3PL Fulfillment versus In-house Fulfillment

Script Compare the Costs of 3PL Fulfillment versus Inhouse Fulfillment

Compare costs of managing fulfillment in-house versus partnering with a 3PL provider

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📋 Cost Calculator Inputs

Enter your fulfillment details to compare in-house vs 3PL costs

Number of shipments per month

Length

Width

Height

Zone 2-8 (Zone 5 = mid-range)

# of unique products

Avg inventory

Affects pick & pack fees (first item + additional items)

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Ready to Calculate

Fill out the form on the left with your fulfillment details, then click "Calculate Costs" to see your personalized comparison.

About This Calculator

In-House Costs Include:

  • Warehouse labor ($25/hr, 125 orders/day per person)
  • Facility rent (storage + operational space)
  • Material handling equipment
  • Packaging materials
  • Carrier shipping (with typical markup)*

3PL Costs Include:

  • Storage fees ($25/pallet/month)
  • Receiving fees ($25/pallet)
  • Tiered pick & pack fees (volume-based)
  • Packaging materials (typically cost +15%)
  • Discounted carrier shipping rates
  • Account management fee
  • Monthly minimum

Volume-Based Pricing:

  • 1.25 - $2.50 for first item, based on volume
  • Additional items: $0.30-$0.50 each

** Be sure to consider direct hourly rate, health insurance, workers comp insurance, PTO, etc.
** Shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. reward high volume shippers with greater discounts. It's typical for inhouse operations to pay a 30% - 50% versus the rates enjoyed by 3PLs.