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 is the core fulfillment process: receive inventory, pull each order, pack it, ship it. Here's what it actually looks like — and how to tell if a provider does it well.
If you source overseas and sell on Amazon, your inventory passes through more hands than most sellers expect before it ever reaches a fulfillment center. Two of those hands get confused constantly: the freight forwarder and the 3PL prep center. Here is how the inbound flow actually works.
