What does 3PL cost? How pricing actually works
No 3PL provider lists prices on their website. Here's a breakdown of how 3PL pricing works and what questions you should be asking.
The most common barrier to hiring a 3PL isn’t the decision — it’s that no pricing information is available. Most 3PL companies publish nothing. That uncertainty causes decisions to be postponed.
Here’s how pricing actually works and what you’re really paying for.
The three cost components
All 3PL pricing is built on three parts: inbound, storage, and outbound.
Inbound is the cost of receiving and registering your stock. It’s typically charged per pallet, per parcel, or per item depending on volume.
Storage is the cost of keeping your inventory on site. It’s charged per square metre or per pallet position per month. Storage varies with season — it’s normal to pay more during Q4.
Outbound is the cost per order. It covers picking, packing, packaging, and handling up to the point the parcel leaves the warehouse. Shipping costs to the customer are charged separately.
What affects your price?
Three factors determine what you specifically pay.
Order volume. More orders per month means a lower cost per order. Volume discounts are typically applied in tiers: up to 200 orders, 200–500, 500–1,000 and so on.
Product complexity. Light standard products are cheapest to handle. Heavy, fragile, or temperature-sensitive products cost more per order. The same applies to products requiring serial number tracking.
Number of SKUs. Many different variants require more storage and more careful picking. That’s reflected in the price.
What’s always included — and what costs extra?
Always ask whether the following are included in the base fee or charged separately: packaging and void fill material, returns handling, claims processing, and system integrations with your e-commerce platform.
A transparent 3PL provider can itemise every cost. If you receive a package price without a breakdown, it’s difficult to compare and difficult to budget.
How do you calculate whether it’s worth it?
Add up what you currently spend on your own premises (rent, utilities, insurance), consumables, and your own time valued at an hourly rate. Then compare that with a 3PL contract.
Most e-commerce businesses with more than 100 orders per month find that 3PL is cost-neutral or cheaper — and that they free up time that can go into growth.
Want a quote for your specific volume and products? Fill in the form on our quote page and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.
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