3PLCost

3PL Pricing Models

By 3PLCost Research · Updated · How we research

Quick answer

3PLs price in one of five ways. Itemized rate cards bill each activity separately (ShipCalm: $2.65 per order + $0.95 per item, storage and receiving extra). All-in rates bundle pick, pack, packaging and postage into one per-order price (Simpl from $7, Fulfyld from $7.74). Cost-plus passes through costs plus a disclosed margin. Per-hour pricing is used for receiving, kitting and projects. Membership models charge for space (Saltbox from $500 a month). Most 3PLs mix these, and most add a monthly minimum.

Key takeaways

  • Itemized pricing is easiest to audit; all-in pricing is easiest to forecast.
  • All-in rates include postage, so compare them with an itemized quote's total cost per order, never its pick fee.
  • Hourly billing is standard for receiving and projects: The Fulfillment Advisor's 2025 survey averages $45.67 per hour for receiving and $43.30 per hour for kitting.
  • 3PLs earn margin on labor, storage and, often, shipping: the gap between their negotiated carrier rates and what they bill you.
  • Minimums sit on top of every model; the survey's 2025 average was $517 a month.

How do 3PLs structure their pricing?

Model How it bills Published example Best for
Itemized (à la carte) Each activity: pick, item, packaging, storage, receiving, shipping ShipCalm: $2.65 per order + $0.95 per item; $0.19 per cu ft per week; $39.50 per receiving shipment Brands that want to audit every line
All-in per order One price covering pick, pack, packaging and postage, often by weight tier Simpl: from $7 per order (up to 3 picks); Fulfyld: from $7.74 (4–12 oz, 501–1,000 orders a month) Brands that want predictable cost per order
Per unit incl. delivery Per-unit fee by size, weight and speed Amazon MCF: $7.51 for a 4–8 oz small-standard unit at standard speed Brands with FBA inventory
Cost-plus (open book) Underlying labor, space and carrier cost plus a disclosed margin Rarely published Large, stable volumes
Per hour Labor time Fulfyld receiving $40 per hour; ShipBob receiving $35 for the first two hours, then $45 Receiving, kitting, projects
Membership / space Monthly fee for space, services added on Saltbox: from $500 a month Early brands wanting space plus flexibility

The detail pages go further: pick and pack fees, storage fees, and setup fees and minimums.

Itemized vs all-in pricing: which is cheaper?

Neither by default. It depends on your order profile.

Illustrative example: a 10 oz, single-unit order. Itemized pick fees are ShipCalm's published rates; packaging and the label are placeholders.

Line Itemized All-in
Pick and pack $2.65 + $0.95 (1 item, assuming the item fee applies to the first item) = $3.60 Included
Packaging $0.40 (placeholder) Included
Postage $6.50 (placeholder) Included
Per order $10.50 $7.74 (Fulfyld's published 4–12 oz rate, 501–1,000 orders tier)

Here the all-in rate wins because it bakes in a postage rate the brand couldn't get on its own. For a heavy, multi-unit order the result can flip, because all-in rates are usually set by weight tier and pick count (Fulfyld includes 5 picks and charges $0.50 per extra pick). Run both quotes against your real order mix.

What is cost-plus 3PL pricing?

Cost-plus (or open-book) pricing bills the 3PL's actual costs — labor hours, space, packaging, carrier charges — plus an agreed margin or management fee. It's more common in large contract logistics than in ecommerce fulfillment, and we found no ecommerce 3PL publishing a cost-plus rate card.

It suits brands with high, stable volume that want visibility into cost drivers. The trade-offs: the brand carries the risk of labor inefficiency, and the invoices take more work to audit.

How much do 3PLs charge per hour?

Hourly rates are most common for work that varies by shipment or project:

Activity Figure Source
Receiving $45.67 per hour average (2025) The Fulfillment Advisor survey
Receiving $40 per hour, first 2 hours free at onboarding Fulfyld
Receiving $35 for the first two hours, $45 per hour after ShipBob fulfillment-costs guide
Kitting $43.30 per hour average (2025) The Fulfillment Advisor survey

Ask how time is measured (per person or per team), the minimum billing increment, and whether you get a work order with hours before it's billed.

How do 3PLs make money?

From the spread between what they charge and what each activity costs them:

  • Labor: pick, pack and receiving fees above the warehouse's wage and overhead cost per task.
  • Space: storage fees above the warehouse's rent per pallet position or cubic foot. Denser storage raises margin.
  • Shipping: many 3PLs negotiate volume carrier discounts and bill brands at a rate between their own cost and the carrier's list price. On all-in pricing, the postage margin is built into the per-order rate.
  • Minimums and account fees: fixed revenue that covers onboarding and account work for small clients.
  • Value-added services: kitting, returns, FBA prep and special projects.

None of this is hidden if it's disclosed. The practical point: ask whether shipping is billed at cost, at a markup, or inside an all-in rate, because it's the biggest line.

How do I compare 3PL quotes on different pricing models?

Convert every quote to one number: total monthly cost ÷ orders, using the same order profile.

  1. Write down one month of your real orders: count, units per order, weights, box sizes, destinations.
  2. Add your storage (pallets, bins or cubic feet) and inbound shipments.
  3. Price that month on each quote, including shipping and the minimum.
  4. Compare the totals, then the contract terms (notice period, rate-change clauses, minimums).

The 3PL cost calculator does steps 2–3 for an itemized quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 3PL rate card?

The list of fees a 3PL charges, usually per order, per item, per storage unit, per receiving unit and per hour. Itemized 3PLs such as ShipCalm publish theirs; most quote privately.

Is all-in 3PL pricing better?

It's easier to forecast because postage and packaging are included, but compare it on total cost per order. For heavy or multi-unit orders, itemized pricing can be cheaper.

How do 3PLs make money?

From margins on labor, storage and shipping, plus minimums, account fees and value-added services such as kitting and returns.

Do 3PLs charge by the hour?

For some work. Receiving, kitting and special projects are often billed hourly; The Fulfillment Advisor's 2025 survey averages $45.67 per hour for receiving and $43.30 for kitting.

Which pricing model is best for a small brand?

One with a low or no minimum and a predictable cost per order, often all-in pricing. Check the minimum first, because at low volume it sets your bill.

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