the rest with other shipments.

3. Negotiate a “Minimum Volume” Clause with the Carrier

Before booking FCL, ask the carrier for a “minimum volume” clause. This means you agree to ship a minimum amount of goods (e.g., 25 cubic meters in a 20ft container), and the carrier waives dead freight if you meet that minimum—even if there’s still some empty space.

For example: Maria negotiates a minimum volume of 25 cubic meters for her 20ft container. She ships 25 cubic meters (leaving 8 cubic meters empty), and the carrier doesn’t charge dead freight. This gives her flexibility while avoiding extra fees.

4. Work with a Freight Forwarder to “Consolidate”

A good freight forwarder (a logistics expert who arranges shipments) can help you avoid dead freight by consolidating your goods with other small shipments from their clients. For example:

Maria has 18 cubic meters of furniture. Her freight forwarder finds another client with 10 cubic meters of home decor shipping to the same U.S. port.
They share a 20ft container (18 + 10 = 28 cubic meters, close to the 33 cubic meter capacity). Maria pays for 18 cubic meters, the other client pays for 10 cubic meters—no dead freight for either.

5. Optimize Packing to Fill the Container

Inefficient packing is a big cause of empty space. Ask your supplier to:

Disassemble large items (e.g., take legs off tables) to reduce their size.
Use packing materials (like bubble wrap or foam) to fill gaps between items (but don’t overpack—you still need to stay under the container’s weight limit).
Stack items carefully (e.g., stack chairs seat-to-seat) to use vertical space.

A well-packed container can fit 10–20% more goods—meaning you’ll use more space and avoid dead freight.

✅The Last Word: Dead Freight Is Avoidable with Planning

Dead freight doesn’t have to be a surprise expense. By measuring your goods accurately, choosing the right container size, and working with a freight forwarder, you can skip the empty-space fees and keep your shipping costs predictable.

For small business owners like Maria, this isn’t just about saving money—it’s about keeping your budget on track so you can focus on growing your business. Next time you book FCL, take 10 minutes to confirm your goods’ volume and negotiate with your carrier—you’ll be glad you did.

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