Cost Calculator AI
Shipping, Logistics & Warehousing3PL Fulfillment Pricing

3PL Cost Calculator

Calculate comprehensive Third-Party Logistics (3PL) fulfillment bills, modeling inbound receiving, monthly pallet storage, pick and pack fees, packaging materials, and account minimums.

3PL Order Volume & Contract Rates

Total Monthly 3PL Bill

$5,450.00

$5.45 / order

Pick & Pack Total

$3,500.00

1,000 orders × 1.5 items

Packaging Supplies

$1,100.00

Mailers + void fill

Pallet Storage & Account

$850.00

30 pallets + receiving

3PL Monthly Invoice Formula

3PL Invoice = \max(\text{Minimum Spend}, \text{Inbound} + \text{Storage} + \text{Picks} + \text{Packaging} + \text{Account Fee})
  • Inbound Receiving: Fee charged per pallet or carton to unload and put away inventory.
  • Pallet Storage: Monthly charge per pallet stored in the 3PL facility.
  • Order Pick & Pack: Base fulfillment fee for the first item plus extra pick fee for additional items.
  • Packaging Materials: Corrugated cartons, mailers, void fill, and shipping labels.
  • Account Management: Recurring monthly software, customer success, and portal access fee.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Scenario: Shipping 1,000 monthly orders (1.5 items/order) with 30 pallets stored, 8 inbound pallets received, and a \$2,000 minimum spend

Calculation Steps:

  1. Inbound Receiving = 8 × \$20.00 = \$160.00
  2. Pallet Storage = 30 × \$18.00 = \$540.00
  3. Pick & Pack = (1,000 × \$3.20) + (1,000 × 0.5 extra × \$0.60) = \$3,200 + \$300 = \$3,500.00
  4. Packaging Materials = 1,000 × \$1.10 = \$1,100.00
  5. Account Fee = \$150.00
  6. Total 3PL Invoice = \$160 + \$540 + \$3,500 + \$1,100 + \$150 = \$5,450.00
  7. Average 3PL Cost Per Order = \$5,450.00 / 1,000 = \$5.45 / order
Result: The total 3PL invoice is \$5,450.00 per month, representing an average fulfillment expense of \$5.45 per order (excluding postage).

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Enter your projected monthly order volume and average items per customer order.
  2. 2Input number of pallets stored and inbound pallets received per month.
  3. 3Enter the 3PL contract pick and pack rates and packaging material charges.
  4. 4Review your total monthly 3PL invoice and average fulfillment cost per order.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Excludes outbound carrier parcel shipping postage (billed at commercial carrier contract rates).
  • Assumes standard ambient storage without cold chain or HazMat requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do 3PL fulfillment companies structure their pricing?

Most 3PLs charge five primary fees: (1) Inbound receiving fee per pallet/carton, (2) Monthly storage fee per pallet or shelf bin, (3) Order pick and pack fulfillment fee, (4) Packaging materials fee, and (5) Monthly account or WMS software management fee.

What is a typical 3PL pick and pack cost per order?

Standard B2C e-commerce pick and pack fees average \$3.00 to \$4.50 for the first item, plus \$0.50 to \$1.00 for each additional item packed into the same box.

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