3PL Pricing Template
Monthly 3PL bill = each rate × its monthly volume, summed, then topped up to any minimum. On the example rate cards, 2,400 orders a month cost $10,866 with Quote A and $10,621 with Quote B: $4.53 vs $4.43 per order.
Your monthly volume profile
Use a normal month, not peak. Returns = orders × return rate.
Rate card: two quotes
Rates shown are editable examples, not market rates and not Locad's prices. Replace them with the figures on each quote.
| Fee line | Monthly volume | Quote A | Quote B | B − A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving | 300 inbound cartons | $195 | $0 | −$195 |
| Pallet storage | 40 pallets stored | $960 | $760 | −$200 |
| Bin or shelf storage | 120 bins used | $420 | $510 | +$90 |
| Pick and pack, first unit | 2,400 orders | $7,080 | $6,480 | −$600 |
| Additional units | 1,440 extra units | $792 | $648 | −$144 |
| Packaging materials | 2,400 orders | $960 | $1,440 | +$480 |
| Kitting | 300 kits built | $225 | $285 | +$60 |
| Returns processing | 72 returns | $234 | $198 | −$36 |
| Account or tech fee | 1 month | $0 | $300 | +$300 |
| Minimum top-up | if fees are below the minimum | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly total | all lines | $10,866 | $10,621 | −$245 |
| Orders a month | Quote A | Quote B | Cheaper | Gap a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 | $6,123 | $6,096 | Quote B | $28 |
| 2,400 (yours) | $10,866 | $10,621 | Quote B | $245 |
| 3,600 | $15,609 | $15,147 | Quote B | $463 |
| 4,800 | $20,352 | $19,672 | Quote B | $680 |
The calculation runs in your browser. The CSV has the same fee lines plus shipping, surcharge and cost-per-order columns for a spreadsheet.
How to Use a 3PL Pricing Template in 6 Steps
- Pull a normal month of volume. Orders, units per order, inbound cartons, average pallets and bins, kits and returns. Use your order export and last inventory count.
- Copy each quote line by line. One rate per billable event, in the unit the 3PL quotes. Leave a line at zero only if the quote truly has no such charge.
- Match units before you compare. Per pallet against per pallet, per carton against per carton. Convert where they differ, using the storage table further down.
- Add the account fee and the minimum. They sit outside the per-event rates, and a minimum can outweigh a cheaper pick fee in a quiet month.
- Read the total, then the lines. The total says which quote is lower. The B − A column says why, and which line to negotiate.
- Test other volumes. Check the break-even volume and the 50% to 200% table before you sign. Growth or a slow season can flip the answer.
| Fee line | Monthly cost formula | Where the volume comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Inbound cartons × rate per carton | Purchase orders and advance ship notices for the month. |
| Pallet storage | Average pallets × rate per pallet | Inventory report, averaged across the month. |
| Bin storage | Bins or shelves × rate per bin | Pick locations your fast movers occupy. |
| Pick and pack | Orders × first-unit rate | Order count from your store or marketplace. |
| Additional units | Orders × (units per order − 1) × rate | Units shipped ÷ orders gives units per order. |
| Packaging | Orders × rate per order | Mailers, boxes and fill, if the 3PL supplies them. |
| Kitting | Kits built × rate per kit | Bundles, gift sets and subscription boxes assembled. |
| Returns | Orders × return rate × rate per return | Your return rate over the last few months. |
| Monthly total | Sum of lines + account fee, at least the minimum | What the invoice should come to. |
What a 3PL Rate Card Should Price
Inbound
- Receiving per carton, pallet or hour
- Container unloading, loose or palletized
- Labeling or relabeling on arrival
Storage
- Per pallet, bin, shelf or cubic foot
- How the month is measured: average, peak or a snapshot
- Long-term or aged-stock surcharges
Fulfillment
- Pick and pack for the first unit
- Each additional unit in the order
- Boxes, mailers, fill and inserts
Value-added and account
- Kitting, bundling and gift wrap
- Returns inspection and restock
- Account, tech or integration fee and the minimum
Charges to ask about before you sign
| Charge | What triggers it | Question to put to the 3PL |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding or setup | Opening the account and loading SKUs. | Is it one-off, and is it credited against later fees? |
| Inventory counts | Cycle counts or a full physical count. | How many counts are included before one is billed? |
| Special projects | Rework, relabeling or sorting by hour. | What is the hourly rate and who approves the hours? |
| Peak surcharges | Seasonal volume above an agreed level. | Which months, which lines, and how much? |
| Rate increases | Contract renewal or a yearly review. | How much notice, and is there a cap? |
| Exit and removal | Moving stock out at the end of the contract. | What does it cost per pallet or carton to leave? |
Two Quotes for a Columbus, Ohio Skincare Brand
A skincare brand ships to US customers and has two quotes from 3PLs near Columbus, Ohio. These are the template's default inputs. Every rate is an example, not a benchmark.
| Fee line | Volume | Quote A rate | Quote A | Quote B rate | Quote B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving | 300 inbound cartons | $0.65 | $195 | $0.00 | $0 |
| Pallet storage | 40 pallets stored | $24.00 | $960 | $19.00 | $760 |
| Bin or shelf storage | 120 bins used | $3.50 | $420 | $4.25 | $510 |
| Pick and pack, first unit | 2,400 orders | $2.95 | $7,080 | $2.70 | $6,480 |
| Additional units | 1,440 extra units | $0.55 | $792 | $0.45 | $648 |
| Packaging materials | 2,400 orders | $0.40 | $960 | $0.60 | $1,440 |
| Kitting | 300 kits built | $0.75 | $225 | $0.95 | $285 |
| Returns processing | 72 returns | $3.25 | $234 | $2.75 | $198 |
| Account or tech fee | 1 month | $0.00 | $0 | $300.00 | $300 |
| Monthly minimum | fees $10,866 / $10,621 | $3,000 | $0 | none | $0 |
| Total | a month | $10,866 | $10,621 |
Quote B is lower
$10,866 against $10,621, or $2,940 a year at this volume.
Per order
Each monthly total ÷ 2,400 orders. That is the figure to set against your average order value.
Break-even volume
From 1,049 orders a month, Quote B is cheaper. Just below that, the other quote wins.
How the Cheaper Quote Changes with Order Volume
The example rate cards at five volumes. Receiving and kits scale with orders. Storage, the account fee and the minimum do not.
| Orders a month | Quote A | Quote B | A per order | B per order | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | $3,752 | $3,833 | $6.25 | $6.39 | Quote A, by $81 |
| 1,200 | $6,123 | $6,096 | $5.10 | $5.08 | Quote B, by $28 |
| 2,400 | $10,866 | $10,621 | $4.53 | $4.43 | Quote B, by $245 |
| 3,600 | $15,609 | $15,147 | $4.34 | $4.21 | Quote B, by $463 |
| 4,800 | $20,352 | $19,672 | $4.24 | $4.10 | Quote B, by $680 |
Fixed costs favor volume
Quote B carries a $300 account fee but lower per-order rates. Each extra order narrows the gap, so B pulls ahead once volume passes 1,049 orders.
A minimum changes the low end
At 400 orders, Quote A's fees come to $2,961. Its $3,000 minimum adds $39, so the bill is $3,000, or $7.50 per order.
Which Rate Moves the Bill Most
What a change in each Quote A rate is worth a month at the example volume. Negotiate the line with the biggest volume behind it, not the one that looks highest.
| Fee line | Monthly volume | Rate +$0.10 | Rate +$1.00 | Share of Quote A's bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving | 300 inbound cartons | +$30 | +$300 | 1.8% |
| Pallet storage | 40 pallets stored | +$4 | +$40 | 8.8% |
| Bin or shelf storage | 120 bins used | +$12 | +$120 | 3.9% |
| Pick and pack, first unit | 2,400 orders | +$240 | +$2,400 | 65.2% |
| Additional units | 1,440 extra units | +$144 | +$1,440 | 7.3% |
| Packaging materials | 2,400 orders | +$240 | +$2,400 | 8.8% |
| Kitting | 300 kits built | +$30 | +$300 | 2.1% |
| Returns processing | 72 returns | +$7 | +$72 | 2.2% |
3PL Pricing Models and How to Enter Them
Itemized rate card
A price for each event: receiving, storage, picks, packaging. Enter each line as quoted. It shows exactly where money goes, and it takes the most work to compare.
All-in per order
One fee per order covering pick, pack and packaging. Enter it as the first-unit rate and set the extra-unit and packaging lines to zero. Ask whether storage is included.
Hourly or cost-plus
Labor billed by the hour, sometimes with a margin. Convert it with the 3PL's own picks-per-hour figure, then enter the result per order.
Minimum or commitment
A monthly floor or committed volume. Enter it as the minimum line. Then test your quietest month with the volume table.
Converting 3PL Storage Rates to One Unit
Quotes price storage in different units. Convert them before you compare. The pallet here is an example 48 × 40 inch footprint stacked 60 inches high.
| Quoted as | How to convert | On the example |
|---|---|---|
| Per pallet a month | Use as is, with your average pallet count. | $24 (A) and $19 (B) per pallet |
| Per cubic foot a month | Pallet rate ÷ cubic feet per pallet. L × W × H in inches ÷ 1,728. | ≈ 66.7 ft³ a pallet: $0.360 (A), $0.285 (B) per ft³ |
| Per bin or shelf | Count the locations your SKUs occupy, not the SKUs. | 120 bins at $3.50 (A) or $4.25 (B) |
| Per unit stored | Units on hand × rate. Suits small, high-value items. | Enter as bins: one bin per unit, at the per-unit rate |
| Aged-stock surcharge | Add the monthly amount to the pallet or bin line. | Not in the example quotes |
Average, peak or snapshot
Ask how the month's storage is measured. A peak or month-end count bills more than an average whenever stock arrives in large drops.
Partial pallets
Ask whether a part pallet is billed as a full one. If it is, count pallet positions, not pallets' worth of stock, when you fill in the template.
3PL Pricing Template vs 3PL Cost Calculator
| Question | This pricing template | 3PL cost calculator |
|---|---|---|
| What it answers | Which quote is cheaper for my volume, and why. | Roughly what fulfillment costs per order. |
| Input | Two full rate cards, line by line. | A single set of blended rates. |
| Shipping | Kept separate, so handling fees compare cleanly. | Included as an average per order. |
| Minimums | Applied, with the top-up shown. | Not modeled. |
| Best used | When quotes are in hand. | Before you ask for quotes. |
Budgeting before you have quotes? Start with the 3PL cost calculator, then read the 3PL pricing guide.
What to Send a 3PL for a Quote You Can Compare
Send every 3PL the same profile, and each quote lands on the same template.
Volume
- Orders a month, with your quietest and busiest month
- Units per order and the share of single-unit orders
- Inbound cartons or pallets a month, and how they arrive
- Return rate and what happens to returned stock
Product and service
- SKU count and average pallets and bins on hand
- Unit sizes and weights, and any fragile or temperature-sensitive lines
- Kitting, inserts or gift wrap you need
- Sales channels and order cut-off times
- Ask every 3PL to quote in the units on this template.
- Ask for the monthly minimum and the account fee in writing.
- Ask for a sample invoice for a similar client profile, with names removed.
- Ask how and when rates change after the first year.
Which Fee Line to Check First, by Business Type
The template is the same for everyone. What changes is which line carries the most volume, so start your review there.
Subscription boxes
Kitting often leads. Every box is assembled before it ships, so the per-kit rate repeats on every order.
Apparel
Returns often matter more here. Sizing exchanges push the return rate up, so price inspection and restock carefully.
Bulky or slow-moving goods
Storage often leads. Low sales per pallet mean the monthly pallet rate weighs more than any pick fee.
Multi-unit baskets
Additional units often lead. When orders carry several items, the extra-unit rate can outweigh the first-unit rate.
When to re-run the comparison
- When a 3PL sends a revised quote or a renewal with new rates.
- Before peak season, with your busiest month's volumes.
- After a change in units per order, such as a new bundle.
- When your return rate or inbound pattern shifts.
- After the first three invoices, to check the bill against the quote.
Eight 3PL Quote Comparison Mistakes
Comparing the headline rate
Quote B's pick fee looks $600 a month cheaper. Across the whole card the gap is $245.
Ignoring extra units
At 1.6 units per order, leaving out the additional-unit line understates Quote A by $792: $10,074 instead of $10,866.
Skipping the minimum
In a 400-order month, Quote A's minimum adds $39. Test your quietest month, not just an average one.
Using average storage for a peak quote
If storage is billed at a peak of 60 pallets, not the average 40, Quote A rises by $480 a month.
Setting returns to zero
A 3% return rate adds $234 to Quote A and $198 to Quote B each month on the example.
Forgetting the account fee
Quote B's $300 a month is $3,600 a year. It sits outside the per-event rates, so it is easy to miss.
Mixing units
A per-cubic-foot rate set beside a per-pallet rate is not a comparison. Convert both to one unit first.
Testing only one volume
The cheaper quote switches at 1,049 orders on the example. Check the volume table before signing a multi-year contract.
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3PL Pricing Template Questions
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