Order Fulfillment Cost Calculator
Calculate 3PL or in-house fulfillment expenses including primary pick fees, multi-item pick charges, packaging materials, storage allocation, and postage.
3PL / Warehouse Fulfillment Parameters
Order Fulfillment Cost Formula
Fulfillment Cost = First Pick + (Extra Items × Addl Pick) + Packaging Box + (Monthly Storage / Monthly Orders) + Postage- Pick Fees: Base fee for the first item picked plus incremental fee for secondary items in the order.
- Pack & Packaging: Box, packing tape, dunnage fill, and packing slip labor.
- Storage Allocation: Monthly pallet or bin storage fee divided across total monthly shipped orders.
- Carrier Postage: Outbound shipping postage paid to USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
How to Use This Calculator
Assumptions & Limitations
- Storage fee allocated evenly across all outbound orders shipped in the month.
- Excludes inbound receiving pallet unload fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable 3PL fulfillment cost per order in the US?
Standard US 3PL pricing typically ranges between $4.00 and $7.00 per order for pick, pack, box, and storage (excluding carrier postage). When postage is added, all-in fulfillment typically averages $11.00 to $16.00.
When should an online store switch from self-fulfillment to a 3PL?
Most brands transition to a 3PL once they consistently exceed 300 to 500 orders per month, when packing boxes at home or in an office consumes too much founder time.
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