FBA prep usually runs from about $0.20 to $3.00 or more per unit, depending on the service. Simple FNSKU labeling sits at the low end. Oversize or multi-step prep sits at the high end. Below is what prep centers typically charge by service type, what pushes the number up, and when bundling prep into a 3PL costs less than paying a standalone prep center.
Typical FBA prep pricing by service type
These are typical per-unit ranges across US prep centers. Prices vary by provider, volume, and product, so treat them as a benchmark and confirm the rate card before you commit.
Prep service | Typical cost per unit |
|---|---|
FNSKU labeling | $0.20 to $0.50 |
Poly bagging | $0.30 to $0.70 |
Bubble wrap | $0.50 to $1.00 |
Bundling or sets | $0.50 to $1.00 |
Inspection or quality check | $0.15 to $0.50 |
Oversize prep | $1.00 to $3.00+ |
Receiving | Often free to $0.50 per unit or per carton |
What FBA prep costs cover
Most prep-center pricing is per unit, per service. You pay for each thing done to each unit: a label applied, a bag added, a set bundled. On top of the per-unit prep, expect line items for receiving your inbound stock, storing it while it waits, and forwarding the finished boxes to Amazon. Reading a quote means adding those together, not just the headline label fee.
What drives your prep cost up
A handful of factors move the per-unit price higher:
- Oversize and heavy items, which cost more to handle and store
- Fragile or glass products that need bubble wrap and pass a drop test
- Multi-step prep, where a single unit needs a bag, a label, and a bundle
- Low volume, since small runs miss the price breaks that come with scale
- Rush timelines when you are racing a restock window
- Poor inbound condition, where units arrive needing sorting or rework
FBA prep center vs. 3PL: what you are actually comparing
A standalone prep center does one job: it preps your units and forwards them to Amazon. A 3PL does that and holds your inventory to ship FBM and direct-to-consumer orders itself. If all your volume goes through FBA, a prep center may be all you need. If you sell on your own store, run FBM as a backup for out-of-stock ASINs, or want one warehouse instead of two, an Amazon 3PL covers prep and fulfillment from the same inbound shipment.
FBA + prep center vs. FBA + 3PL hybrid: the real cost difference
Run the math on total landed cost, not the per-unit prep line. With a standalone prep center you pay per-unit prep, then pay a separate provider to fulfill any non-FBA orders. With a 3PL you pay one provider that preps FBA inventory and ships your FBM and direct-to-consumer orders from the same stock, so you are not paying two warehouses to store and touch the same products. For a brand splitting volume across FBA and its own store, consolidating usually beats stitching together a prep center and a second fulfillment provider.
What Simpl charges for prep and fulfillment
Simpl publishes its fulfillment pricing instead of quoting it after a sales call. Order fulfillment starts at $7 per order and includes 3 picks, postage, and packaging, with no hidden fees, on a $750 per month pay-the-difference minimum, so a slower month only bills the gap up to $750. Amazon FBA prep is a core service, so Simpl preps and forwards your FBA inventory and ships your FBM and direct-to-consumer orders from the same warehouse in Austin, TX. For per-SKU prep pricing on your specific products, see pricing and get a quote.