A 3PL quote arrives as a rate card, and rate cards are hard to compare by design. Pick fees, additional-unit fees, packaging, storage, receiving and account fees all sit on separate lines. None of them is the number you need. This 3PL cost calculator turns a rate card into the only figure that matters operationally: all-in cost per order, and what share of the order value it eats.
Fixed against variable
Fulfilment costs split cleanly in two, and quotes rarely make the split obvious.
- Variable costs move with every order: pick and pack, packaging, outbound shipping. These set the floor on what an order can ever cost.
- Fixed costs apply whether you ship anything or not: pallet storage, monthly receiving, account management and platform fees.
As a result, cost per order falls as volume rises. That is why a 3PL that looks expensive at two thousand orders a month can look competitive at ten thousand. Run the calculator at your current volume and again at your forecast, and compare.
The additional-unit trap
Most rate cards price the first unit in an order at one rate and each additional unit much lower. That structure quietly favours whoever has a high units-per-order figure. If your average order is a single item, the headline pick rate is very close to your real pick cost. If you ship four units an order, it is not. The 3PL cost calculator handles this properly, applying the first-unit rate once and the additional-unit rate to the remainder.
Storage is where 3PL quotes drift
Providers quote pallet storage per pallet per month, and in practice it varies with how much stock is sitting in the building. Seasonal peaks, slow-moving lines and safety stock all inflate it. In addition, the pallet count in a quote is usually an optimistic one. Model storage at your realistic peak, not your average. Otherwise the cost per order will look better on paper than it does on an invoice.
Share of order value
The percentage figure is the one to watch over time. Fulfilment creeping past a quarter of average order value is a signal to look hard at packaging, carrier mix or basket size. It is also a much better early warning than the monthly total, which rises naturally as the business grows.
What this 3PL cost calculator does not include
The model excludes returns processing, kitting, special projects, pallet in and out charges, fuel and peak surcharges, and any duty or brokerage. Returns in particular can be a significant line for apparel and consumer categories, and they are worth modelling separately.
Common questions
How do I compare two 3PL quotes with this?
Run each quote with identical volume, units per order, pallet count and order value. The all-in cost per order then compares directly, which the rate cards themselves do not.
Should I include shipping?
Include it if the 3PL bills it. If you ship on your own carrier account, set it to zero and treat the result as a fulfilment-only cost.
What is a normal cost per order?
It depends so heavily on product size, units per order and destination mix that a benchmark would mislead more than it helps. The useful comparison is your own figure over time, and between quotes for the same profile. For the bigger question of whether outsourcing pays at all, see whether a 3PL warehouse is actually cheaper.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser.