Kitting
Kitting is the process of combining several individual products into one ready-to-ship package, such as a bundle, gift set, or subscription box, stored and sold under a single SKU. In fulfillment, kits are built before orders arrive, so the finished package ships as fast as any single item.
How Kitting Works
Kitting takes separate SKUs and assembles them into one. Say you sell a skincare set: a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer that you also sell individually. Instead of picking three items every time the set sells, your 3PL builds a batch of finished kits ahead of demand, assigns the kit its own SKU, and stores it ready to go.
When an order for the set comes in, the picker grabs one kit, not three loose products. That cuts pick time, reduces packing errors, and keeps the unboxing consistent. It also makes inventory cleaner. You track finished kits as their own line while the system decrements the component SKUs behind the scenes.
Kitting covers more than product bundles. It includes inserts, promotional add-ons, gift-with-purchase items, retail-ready displays, and subscription boxes that change contents month to month. The work is part assembly, part light manufacturing, and it usually happens during receiving or in a scheduled production run.
At Simpl, kitting and assembly is a standard service handled in-house, so your bundles are built, counted, and ready before the orders land.
Kitting in Ecommerce Fulfillment
For ecommerce brands, kitting is how you sell bundles without slowing down shipping. A pre-assembled kit ships at the same speed as a single unit, so a holiday gift set or a starter pack doesn't become a bottleneck in your busiest weeks.
It's also a margin and merchandising lever. Bundling slow-moving inventory with bestsellers, launching limited-edition sets, or adding a free sample to every order all run through kitting. Done right, it raises average order value without adding work to each shipment.
Simpl handles kitting for product bundles, subscription boxes, and FBA prep, so the same warehouse that ships your singles also builds your sets.
Common Questions About Kitting
What is kitting in a warehouse?
Kitting is when warehouse staff combine several separate products into one packaged unit with its own SKU, assembled before orders arrive so the finished kit can ship as a single item.
What's the difference between kitting and assembly?
They overlap. Kitting is grouping finished products into one sellable unit. Assembly can go a step further, with light construction or configuration like building a display or attaching components. Most 3PLs, Simpl included, treat them as one service.
Does kitting cost extra?
Kitting is typically a value-added service priced by the time and materials involved. Simpl's order fulfillment starts at $7/order, which covers picking, packing, and postage, with a $750/month minimum; kitting is quoted based on your bundle.
Can subscription boxes be kitted?
Yes. Subscription boxes are one of the most common kitting jobs. Your 3PL assembles each month's box ahead of the send so the whole run ships on schedule.
Related terms
Need your bundles built and ready to ship?
Simpl handles kitting and assembly in-house: bundles, gift sets, and subscription boxes, built before your orders land. Starting at $7/order with a $750/month minimum.