The Cost of Pick and Pack Services: What To Expect

Pick and pack pricing is not one number. It breaks into five core lines: receiving, storage, picking, packing, and shipping. Small differences in how a 3PL counts each one can change your monthly bill more than the headline pick rate.

How much does pick and pack cost?

There is no single number, because pick and pack fulfillment is priced in layers. Receiving, storage, picking, packing, and shipping each get billed separately, and the way a 3PL counts each one is what makes the bill predictable or surprising. The fastest way to compare quotes is to ask each provider to break out all five lines.

The five core pick and pack fees

Receiving fees

Charged when your inventory arrives at the warehouse. Floor-loaded containers cost more to receive than palletized ones because they take more labor and time to unload. Ask your 3PL how they price each scenario before your first container lands.

Storage fees

Storage is priced by space used, usually by pallet, shelf, or bin. The number that matters is not the headline rate but how the 3PL measures partial pallets and how often they bill.

Pick fees

Charged per order or per item. Bigger orders cost more per ticket, but per-unit cost usually drops as items per order go up. Kitting and bundle SKUs can cut your pick fees because the warehouse grabs one prebuilt kit instead of five separate items.

Pack fees and materials

Pack fees cover the labor to pack each order. Materials (boxes, mailers, dunnage, branded inserts) are billed separately. Custom packaging costs more but can pay for itself in unboxing experience and brand recall.

Shipping

Shipping is the biggest line for most brands. A 3PL with volume discounts and live rate shopping can save you more here than anywhere else, especially on oversized and heavy freight.

What about onboarding costs?

Most 3PLs charge a one-time setup fee to receive initial inventory, build SKU records, and connect your store. It is usually a few hundred to low thousands and billed once.

Other costs that show up on real invoices

Account setup, monthly minimums, and special handling for fragile, oversized, or high-value items. None of these are red flags on their own, but you want them spelled out in the contract, not surprised at month-end.

How to keep your pick and pack bill predictable

Three things move the needle most. First, consolidate orders when customers buy more than one item. Second, right-size your packaging so you are not paying to ship air. Third, ask your 3PL for a monthly review of your top 20 SKUs so you can spot the ones that are quietly eating margin.

How 3PL Center prices pick and pack

Our pricing is itemized so you can see exactly what each line costs before the first order ships. We rate-shop carriers on every order through our WMS, and our warehouses sit near major shipping hubs to keep zone costs down. You can run your own estimate in our fulfillment cost calculator.

Pick and pack cost FAQs

How fast does 3PL Center pick and pack an order?

Orders received by 2pm local time ship the same day.

Is shipping bundled with pick and pack fees?

No. Shipping is its own line so you can see and compare carrier costs. We pass through discounted rates from our carrier accounts.

Does 3PL Center charge for kitting?

Kitting is priced per assembly. Pre-kitted SKUs usually cost less to ship than the same items picked separately.

How does 3PL Center keep pick accuracy high?

Barcode scanning and WMS-driven pick paths keep accuracy at 99.9%, with regular audits to keep it there.