3PL warehouse costs are the fees you pay a fulfillment partner for receiving your goods, storing them, picking and packing orders, shipping, handling returns, and account support. For most small and mid-size brands, an average order can run from 3.50 to 9.00 before postage, with storage at 5 to 20 per pallet per month and hourly projects at 35 to 75. For inclusive businesses, the structure is the same, but you will also look at fair labor pay, accessible packaging, flexible address policies, and privacy controls. Those can add 1 to 8 percent to your total bill, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. If you want a quick starting point for market ranges, here is a pricing page that shows common line items: 3PL warehouse costs.
What actually builds your 3PL bill
Most invoices follow a simple pattern. You pay when your inventory comes in. You pay for the space it takes. You pay when orders go out. You pay for help that sits outside the daily flow.
Here is what that looks like in practice.
Receiving
The warehouse books time when your cartons or pallets arrive. They count, check, and put away.
– Typical models:
– Per pallet received: 5 to 15
– Per carton received: 0.25 to 1.00
– Hourly unload and check-in: 25 to 60
A clean ASN and scannable labels lower the time. If you ship mixed cartons, or many SKUs, the clock runs longer. I have seen receiving double when brands send poorly labeled goods. It is not fun to pay for that.
Storage
Space is charged by pallet, bin, shelf, or cubic foot. The warehouse measures what you occupy at month end or daily, then bills.
– Typical ranges:
– Standard pallet: 5 to 20 per month
– Half pallet: 4 to 12 per month
– Bin or shelf: 1 to 5 per month
– Cubic foot: 0.50 to 1.50 per month
Tall pallets with safe stack height help. Bulky items eat space. Seasonal peaks can push you into overflow locations, which can cost more.
Pick and pack
This is the core of your per order cost. A picker pulls items, a packer boxes and labels.
– Common structure:
– Base pick per order: 2.00 to 3.50
– Each extra item: 0.15 to 0.60
– Kitting during pick: add 0.20 to 1.00 per unit
– Fragile handling: 0.10 to 0.50 per item
Batch picking saves time for popular SKUs. Complex kits slow it down. Barcodes that scan the first time help accuracy. Missing barcodes are a drag.
Packaging materials
You can bring your own or buy from the 3PL.
– Common charges:
– Mailers: 0.10 to 0.60
– Boxes: 0.30 to 1.50
– Dunnage: 0.05 to 0.25
– Labels, tape, inserts: 0.02 to 0.20
Custom printed boxes look great, and add cost. Sometimes they increase freight because of dimensional weight. Plain mailers cut cost. There is no single right answer.
Shipping and postage
Postage is a pass-through. The 3PL prints labels from carriers or a rate-shopping tool. You pay the label cost and sometimes a label fee.
– Common add-ons:
– Label fee: 0.05 to 0.25
– Address correction or re-ship: 2.00 to 10.00 plus new postage
– Insurance: varies by declared value
Carrier rules shift often. A small box that was cheap last quarter can climb when surcharges change. Watch your zones and dimensional weight.
Returns
Returns cost time and space. You pay for each RMA that gets opened and processed.
– Examples:
– Return processing: 2.00 to 5.00 per return
– Refurb or rebag: 0.50 to 2.00 per unit
– Disposal or donation handling: 1.00 to 5.00 per case
Clear return instructions lower handling time. Swapping one SKU for another during returns often needs fresh QC and re-shelving.
Projects and special handling
Anything that is not routine can fall into this bucket.
– Common items:
– Cycle counts: hourly at 30 to 60
– Kitting or assembly runs: per piece at 0.10 to 2.00 or hourly
– Relabeling: 0.05 to 0.50 per unit
– Compliance prep for retail: varies by program
If you ship to retail chains, their rules can add stickers, packs, and cartons. Those rules flow into your 3PL bill.
Tech, support, and minimums
You may see a platform fee, an account management fee, or a monthly minimum.
– Tech platform: 0 to 300 per month
– Dedicated support: 100 to 500 per month
– Monthly minimum: 500 to 3,000, often waived for higher volumes
A fair minimum protects the 3PL when volume is tiny. You can ask for a ramp period while you launch.
The fastest way to overspend at a 3PL is to ship messy inventory and unclear pick rules. Fix those upstream and your cost per order drops without any discount talk.
How an inclusive lens changes the picture
An inclusive business tries to serve all customers fairly. That flows into how you package, label, ship, and handle support. It also shows up in the people who pack your orders. I think the cost shifts are not huge if you plan well, but they are real, and they are worth it.
Fair labor and safe workplaces
Ask for pay and safety standards. The team that handles your brand matters. People do the work.
– What to request:
– Living wage or clear pay bands by role and tenure
– Anti-harassment policy and training
– Equal opportunity hiring and promotion
– Grievance channel that is easy to use
– Overtime pay that follows the law in your state
This can mean your 3PL pays more to staff. You might see a small premium in pick fees or hourly rates. A stable, trained team often makes fewer mistakes. Fewer mistakes save you money, even if the unit rate is slightly higher.
If a quote looks too cheap to believe, ask who pays the price. It should not be the warehouse team that keeps your brand moving.
Accessible packaging and information
Customers read, open, and reuse your packaging. Some need larger fonts. Some need clear icons. Some need easy-open strips. A few ideas and the rough cost:
– Larger font inserts: add 0.01 to 0.03 per order for extra ink and paper
– High contrast labels: usually the same cost, plan your template
– Easy-open mailers: add 0.05 to 0.15 per order
– Braille stickers on select SKUs: 0.03 to 0.20 per unit, depends on source
– Multilingual inserts for top languages: 0.02 to 0.06 per order
The key is focus. You do not need every feature on every order. Pick high-impact changes that match your customers.
Respect for names, addresses, and privacy
Some customers live in shelters or use PO boxes. Some want neutral packaging. Some need a gift option with no prices inside. You can set rules with your 3PL.
– Options that add small cost:
– Neutral return address name: no extra cost once set
– Gift packing slip with no prices: 0.02 to 0.10 per order
– Do not print first names on labels: no extra cost
– Allow PO box and APO/FPO by default: small postage shifts, but fair
– Masked sender names for sensitive orders: usually a one-time setup
I once worked with a brand that shipped health products. They moved to plain mailers and removed brand names from return addresses. Return-related complaints dropped right away. It felt right. It also cut reship costs from stolen packages because parcels drew less attention.
Fair shipping for remote and underserved addresses
Surcharges hit rural zip codes, reservations, islands, and some territories. Rate rules can also block certain addresses. Your 3PL can code exceptions and allow service where possible.
– Check for:
– Carrier plan that supports PO boxes and APO/FPO
– Clear list of restricted addresses and the reason
– Appeal process when an address gets flagged
– Honest pass-through of surcharges, with no secret add-on
This is not only fair. It builds trust with customers who are tired of being told “we do not ship there.”
A fair shipping policy is not about free shipping everywhere. It is about transparent rates and no hidden penalties for where someone lives.
Language and culture
If your audience spans many languages, consider short inserts or QR codes that link to translated instructions. The warehouse can pack the right insert based on the order.
– Cost impact:
– Rule-based inserts: 0.02 to 0.05 per order
– QR link to web guides: near zero, printing only
– Translated return forms: 0.01 to 0.03 per order
I prefer a short, friendly card with icons and a QR. It loads fast. It is cheap to update. And it does not slow the pack line.
Supplier diversity and audit paths
Some brands set goals for diverse vendors and accessible facilities. You can ask your 3PL about:
– Ownership, leadership mix, and training records
– Accessible entrances, restrooms, and break areas
– Parity in pay progression and promotion stats
Some 3PLs already track this. Others will start if you ask. It may take time to gather, and you might see a small admin fee if they pull custom reports. Reasonable.
A simple cost model with numbers
Let us build a sample for a brand that ships 1,000 orders per month. This is a mix of apparel and accessories. Average items per order is 1.6. Two pallets on hand. Eight bins of smalls.
We will start with a base quote, then layer in inclusive features. These are ballpark figures from quotes I have seen. Your numbers will vary.
| Line item | Unit | Rate | Volume | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving | hour | 40.00 | 4 | 160.00 |
| Storage pallets | pallet | 12.00 | 2 | 24.00 |
| Storage bins | bin | 3.00 | 8 | 24.00 |
| Pick base | order | 2.80 | 1,000 | 2,800.00 |
| Extra items | item | 0.35 | 600 | 210.00 |
| Packaging materials | order | 0.45 | 1,000 | 450.00 |
| Label fee | order | 0.10 | 1,000 | 100.00 |
| Returns processing | return | 3.00 | 80 | 240.00 |
| Account support | month | 200.00 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Tech platform | month | 100.00 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Subtotal before postage | 4,308.00 | |||
That is 4.31 per order before postage and projects. Now layer in inclusive features that match this brand.
| Inclusive add-on | Unit | Rate | Volume | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gift slip without prices on request | order | 0.04 | 150 | 6.00 |
| High-contrast insert with QR to guides | order | 0.03 | 1,000 | 30.00 |
| Easy-open mailers for 60 percent of orders | order | 0.10 | 600 | 60.00 |
| Braille sticker on select SKUs | unit | 0.08 | 120 | 9.60 |
| Language insert for Spanish and French | order | 0.02 | 400 | 8.00 |
| Living wage premium reflected in pick | order | 0.10 | 1,000 | 100.00 |
| Inclusive add-ons subtotal | 213.60 | |||
New monthly before postage: 4,521.60, or 4.52 per order. The added features are 0.21 per order. For many brands, that is workable. Some of these even pay back through fewer reships, fewer WISMO tickets, and higher repeat purchase. I cannot promise a result for you. Still, the pattern shows up often.
Inclusion does not have to be a big surcharge. Small, smart choices can fit inside normal 3PL pricing and still respect people.
How to read a 3PL price sheet with an inclusion lens
Most quotes look similar at first glance. The gaps hide in the details. You can ask direct questions and tie them back to cost.
Questions to ask on day one
– What is the base pick fee and what does it cover exactly?
– How do you bill for inserts and custom packing rules?
– Can we set a neutral return address name and a gift slip rule?
– Do you support PO boxes, APO/FPO, and forwarders without auto blocks?
– How do you handle address validation fails for reservations or shelters?
– What are your pay ranges by role? How long do people stay?
– What training do packers get on names and privacy?
– Can we add a braille or large-print option for a subset of orders?
– Do you allow clients to audit pay and safety policy once a year?
– Are surcharges passed at cost, with no markup?
You will learn a lot from how they answer. Speed matters, but so does attitude toward your values.
What to check in the contract
– Service rules that trigger extra fees, like photo-on-receipt or same-day cutoffs
– Storage measurement method and audit rights for space counts
– Returns policy and timelines
– Termination terms and what happens to your inventory
– Data privacy steps for packing slips and labels
– Adding or changing packing rules without big change fees
– A clear method to dispute invoices
I like to see pricing tied to volumes that are realistic for your next two quarters. If the ladder has giant jumps, smooth them.
Ways to control cost without cutting inclusion
You can hold your values and still keep spend in check. It takes a bit of planning and some tradeoffs.
– Standardize your cartons and mailers into a small set of sizes
– Pre-bundle high-run kits at the factory to avoid pack time
– Print multi-language inserts in batches and use a simple picker rule
– Use a QR to a web guide instead of a thick booklet
– Test easy-open mailers on your most returned items first
– Set address rules once and lock them in the WMS template
– Share a seasonal forecast so the 3PL can plan labor
– Run a monthly report on reships and returns to target fixes
– Pick one inclusion upgrade per quarter and measure impact
One more thought. Do not chase free returns for every order. Free returns can be fair when you sell apparel and sizing is hard. For other categories, a low-cost label or an exchange path can be better for customers and for cost control.
Common mistakes I see
– Choosing a 3PL on base pick fee only, then getting hit by extras
– Sending inventory without scannable labels, then paying to relabel
– Overloading the box with inserts that confuse rather than help
– Ignoring remote address support until you get a wave of failed deliveries
– Treating inclusion as a campaign, not a set of small rules in the WMS
– Forgetting to track the cost per order including returns and reships
– Moving 3PLs without a ramp plan, then paying for chaos
None of these require a fancy fix. Just a little attention and a checklist.
Mini case story
A personal one. A skincare brand asked me to review their 3PL bill. They shipped about 2,500 orders per month. Average order value was 42. They cared about inclusion. They had a loyal base across age groups and languages. Their bill looked high. After a few calls, a few shop-floor walks, and a review of pick paths, we found a set of simple tweaks.
– We trimmed five inserts into one high-contrast card with a QR to a language selector. Cost per order dropped by 0.07.
– We switched half their shipments to easy-open mailers. Returns damage fell by 18 percent, which cut return handling by roughly 0.12 per order.
– We asked the 3PL to use a neutral return address and remove brand names on the label for three sensitive products. Support tickets about privacy fell. Hard to price that, but the team was happy.
– We accepted a 0.08 pick increase tied to a living wage bump. Picking errors fell by 23 percent over two months. Reships dropped enough to cover the increase.
Was it perfect? No. A few packages needed a larger font on the outside label and we missed that in the first pass. We fixed it in week three. The brand ended up at a lower total cost, with a better customer experience, and with warehouse staff who felt respected. I think that is the point.
A simple formula and a worksheet you can use
You can estimate your all-in fulfillment cost per order with a quick model. Keep it in a spreadsheet and refresh monthly.
– Cost per order before postage =
– Base pick per order
– plus Extra item pick fee x average extra items
– plus Packaging material per order
– plus Label fee
– plus Returns cost per order
– plus Storage cost per order
– plus Account and tech fees per order
– plus Inclusive add-ons per order
– Storage cost per order =
– Total monthly storage spend divided by average monthly orders
– Returns cost per order =
– (Return rate x Return handling fee) minus any salvage value, divided by total orders
Then layer postage. Pull an average label cost by service level and zone mix. I prefer a three-tier view: economy, ground, express. Multiply by your service split.
Check the net every month:
– Gross margin per order
– minus Fulfillment cost per order
– minus Postage per order
– equals Contribution per order
If contribution trends down, find the one or two drivers and fix those. Do not hack at everything at once.
How inclusion can lift revenue and lower hidden costs
This part can sound soft, so let me be plain. When you remove barriers, people buy with more confidence. When people feel respected, they come back. Repeat orders lift revenue. Fewer errors and returns cut waste. Those two together often beat the small cost increase from inclusive features.
– Accessible instructions lower misuse, which lowers returns
– Neutral packaging cuts theft and awkward moments at shared housing
– Living wage leads to lower staff churn, which helps accuracy
– Support for remote addresses expands the addressable market
– Clear language reduces WISMO tickets
You should still measure. Pick two or three metrics that matter to you and track before and after a change. Repeat purchase rate, return rate, reship rate, support contact rate. Keep it simple.
What to ask during a 3PL site visit
A visit says more than a deck. I like to walk, watch, and ask human questions.
– How long have you worked here? What keeps you?
– What is the process when a name is hard to read? Do you pause or guess?
– Show me a gift slip. Show me a neutral label.
– Can I see the storage for our SKUs and the pick path?
– Where do returns go? How fast do they re-enter stock?
– How do you train on privacy and respect?
– If a customer says “do not use my deadname,” can that be set in the system?
– What happens to damaged goods? Can we donate them with a click?
You are not trying to trip anyone up. You are trying to see how the work gets done and how people feel about it.
Pricing traps and fair fixes
Watch for these line items. You can often get a fair fix with a small change.
– Excessive label fees on top of postage. Ask for a lower flat fee or a cap.
– Storage billed on theoretical pallet counts. Ask for measured space with photos.
– Mandatory branded boxes that add dimensional weight. Test a smaller box or mailer.
– High returns fee when most returns are new-in-box. Ask for a scanned fast-track tier.
– Paid support tiers that gate basic reports. Ask for core reporting with your base plan.
Your aim is not to squeeze every penny. Your aim is to pay fairly, avoid junk fees, and protect your values.
A short checklist you can copy
– Map your top 5 inclusive needs by customer feedback
– Link each need to a clear packing or system rule
– Price each rule per order
– Rank by impact and cost
– Pilot one rule per month
– Track 3 metrics. Share results with your 3PL team
– Review your price sheet each quarter and clean up extras
It is simple. It works.
When a change does not pay off
Sometimes a feature adds cost and does not move any metric. Be ready to adjust. I once tried braille stickers on all outgoing units for a book launch. We got nice emails, but it was slow at the pack line and delayed SLA. We refined it to pre-apply on a subset of SKUs at the printer. Cost came down. Speed came back. Impact stayed.
You do not have to get it right on day one. You just need to care, test, and learn.
The bigger picture for readers who care about fair treatment
Fulfillment is often invisible. It is also where your brand becomes real. The people who receive, pick, and pack shape the customer experience. They deserve fair pay and respect. Customers who live outside major cities should not feel excluded at checkout. People who need different formats should not feel like an afterthought. All of this can fit into a normal 3PL plan with clear rules and a few cents per order.
If you run a store, you can make these calls. If you buy from stores, you can ask them to make these calls. It adds up.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good per order 3PL cost before postage?
For small to mid-size DTC brands, 3.50 to 6.00 per order before postage is common for simple picks. Complex kits or fragile items can push it to 7.00 to 9.00. If you are far outside that range, check your pick rules, packaging sizes, and returns flow.
How much more does inclusion usually add?
Most plans I see add 0.05 to 0.40 per order for inclusive features. Larger steps happen when you add premium materials or heavy kitting. Living wage adjustments often show up as a small bump in pick or hourly rates.
Can I ask a 3PL to support PO boxes and APO/FPO?
Yes. Ask them to offer carrier services that ship to those addresses and to remove automatic blocks. The 3PL can set rules by country or zip code.
Do accessible inserts slow packing?
Not if set up well. Use one universal card with a QR to guides in many languages. Keep font large and contrast high. Avoid thick booklets.
How do I measure the payoff?
Track return rate, reship rate, support tickets per 1,000 orders, and repeat purchase rate. Compare 4 weeks before and 8 to 12 weeks after a change. Look for trends, not perfection.
What if my 3PL resists these changes?
Start small. Prove the impact with one SKU or one rule. If you hit walls everywhere, you may need a partner who shares your values. Moving is work, but staying stuck can cost more over time.
Should I pay a monthly minimum?
If your volume is low or seasonal, a fair minimum is normal. Ask for a ramp period and a path to remove the minimum once you cross a volume mark.
Do I need custom boxes?
Not always. Plain or lightly branded mailers with a strong insert can look great and cost less. Test both. Watch dimensional weight and damage rates.
Can inclusion lower returns?
Often, yes. Clear instructions, easy-open mailers, and size guides help. For apparel, inclusive size charts and photos on different body types make a real difference long before the box ships.
What is one change I can make this week?
Add a high-contrast insert with a QR to instructions in two or three languages. It is cheap, quick, and helpful to many customers. It also signals that you care.