The five fees on a typical 3PL invoice
| Fee | How it’s charged | TradeHive3PL starting rate |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Per pallet, carton or hour when stock arrives | Quoted to your inbound |
| Storage | Per pallet, bin or cubic foot, per month | From $25 per pallet / month |
| Pick & pack | Per order, plus per additional item | $2.50 per order + $0.50 per extra item |
| Packaging | Per box or mailer used | From $0.35 |
| Shipping | Carrier label cost per parcel | Rate-shopped across carriers |
Some 3PLs also charge setup fees, monthly account minimums or technology fees. Always ask for a full rate card and a sample invoice before you sign. TradeHive3PL has no setup fees and no minimums.
A real example: $11.60 vs. $7.52 per order
One of our clients, a fast-growing phone-accessories brand, moved its domestic fulfillment to TradeHive3PL. Comparing June–October 2026 billing for domestic US orders only:
| Cost per domestic order | Previous 3PL | TradeHive3PL |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping label | $7.97 | $4.86 |
| Pick & pack | $3.13 | $2.66 |
| Packaging | $0.50 | Included |
| Total | $11.60 | $7.52 |
That’s about 35% lower per order, and most of the saving came from the shipping label, not the warehouse fee. Read the full case study. Results vary by product and order profile.
Shipping is usually the biggest cost
For most brands, the label costs more than everything else combined. Three things drive it:
- Distance (zones). Carriers charge more for longer routes. Shipping from the central US keeps more orders in lower zones.
- Dimensional weight. Carriers bill by size as well as weight. An oversized box can cost more than the product inside. Right-sized packaging fixes this.
- Carrier choice. Comparing USPS, UPS, FedEx, GOFO and others on every order, instead of defaulting to one, often lowers the average label.
How to lower your fulfillment cost per order
- Rate-shop every order across several carriers.
- Right-size your packaging to avoid dimensional-weight charges.
- Ship from a central location to cut zones and transit time.
- Bundle items into kits so multi-item orders ship in one box.
- Clear slow stock so you don’t pay storage on products that don’t sell.
Estimate your own costs
Enter your monthly orders, items per order, package size and storage in our 3PL rate calculator for an instant estimate, or request a free quote. We can also price last month’s invoice from your current 3PL line by line.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3PL charge per order?
It depends on the provider and your order profile. TradeHive3PL’s pick and pack starts at $2.50 per order plus $0.50 per extra item, before packaging and shipping.
How much does 3PL storage cost?
Storage is usually charged per pallet, bin or cubic foot each month. Our storage starts at $25 per pallet per month.
Why is my 3PL invoice higher than expected?
Common causes are dimensional-weight shipping charges from oversized boxes, long shipping zones, packaging billed separately, and minimum or account fees. Send us your invoice and we’ll review it line by line for free.