The standard 3PL fees
| Fee | What it covers | How it is usually billed |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Checking in and counting inbound inventory | Per hour, per unit, or per shipment |
| Storage | Holding your inventory in the warehouse | Per pallet, shelf, or bin, per month |
| Pick and pack | Selecting and packing each order | Per order, plus a fee per extra item |
| Shipping | Carrier cost to deliver the order | Per shipment, often at discounted rates |
| Value-added | Kitting, returns, FBA prep, custom packaging | Per unit or per project |
Common 3PL pricing models
- Itemized (pay per use): the most common model. You pay separately for receiving, storage, pick and pack, and shipping, so you only pay for what you actually use.
- Per-order flat rate: a single blended price per order, simpler to forecast but less transparent about what is inside it.
- Tiered by volume: per-order rates drop as your monthly volume rises, rewarding growth.
What drives your 3PL cost up or down
- Order volume: higher volume usually earns lower per-order rates.
- Units per order: multi-item orders cost more to pick and pack than singles.
- Storage footprint: slow-moving or bulky inventory ties up more space.
- Extras: kitting, subscription assembly, FBA prep, and special packaging add per-unit work.
- Location and shipping zones: a central warehouse cuts zones and speeds up ground delivery.
How to estimate your 3PL cost
Add receiving, monthly storage, and per-order pick and pack for your expected volume, then layer on shipping and any extras. Our pricing calculator gives you a fast ballpark from your real numbers, and a custom quote is usually more accurate, and often lower, than a generic price list. When you are ready, get a free quote.
Questions to ask before you compare quotes
- What exactly is included in the per-order fee?
- How is storage measured, and is there a monthly minimum?
- Are there onboarding or integration setup fees?
- How are returns and value-added services billed?
- Do rates improve as volume grows?