Hidden 3PL fees: the full list, with real published examples

Receiving

Charged when your stock arrives: per pallet, per carton, per unit, per hour, or per container. Unsorted or poorly labeled shipments often cost extra.

• Per pallet: Long Road Warehouse $10.00; Shipping-and-Handling $10.00; Nimbl $11.00; Shipo $14.00; Ablework Station $15.00; Agile 3PL $15.00.
• Other receiving rates: Shipo: “Receiving $0.18/unit; storage $1.10/cu ft/mo; Amazon FBA prep from $1.25/unit”; Crown Fulfillment: “$3.50 per order DTC; pallet 48x40x72; 20ft container floor-loaded $600”; Simple Global: “Pick & pack estimated up to $1.75 (ceiling); 20ft container receiving $350, 40ft $550”; Ablework Station: “Pick/order: $2.00 (first unit); Unit labeling $0.50; carton storage $0.83/cu ft/mo (Q4 $1.66); carton receiving $2.00”; Agile 3PL: “Pallet storage: $0.99/day; Pallet receiving: $15.00 (pallet built); Container unload $350 (20') / $700 (40'); carton receiving $1.50; FNSKU labeling $0.50; bins $2-$3/mo”; ASTORAGEHUB: “Receiving free ($650 floor-loaded container); FBA prep $1.00/item; storage $0.65/cu ft/mo; labor $70/hr”; FbaZoom: “Pallet receiving: $15.00 (LTL); Container unload $299 (20') / $499 (40'); parcel receiving $3/carton; FNSKU labeling $0.20/unit; bins $4/mo”; FR Logistics: “Pick/order: $3.00 (≤1.5 lb); $4.00 (1.5-3 lb); $5.00 (>3 lb); FNSKU labeling $0.55/unit; carton receiving $2.50; poly-bag $0.50; bubble wrap $0.80”; L & M Distribution and Logistics: “Pick/order: $10.00 order processing; Pallet storage: $10-$30 (varies by location); Pallet receiving: $9.00-$12.00; Per case: handling in/out $0.30, storage $0.30”; Mail Everything: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo); $2.25 (501-1,000); $2.00 (1,001-2,000); Free receiving; subscription boxes $2.00-$1.25/box”; MGGprep: “Pick/order: $1.25 (<500/mo) to $0.98 (5,000+); Pallet storage: $1.88/day; FBA flat fee $1.00/unit (0-999 units/mo), $0.80, $0.69; container unload $399-$799”; Montana Logistics Pro: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo) + $0.50/item; FBA prep $1.45-$1.25/unit by volume; storage $2.40/cu ft after 2 free weeks; box receiving $1.50”; New York FBA Prep Center: “Monthly minimum: $200/month (DTC); Starting rates: container unload from $300; box forwarding from $1.70; storage from $0.82; FNSKU from $0.35”; OneDayBundle: “Pick/order: From $2.00; Additional item: From $0.50; Unit receiving $0.15; box receiving $2.00; FBA removals $1.75-$1.20/unit”; PACKhaus Fulfillment: “Receiving $50/hr (1 hr min); bin storage $1.00/cu ft; returns $2.50; prep $1.00-$2.50/item”; Ship Depot: “Pick/order: $2.00 (at 1,000/mo); Container unload $400 (20') / $650 (40'); admin $45/hr”; Shipping-and-Handling: “Pallet storage: As low as $25; Account fee: $75 admin; Small parcel receiving $3; kitting $35/hr”; Stock and Ship: “Pick/order: $1.50 + unit handling; Container unload $400-$750; carton forwarding $3-$5; FBA prep $1.75-$1.15/unit (OA)”; StoneBridge Fulfillment: “Pick/order: $2.50 (FBM); Free receiving; FNSKU $0.40-$0.30/unit; pallet making $25”; The Three Logistics: “Additional item: $0.60 per unit picked (small); Receiving $2.00/carton; FBA prep from $0.85/unit; returns $1.75/unit”; Pro Prep and Fulfillment: “Pallet storage: $15 (single-SKU pallet); Monthly minimum: $250/month minimum pick & pack; Container unload $300 (20') / $500 (40'); bins $0.85-$1.75/mo”

Storage

Billed per pallet, bin, shelf or cubic foot, and per day, week or month. Daily or weekly rates look small; multiply them out to compare.

• Per pallet per month: Pro Prep and Fulfillment $15.00; HermesLines $15.99; Nimbl $18.00; Next Step 3PL $18.00; NDN Fulfillment $20.00; Fulfillment EZ $22.00.
• Per cubic foot, day or week: Shipo: “Receiving $0.18/unit; storage $1.10/cu ft/mo; Amazon FBA prep from $1.25/unit”; Matrix Fulfillment: “Pick & pack as low as $0.50/order (volume-tiered); pallet storage $0.90/day (48x40x60); bin $0.25/day; special projects $40/hr”; Think14: “Storage $0.50/cu ft/mo; FBA prep $0.75/unit; pick-pack quoted per order profile”; ShipCalm: “Storage $0.19/week per cu ft; per item returned $4.95; quarterly minimum $6,000”; 365PrepCenter LLC: “Pick/order: $2.00 (10+ orders/day); $2.50 under 10/day; FNSKU labeling $0.35-$0.75/unit by volume; bubble wrap from $1.20/unit; pallet out $40.00”; Ablework Station: “Pick/order: $2.00 (first unit); Unit labeling $0.50; carton storage $0.83/cu ft/mo (Q4 $1.66); carton receiving $2.00”; AFI: “Pallet storage: $2.00/day; Labor/FBA prep $1/min; cold pallet storage $2.46/day; maker space from $400/mo”; Agile 3PL: “Pallet storage: $0.99/day; Pallet receiving: $15.00 (pallet built); Container unload $350 (20') / $700 (40'); carton receiving $1.50; FNSKU labeling $0.50; bins $2-$3/mo”; AMSCO Prep: “Pallet storage: $1.00/day; FBA prep center; storage $1.00 per pallet per day”; ASTORAGEHUB: “Receiving free ($650 floor-loaded container); FBA prep $1.00/item; storage $0.65/cu ft/mo; labor $70/hr”; MGGprep: “Pick/order: $1.25 (<500/mo) to $0.98 (5,000+); Pallet storage: $1.88/day; FBA flat fee $1.00/unit (0-999 units/mo), $0.80, $0.69; container unload $399-$799”; Momentum Warehousing: “Pick/order: $0.50/order pack + $0.50/item pick (Enterprise tier); Pallet storage: $1/day; Pick & pack prices shown are for Enterprise tier clients”; Montana Logistics Pro: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo) + $0.50/item; FBA prep $1.45-$1.25/unit by volume; storage $2.40/cu ft after 2 free weeks; box receiving $1.50”; My Fulfillment Team: “Account fee: No monthly software fee; FBA processing $1.45/unit (1-29), $1.15 (30+); $10 minimum per prep order; storage $0.70/cu ft/mo; pick & pack $2.15/unit (<16"); one-time eCommerce setup $189”; Nitro Logistics: “Pick/order: $2.00 (251-500/mo); Pallet storage: $1.40/day (~$42/mo); Bins $0.04-$0.10/day”; PACKhaus Fulfillment: “Receiving $50/hr (1 hr min); bin storage $1.00/cu ft; returns $2.50; prep $1.00-$2.50/item”

Pick & pack

Usually a fee for the first item in an order plus a fee for each extra item. Some charge by weight instead.

• Per order (first item): Matrix Fulfillment $0.50; Boost3PL $0.90; HermesLines $0.99; Smart Prep Center $1.15; RES $1.20; ShipCube $1.25.
• Each additional item: ShipCube $0.25; Boost3PL $0.25; SHIPLAKES $0.25; 365PrepCenter LLC $0.30; Marcana 3PL $0.35; UNDpack $0.40.
• Weight-based: RES: “Pick & pack by billable weight $1.20 (<=2 lb) to $3.20 (8-10 lb); vendor example: second piece $0.50, box $0.75”; HermesLines: “Pick & pack $0.99 (pre-packed, up to 1.1 lb) and up by weight; pallet $15.99 (1 pallet) down to $13.01 (15+)”; KAK Sourcing: “DTC/FBM $2.00 up to 5 lb, $2.75 (5-8 lb), $4.00 (8-15 lb); FBA prep $0.75/unit”; Fulfillment Hub USA: “First-item pick $2.85/order (up to 10 lb); additional item $0.70; promo insert $0.25”; FR Logistics: “Pick/order: $3.00 (≤1.5 lb); $4.00 (1.5-3 lb); $5.00 (>3 lb); FNSKU labeling $0.55/unit; carton receiving $2.50; poly-bag $0.50; bubble wrap $0.80”

Packaging and inserts

Boxes, mailers, dunnage, tape and inserts are often billed on top of pick & pack.

• Published examples: RES: “Pick & pack by billable weight $1.20 (<=2 lb) to $3.20 (8-10 lb); vendor example: second piece $0.50, box $0.75”; Delivery Group Inc.: “Flat per-order alternative $4.00; standard packing materials $1.00; kitting $1.25”; Fulfillment Hub USA: “First-item pick $2.85/order (up to 10 lb); additional item $0.70; promo insert $0.25”; Fulfillment EZ: “Pick/order: $1.50 flat (up to 2 units, up to 2,000 orders/mo); Marketing insert +$0.15/order; kitting +$0.75/unit”; Mail Everything: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo); $2.25 (501-1,000); $2.00 (1,001-2,000); Free receiving; subscription boxes $2.00-$1.25/box”; Montana Logistics Pro: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo) + $0.50/item; FBA prep $1.45-$1.25/unit by volume; storage $2.40/cu ft after 2 free weeks; box receiving $1.50”; New York FBA Prep Center: “Monthly minimum: $200/month (DTC); Starting rates: container unload from $300; box forwarding from $1.70; storage from $0.82; FNSKU from $0.35”; OneDayBundle: “Pick/order: From $2.00; Additional item: From $0.50; Unit receiving $0.15; box receiving $2.00; FBA removals $1.75-$1.20/unit”; TosPrep: “Pick/order: $2 (FBM); Additional item: $1 (units 2-5); FNSKU labels $1-$0.55/unit by volume; box forwarding $5; pallet forwarding $25”

Account, software and minimums

A monthly platform fee, and a monthly minimum that you pay even in slow months. Check whether the minimum applies to total spend or only to one fee.

• Account / software fee per month: Ablework Station $14.95; Dollan Prep Center $48.00; NDN Fulfillment $49.00; NexHaul 3PL $50.00; Fulfillrite $59.99; Shipping-and-Handling $75.00.
• Monthly minimum: Annex Fulfillment $150.00; New York FBA Prep Center $200.00; Pro Prep and Fulfillment $250.00; Shipo $395.00; Fulfillrite $399.00; PipShip $500.00.
• Other minimum wording: Fulfillrite: “Quote-based; minimum is pick-and-pack spend”; PipShip: “$500 monthly minimum pick fee”; ShipCalm: “Storage $0.19/week per cu ft; per item returned $4.95; quarterly minimum $6,000”; Annex Fulfillment: “Pick/order: $3.00 (50-249/mo); $2.75 (250-499); $2.50 (500+); Monthly minimum: $150/mo base fee under 250 orders; Pick fee $0.45 ($0.35 at 500+); SKU fee $1/mo ($0.75 at 500+)”; Long Road Warehouse: “Pick/order: $2.00 (1-249/mo); $1.75 (250-999); $1.50 (1,000-4,999); Additional item: $0.50 / $0.40 / $0.26 by tier; Cross-dock $15/pallet ($30 oversized); $150 minimum charge per BOL; PO/ASN $25”; Miami Alliance 3PL: “Monthly minimum: $1,000/month minimum spend; New customers: $100 storage credit”; My Fulfillment Team: “Account fee: No monthly software fee; FBA processing $1.45/unit (1-29), $1.15 (30+); $10 minimum per prep order; storage $0.70/cu ft/mo; pick & pack $2.15/unit (<16"); one-time eCommerce setup $189”; New York FBA Prep Center: “Monthly minimum: $200/month (DTC); Starting rates: container unload from $300; box forwarding from $1.70; storage from $0.82; FNSKU from $0.35”; Pro Prep and Fulfillment: “Pallet storage: $15 (single-SKU pallet); Monthly minimum: $250/month minimum pick & pack; Container unload $300 (20') / $500 (40'); bins $0.85-$1.75/mo”

Returns

Processing a return (open, inspect, restock or dispose) is usually billed per return or per item.

• Published examples: Fulfyld: “Up to 5 picks per order free, then $0.50/item; pallet $32/mo at starter tier; returns $3.50 first item + $0.50 additional”; ShipCalm: “Storage $0.19/week per cu ft; per item returned $4.95; quarterly minimum $6,000”; PACKhaus Fulfillment: “Receiving $50/hr (1 hr min); bin storage $1.00/cu ft; returns $2.50; prep $1.00-$2.50/item”; Prep Prime: “Pick/order: $2 + shipping; FNSKU labeling $0.50 (30-unit min); returns $1”; Prime Avenue Logistics: “Pick/order: $3.00 (0-3,000/mo); $2.50 (3,001-6,000); $2.00 (6,001-9,999); Return processing $0”; Valley Fulfillment: “Pick/order: From $2.00; Pallet storage: From $35; Returns from $2.00”; The Three Logistics: “Additional item: $0.60 per unit picked (small); Receiving $2.00/carton; FBA prep from $0.85/unit; returns $1.75/unit”; UNDpack: “Pick/order: $1.99 (0-500/mo); Bins $0.99-$4.99/mo; returns $2.00”

Long-term storage

Some 3PLs add a surcharge for stock that sits longer than a set number of days, or only include free storage for a short period. Ask for the exact days and rate.

• Published examples: Shipux: “$3.95/order at 1-500 orders/mo; $3.50 at 501-1,000; $2.95 at 1,001+; 14 days free storage”

Onboarding and setup

One-time setup, integration or SKU setup fees.

• Published examples: ShipCube: “Starter tier: order $1.25 + $0.25/pick, pallet $25/mo, setup $100; Growth $1.00/$0.25/$21; Enterprise $0.80/$0.20/$17”; My Fulfillment Team: “Account fee: No monthly software fee; FBA processing $1.45/unit (1-29), $1.15 (30+); $10 minimum per prep order; storage $0.70/cu ft/mo; pick & pack $2.15/unit (<16"); one-time eCommerce setup $189”; NOW Fulfillment: “Pick/order: From $2.00 per fulfilled unit; FBA prep from $0.80/unit; bundles from $1.30; setup $25 one-time”; SHIPLAKES: “Pick/order: $2.75 (0-99/mo); $2.48 (100-499); $2.20 (500+), month-to-month; Pallet storage: $20-$30; Account fee: $150 / $300 account management; 12-mo plan lower; new brand setup $175”

Also ask about

• Kitting, bundling and special projects (often hourly)
• FBA prep and labeling
• Postage markups, fuel and residential surcharges
• Inventory counts, pick-outs and removal when you leave
• Peak-season surcharges

• Published examples: Shipo: “Receiving $0.18/unit; storage $1.10/cu ft/mo; Amazon FBA prep from $1.25/unit”; Delivery Group Inc.: “Flat per-order alternative $4.00; standard packing materials $1.00; kitting $1.25”; Matrix Fulfillment: “Pick & pack as low as $0.50/order (volume-tiered); pallet storage $0.90/day (48x40x60); bin $0.25/day; special projects $40/hr”; KAK Sourcing: “DTC/FBM $2.00 up to 5 lb, $2.75 (5-8 lb), $4.00 (8-15 lb); FBA prep $0.75/unit”; Think14: “Storage $0.50/cu ft/mo; FBA prep $0.75/unit; pick-pack quoted per order profile”; AFI: “Pallet storage: $2.00/day; Labor/FBA prep $1/min; cold pallet storage $2.46/day; maker space from $400/mo”; AMSCO Prep: “Pallet storage: $1.00/day; FBA prep center; storage $1.00 per pallet per day”; ASTORAGEHUB: “Receiving free ($650 floor-loaded container); FBA prep $1.00/item; storage $0.65/cu ft/mo; labor $70/hr”; Fulfillment EZ: “Pick/order: $1.50 flat (up to 2 units, up to 2,000 orders/mo); Marketing insert +$0.15/order; kitting +$0.75/unit”; Montana Logistics Pro: “Pick/order: $2.50 (1-500/mo) + $0.50/item; FBA prep $1.45-$1.25/unit by volume; storage $2.40/cu ft after 2 free weeks; box receiving $1.50”; NexHaul 3PL: “Pick/order: $3.00 (0-499/mo); Pallet storage: $15.00-$25.00 by tier; Account fee: $50 software; Small parcel reception $3-$5; special projects $25/hr”; NOW Fulfillment: “Pick/order: From $2.00 per fulfilled unit; FBA prep from $0.80/unit; bundles from $1.30; setup $25 one-time”; Shipping-and-Handling: “Pallet storage: As low as $25; Account fee: $75 admin; Small parcel receiving $3; kitting $35/hr”; Smart Prep Center: “Pick/order: $1.15 (FBM); FBA prep $1.20/unit (OA) / $0.50 (wholesale) first 2 months; carton forwarding $3.00”; Stock and Ship: “Pick/order: $1.50 + unit handling; Container unload $400-$750; carton forwarding $3-$5; FBA prep $1.75-$1.15/unit (OA)”; The Three Logistics: “Additional item: $0.60 per unit picked (small); Receiving $2.00/carton; FBA prep from $0.85/unit; returns $1.75/unit”; Universal Shipping Inc.: “FBA prep $0.95/unit (min 5,000), $0.75 (min 20,000), $0.50 (min 40,000)”

Keep going

• Find my 3PL: 1-minute quiz
• Compare 3PLs side by side
• Factual 3PL reviews
• Free 3PL tools · All guides