Outsourced fulfillment is a popular choice for many e-commerce companies seeking to save time and money. However, the pricing models of third-party logistics (3PL) providers can significantly impact your overall savings. They’re not all created equal, and knowing what you’re paying for can help you decide whether a 3PL makes sense for your business.
It's important to note that the initial quoted price rarely tells the complete story. Hidden costs and unexpected fees can substantially increase your overall 3PL expenses over time. Moreover, the quality of service provided by your chosen 3PL partner will directly influence your customer satisfaction rates and brand reputation in the market. For example, research from McKinsey reports that businesses that carefully evaluate their 3PL partnerships based on both cost and service quality see an average of 23% higher customer satisfaction rates.
Here’s a rundown on 3PL pricing and how you can choose the best provider.
How is 3PL pricing structured?
One of the most common 3PL pricing structures we’ve seen is the flat rate vs. per item model. This means that you can choose to pay a flat rate regardless of how many items you sell OR pay a per-item fee.
Amazon FBA uses this structure for its sellers. For example, their Individual Plan charges $0.99 per item sold. By comparison, the Professional Plan is a flat $39.99 per month with no limit on the number of items sold.
In addition to “base plans,” many 3PLs charge additional fees for specific services. To show what this looks like, we’ll use Amazon again: They charge a separate fulfillment fee, a referral fee for each item sold, and additional selling fees.
3PL giant Deliverr takes an inclusive approach to pricing. They only charge two fees: Fulfillment and Storage. Their Fulfillment fee covers everything from picking to packing to shipping, while the Storage fee is calculated each month based on cubic feet per item.
ShipBob is another inclusive pricing model that separates costs for receiving, inventory storage, and shipping. Their approach of including picking and packing services in the base price, without additional charges, has become a standard that many competitors now try to match.
For businesses with unique needs, many 3PLs now offer highly customizable service packages. This is particularly relevant for e-commerce companies that might not require comprehensive 3PL services such as kitting or dedicated customer service support. In these cases, 3PLs typically create tailored quotes based specifically on the services needed.
Common 3PL fulfillment costs
While specific costs and service offerings continue to evolve among 3PL providers, here are the primary expenses you should anticipate:
Account setup fees
Some 3PLs will charge a one-time fee to set up your account. This cost includes integrating your e-commerce store into their software, dedicating space for your inventory, labeling your items, and onboarding your business into their processes. Other 3PLs will not charge a setup fee.
Inventory receiving
The majority of 3PLs charge either an hourly rate system or a flat-rate per-pallet approach for inventory receiving and sorting services. These fees cover the labor and resources required to process incoming inventory from your manufacturing facilities or warehouses.
Item storage
Once shipments are received, your items will need to be stored in bins, shelves, pallets, or even specialty areas like refrigerators or freezers. This cost is usually based on cubic feet, though some companies may charge per bin, per shelf, or per pallet. Also, if you require cold storage, expect to pay a little more.
Kitting
For items that are stored separately but need to be combined in a “kit” when ordered, some 3PLs charge a separate fee for this service. Pricing typically scales with the number of components, assembly time, and technological requirements. According to industry standards, basic kitting services start at $0.50 per unit, while complex kitting operations can range from $2.50 to $5.00 per unit.
Packing materials
3PLs usually buy boxes, bubble wrap, and other packing materials in bulk and pass some of those savings on to you. They may add a separate line item for packing materials, or this cost might be included in your monthly service fee.
Shipping costs
Like large e-commerce companies, 3PLs usually negotiate volume discounts with logistics providers or use software like Zenventory to access discounted shipping rates and may pass some of those savings on to you. You’ll pay for shipping costs per item, which usually include the cost of label and insert printing.
Returns processing
With the rise of "retail bracketing", where shoppers buy multiple variations of a product intending to return most of them, returns are becoming a major cost center. Many 3PLs offer end-to-end reverse logistics to manage this influx. Fees typically cover return shipping, automated inspection, and restocking. Depending on the 3PL, you may find tiered service levels ranging from basic acceptance to full customer support featuring detailed condition reporting and fraud prevention measures.
Consider hidden fulfillment costs, too
There’s another side of 3PL pricing that can’t always be calculated in black and white. If you’re on the fence as to whether to use a 3PL service, you should also consider the cost of not doing so.
These are referred to as hidden costs because they’re not usually listed as line items on a P&L statement. However, they do directly or indirectly influence your bottom line.
These costs may include:
A lack of integrated systems
Manual processes are still the way of life for many companies handling their own fulfillment. Once an order is placed, your fulfillment processes should be connected to your e-commerce technology for a seamless, automated experience.
3PLs deploy robust tools like Zenventory to fulfill orders faster without manual inefficiencies slowing things down.
One-location shipping
Having just one location from which to ship could be costing you more than you realize. For example, if you’re in New York and you have customers in California, you’re paying higher shipping rates for those customers.
A 3PL can support a multi-warehouse location strategy to help you curb higher shipping costs.
A poor customer experience
We’re living in an era of instant gratification. Expectations for immediacy are spilling over into shipping timelines, with speed being a top priority and second only to cost.
Amazon has been a driving force behind the way customers perceive shipping costs and timelines. Even if you don’t think you’re competing with the online giant, chances are that your customers are holding you to Amazon’s delivery standards.
In 2026, inefficient shipping operations can severely impact customer satisfaction. Data shows that delayed deliveries, inadequate packaging, or lack of real-time tracking capabilities can lead to significant customer dissatisfaction and lost business opportunities.
According to the latest Retail Wire Analytics Report (2026), a remarkable 45% of consumers now expect delivery within three days, marking a significant shift from previous years. The study also reveals that same-day delivery options influence 38% of purchasing decisions, particularly in urban markets. More critically, the impact of poor delivery experiences has intensified, with 85.3% of consumers reporting they would permanently abandon a brand after a single unsatisfactory delivery experience, up from 72.7% in previous years.
Build your multi-channel fulfillment strategy
Your order fulfillment needs are unique. But like many e-commerce companies, exploring a multi-channel fulfillment strategy rather than doing it all in-house may help you to save on fulfillment costs, improve the customer experience, and build a stronger business.
Book a demo today to learn how Zenventory can help you build a multi-channel fulfillment strategy.
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