Key Takeaways
- Average total 3PL cost: Most businesses spend 10–15% of gross sales on logistics, with highly efficient operations as low as 8–10%, based on our 2025 study of 600+ warehouses.
- Setup and receiving: Expect $300–$1,000 for setup and $5–$15 per pallet (or $250–$500 per container) for receiving and inbound processing.
- Ongoing fees: Typical monthly 3PL costs include $2–$5 per pick, $20–$40 per pallet per month for storage, and $3–$10 per return processed.
What Is 3PL Pricing and Why It Matters
Third-party logistics (3PL) pricing covers all the costs involved in outsourcing order fulfillment, from receiving your inventory to storing, packing, shipping, and handling returns. For businesses scaling beyond in-house shipping, understanding 3PL costs is essential for protecting profit margins and ensuring a positive customer experience.
Because no two 3PLs price services exactly the same way, this guide breaks down the most common fees, explains what drives cost differences, and provides averages from hundreds of U.S. warehouses. Whether you’re a new eCommerce brand or an established retailer, understanding these numbers helps you negotiate confidently and choose the best partner for your needs.
Setup and Onboarding Fees
Average cost: $300 – $1,000 per account
Most 3PL providers charge a one-time setup fee to cover the administrative and technical work required to onboard your business. This includes integrating your sales platforms (Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, etc.), creating inventory SKUs, and configuring your account in the warehouse management system (WMS).
Cost drivers:
- Number of SKUs and initial data upload
- Complexity of integrations (e.g., multiple online stores or ERPs)
- Required customization or API work
- Account training or on-site implementation
| Setup Type | Typical Range Notes |
|---|---|
| Basic account setup | $300 – $500 Includes WMS login and onboarding |
| Advanced integrations | $500 – $1,000+ For API, ERP, or multi-channel setups |
| Waived fees | $0 Often offered with contract commitment |
Receiving Fees (Inbound Processing)
Average cost: $5–$15 per pallet received, $0.25–$1.00 per carton, or $250–$500 per container unload
Receiving fees cover the labor required to unload inbound shipments, count and inspect inventory, verify ASNs/packing lists, label SKUs, and stow goods into storage. These fees are usually time- or unit-based and can add up quickly if shipments are complex or not well-documented.
Common pricing models:
- Per pallet: $5–$15 per pallet received (standard goods)
- Per carton: $0.25–$1.00 per inbound carton
- Per hour: $30–$60/hour for complex or unscheduled shipments
- Per container unload: $250–$500 (floor-loaded costs more)
- Per ASN/PO: $5–$25 administrative fee for reconciliation
Cost drivers:
- Floor-loaded vs. palletized shipments (floor-loaded take longer)
- SKU count and labeling needs ($0.10–$0.25 per relabeled unit)
- Quality control depth (random sampling vs. full inspection)
- Appointment and after-hours delivery charges
- Accuracy of ASNs and packing lists
| Receiving Item | Typical Range Notes |
|---|---|
| Pallet receiving | $5 – $15 per pallet Standard inbound pallets |
| Carton receiving | $0.25 – $1.00 Small parcels or mixed cartons |
| Container unload | $250 – $500 Floor-loaded containers |
| Hourly dock labor | $30 – $60/hour Complex or rework shipments |
| Unit relabel/barcode | $0.10 – $0.25 FNSKU or UPC relabeling |
| ASN/PO reconciliation | $5 – $25 Admin/data verification |
Example: A floor-loaded 40′ container with 1,000 mixed cartons might cost $400 to unload + $0.40/carton ($400) for receiving, totaling ~$800 before any QC or relabeling.
Tip: Always provide accurate ASNs and pre-labeled SKUs to avoid hourly dock charges and relabeling fees.
Fulfillment (Pick and Pack) Costs
Average cost: $2 – $5 per order (basic), plus packaging and postage
The “pick and pack” stage includes selecting items from storage, packing them, and preparing them for shipment. This is often charged on a per-order or per-item basis.
Typical pricing structure:
- First item picked: $2.00 – $3.00
- Additional items: $0.30 – $0.75 each
- Packaging materials: $0.25 – $1.00 depending on size
- Shipping label fees: $0.10 – $0.25 (often included in carrier cost)
| Fulfillment Component | Typical Range Notes |
|---|---|
| First item pick fee | $2.00 – $3.00 Per order |
| Additional items | $0.30 – $0.75 Per item |
| Packaging materials | $0.25 – $1.00 Box, filler, labels |
| Potential savings | 10–20% For high-volume accounts |
Storage Costs
Average cost: $20 – $40 per pallet per month
Storage fees are based on how much space your inventory occupies, usually priced per pallet, bin, or cubic foot.
| Storage Type | Typical Range Notes |
|---|---|
| Standard pallet | $20 – $40 Monthly, 40″×48″ pallet |
| Bin storage | $1 – $5 Per bin per month |
| Cubic foot | $0.50 – $1.50 Flexible option |
| Temperature-controlled | $30 – $60 Specialty storage |
Shipping and Carrier Costs
Shipping typically accounts for 50–70% of total fulfillment expenses. While rates vary by zone, weight, and carrier, 3PLs often secure volume-discounted pricing from UPS, FedEx, USPS, or regional carriers.
Savings Tip: Ask whether your 3PL offers zone-skipping, regional partnerships, or automated rate shopping to reduce domestic shipping by 10–25%.
Returns (Reverse Logistics) Costs
Average cost: $3 – $10 per return
Returns include receiving, inspecting, restocking, or disposing of products. Because return rates for eCommerce can reach 20–30%, budgeting for reverse logistics is essential.
Returns Process Typical Range Notes
- Receive & inspect $3 – $5 Standard items
- Restocking $2 – $4 If item is reusable
- Disposal/recycle Variable Based on materials
| Returns Process | Typical Range Notes |
|---|---|
| Receive & inspect | $3 – $5 Standard items |
| Restocking | $2 – $4 If item is reusable |
| Disposal/recycle | Variable Based on materials |
Other Less Common 3PL Costs
Working with a 3PL can also involve occasional fees that aren’t part of your regular expenses. These costs can still impact your budget, so it’s important to plan for them accordingly.
- Box Fees: Charges for packaging materials like boxes, which are typically not included in fulfillment fees.
- Order Insert Fees: Fees for adding items like promotional materials or invoices into customer orders.
- Return Fees: Costs for handling returned items, including inspection and restocking.
- Kitting Fees: Fees for assembling multiple products into a single package.
- Account Management Fees: Charges for ongoing account oversight and support from the 3PL provider.
- Call Center Services Fees: Costs for handling customer inquiries related to orders and shipping through the 3PL’s call center.
Box Fees
Box fees are typically charged separately from fulfillment services, and depending on the size, material, and frequency of your shipments, they can amount and add to your costs. Some 3PLs might offer discounts for bulk box purchases, while others may apply a markup. Clarify whether these charges are passed through directly or come with an additional margin
- Box Fee Range: $0.25 – $2.50+ per box.
- Survey Insight: 74% of fulfillment providers charge for boxes separately.
- Consideration: Larger or custom-sized boxes can drive up costs, so ensure you account for this when calculating total shipping expenses.
Order Insert Fees
Order insert fees cover the cost of adding extra materials like invoices, promotional inserts, or instructions into customer orders. Though individually small, these fees can add up quickly, particularly for high-volume businesses. Each extra step in the fulfillment process—whether it’s adding a label or shrink-wrapping—comes with an additional cost, so factor this into your fulfillment budget if you plan to use inserts frequently.
- Average Insert Fee: $0.17 per insert.
- Labeling Costs: $0.05 per label.
- Shrink Wrapping: $36 per hour or $5.50 per pallet.
Return Fees
Handling returns often includes inspection, restocking, and sometimes repackaging, which drives up costs. Returns are labor-intensive, and fees can vary based on how complex the return process is. For businesses with high return rates, these fees can quickly add up, so you MUST understand how your 3PL manages returns and whether any parts of the process can be automated to reduce costs.
- Average Return Fee: $4.06 per item.
- Consideration: Returns that require additional steps like repackaging or repairs may incur higher fees, so be sure to understand how returns are handled for your specific products.
Kitting Fees: Subscription Boxes
Kitting, or assembling multiple items into a single package, is often necessary for businesses offering subscription boxes or gift sets. Since this process requires extra labor, kitting fees are typically charged by the hour. For businesses that frequently bundle products, these costs can accumulate quickly. Make sure to ask your 3PL partner has efficient kitting capabilities to keep costs manageable.
- Average Hourly Rate: $39 per hour.
- Consideration: Complex kits that involve multiple components or custom packaging may increase your costs due to the extra time required for assembly.
Account Management Fees
Account management fees cover ongoing oversight and support from your 3PL, such as inventory tracking and performance reviews. These fees can range widely depending on the level of service provided. For businesses with complex needs, paying for more proactive account management may reduce internal strain, but it comes at a higher cost. For smaller businesses, a lower level of support may be sufficient and more cost-effective.
- Range: $30 – $1,000+ per month.
- Average: $102.88 per month.
- Consideration: Determine the level of support you truly need, as higher fees for hands-on management might save you time but increase your overall costs.
Call Center Services Fees
Outsourcing customer support through a 3PL’s call center can save internal resources, particularly for e-commerce businesses that deal with a high volume of customer inquiries. However, these services can get expensive, especially if your call volume is high or you have long call durations. Evaluate whether the convenience of outsourcing customer service offsets the cost for your business, and look into flat-rate options if your call volumes are consistent.
- Average Rate: $1.29 per minute for inbound customer service.
- Consideration: High call volumes or longer call durations can significantly increase costs, so weigh the benefits against the potential expense.
Total 3PL Cost Breakdown Example
| Service | Service Definition | Service Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Set Up Fees | Charges for onboarding and system integration. | Per Account: $425 (Range: $0 to thousands) |
| Receiving Fees | Fees for processing and handling inbound inventory. | Per Hour / Per Container: $45.67/hour (Range: $425-$500) |
| Storage & Warehouse Fees | Costs for storing goods in the warehouse | Per Pallet: $20.17 per pallet (Alternate methods: $0.4625/cubic ft, $3.08 per bin) |
| Amazon Fees | Fees for labeling, preparing, and storing products to meet Amazon’s FBA requirements. | Per Unit / Per Label: $0.37 per label (Range: N/A) |
| Fulfillment Fees (Pick and Pack) | Charges for picking items from inventory and packaging them for shipping. Either structured as a per order fee or a per order fee plus a per item fee. | Per Order: $3.25 per single item order (Range: $2.50-$4.79) |
| Inbound Shipping Fees | Cost of sending products from suppliers to the fulfillment center. | Per Shipment: Discounted off carrier rates (Varies by carrier) |
| Outbound Shipping Fees | Cost to send products from the warehouse to customers. | Per Shipment: Markup over cost (Range: 14.60%-16.20% markup; 30-55% discount off rates) |
| Box Fees | Charges for packaging materials used to prepare orders. | Per Box: $1.19 per box (Range: $0.50-$1.50) |
| Order Inserts | Fees for adding promotional inserts or special labeling to orders. | Per Insert / Per Label: $0.17 per insert (Range: $0.05 per label) |
| Return Fees | Costs for handling returned items, including inspection and restocking. | Per Return: $4.06 per return (Range: $3.50 + $0.56 per item) |
| Kitting Fees (I.e. Subscription Boxes) | Fees for assembling multiple products into a single package. | Per Hour / Per Unit: $43.30/hour (Range: $0.25-$0.65 per unit) |
| Account Management Fees | Charges for ongoing account management and customer service support | Per Month: $102.88 (Range: $30-$500) |
| Call Center Services Fees | Costs for providing inbound customer service via the 3PL’s call center. | Per Minute: $1.29 per minute (Range: N/A) |
How to Compare 3PL Quotes and Avoid Hidden Fees
When comparing providers, always ask for a line-item quote and normalize pricing to “cost per order.”
Watch out for hidden fees like:
- Monthly account maintenance
- Inventory adjustment/cycle count charges
- Pallet receiving/unloading surcharges
- Long-term storage or minimum order penalties
Understanding 3PL pricing helps you plan your logistics strategy, avoid hidden costs, and choose providers that align with your growth goals. With accurate data from 600+ warehouses, businesses can benchmark fair pricing and negotiate from a position of strength. By learning what each cost truly covers — from setup to receiving, fulfillment, and returns — you can ensure your 3PL partnership drives both savings and long-term scalability.
