Pick and pack fees: what 3PLs actually charge in 2026

Virginia Miller

March 24, 2026

In this article:

"So there's the setup fee, plus a storage fee for our pallets, can't forget about the pick and pack fee, and the setup fee — wait, I already added that one..."

Sound familiar? Between pick and pack fees, account setup costs, and scaled fees for custom packaging, you and your team could spend hours trying to decipher what each cost will mean for you. Here's a breakdown of what you'll actually see on a 3PL invoice, what the fees typically run, and how to avoid getting nickel-and-dimed.

The fees you'll see on a 3PL invoice

Setup and integration

Most 3PLs charge a one-time onboarding fee to integrate with your store, configure your account, and set up your inventory. This can range from nothing to a few thousand dollars depending on the complexity.

3PL	Setup fee
ShipBob	$0 (no published fee)
ShipMonk	Not published (quote-based)
Simpl Fulfillment	$0
Industry range	$0 – $3,000
Industry average	~$425

Receiving and inbound

Some 3PLs charge you for the privilege of sending them your inventory. These fees cover unloading, inspecting, counting, and shelving your products when they arrive at the warehouse.

Fee type	Typical range
Per pallet	$4 – $45 (avg ~$10/pallet)
Per unit	$0.20 – $0.50
Per 20ft container	$300 – $350
Per 40ft container	~$500
Hourly rate	$35 – $65/hr

ShipBob charges $25/pallet standard, or a flat $35 for the first 2 hours plus $45/hr after. ShipMonk waives receiving fees if you follow their prep guidelines, otherwise similar rates apply.

Storage

Warehouse space costs money. No way around it. The question is how your 3PL measures it.

Storage type	Typical range
Per pallet/month	$8 – $45 (avg ~$20)
Per bin/month	$1 – $15 (avg ~$3)
Per cubic foot/month	$0.45 – $0.75
Climate-controlled	$35 – $65/pallet
Long-term surcharge (6+ months)	$10 – $25/pallet extra

For reference: ShipBob charges $40/pallet/month, $10/shelf, $5/bin. ShipMonk runs $25/pallet, $1–$4/bin depending on size.

Storage in metro areas (LA, NYC, Chicago) typically runs 30–50% higher than secondary markets.

Pick and pack

This is the big one. The pick and pack fee covers pulling your products from shelves, packaging them, and getting them ready to ship. Most 3PLs charge a base fee per order plus an additional fee per item.

Fee type	Typical range
Base order fee	$2.50 – $5.00/order
Per additional item	$0.20 – $1.50/item
Custom packaging surcharge	$0.50 – $3.00/order
Fragile/special handling	$1.00 – $3.00/order
Inserts (flyers, samples)	$0.15 – $0.50 each

ShipBob includes the first pick free and charges $0.20/item after that. ShipMonk charges $1.80–$3.00 for the first pick (depending on volume) plus $0.35–$0.75 per additional item.

Shipping markups

3PLs negotiate bulk discounts with carriers and pass most of the savings to you, keeping a small margin. Typical markups run in the single digits on top of their negotiated rates.

Most 3PLs get 10–30% off retail carrier rates. Expect a peak season surcharge of 5–15% during Q4.

Monthly minimums

Almost every 3PL has one. If your fulfillment fees don't hit this number, you pay the difference.

3PL	Monthly minimum
ShipBob	~$275/month
ShipMonk	$250/month
Simpl Fulfillment	$750/month
Industry range	$500 – $2,500/month

What a real invoice looks like

Here's a hypothetical month for a brand shipping 150 orders at a typical 3PL, 1.5 items per order on average:

Line item	Cost
Storage (2 pallets)	$40 – $90
Receiving (1 pallet)	$10 – $45
Pick and pack (150 orders × $3.20 avg)	$480
Additional picks (75 extra items × $0.50)	$37.50
Packaging materials	$30 – $75
Total (before shipping)	~$600 – $730

That's before actual postage. And before any custom packaging, inserts, or kitting fees.

How Simpl does it differently

At Simpl, there's one line item: a flat rate per order starting at $7. That covers pick, pack, and materials. No setup fee. No onboarding fee. No receiving fee. No separate pick charges, no handling costs, no insert fees.

The same 150-order month above? $1,050 flat. That's more than the low end of the itemized example, but you know exactly what you're paying every month, and there's nothing hiding in the fine print.

Fee	Typical 3PL	Simpl
Setup	$0 – $3,000	$0
Receiving	$4 – $45/pallet	$0
Storage	$8 – $45/pallet/mo	Included
Pick and pack	$2.50 – $5.00 + per-item	Included in flat rate
Materials	$0.15 – $2.00/order	Included
Model	5–6 line items	One flat rate

Want to skip the fee math? See Simpl's flat-rate pricing →

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a typical pick and pack fee?

Industry average is around $3.20 per order for the base fee, plus $0.20–$1.50 per additional item. Total cost for a single-item order typically runs $3.50–$8.00 including packaging.

Do all 3PLs charge receiving fees?

Most do. The common exception is when you follow their specific prep and labeling guidelines exactly. Simpl doesn't charge receiving fees at all.

Why do 3PL costs vary so much?

Location (metro vs secondary market), order volume, product size and weight, packaging complexity, and whether you need climate-controlled storage. A 3PL in LA will cost more than one in Kentucky for the same service.

What's the cheapest 3PL?

Cheapest per-line-item doesn't always mean cheapest total cost. A 3PL with $0 receiving and $2.50 pick fees might have $45/pallet storage and $500 monthly minimums. Compare the total monthly invoice, not individual line items.

Pick and pack fees: what 3PLs actually charge in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a typical pick and pack fee?

Do all 3PLs charge receiving fees?

Why do 3PL costs vary so much?

What's the cheapest 3PL?

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