Per-order fulfillment cost across in-house, 3PL, and Amazon FBA.
Order details
In-house fulfillment
3PL
Amazon FBA
Per-order cost by channel
Channel
Pick/Pack
Storage
Shipping
Total
Monthly total at orders
Channel
Monthly Cost
vs Cheapest
About this calculator
Fulfillment is the second-largest variable cost for most ecommerce brands (after COGS). The choice between in-house, 3PL, and FBA usually gets made based on convenience or path-of-least-resistance — not cost analysis. Operators who do the math typically find their current setup is 20-40% more expensive than the optimal mix.
This calculator does the apples-to-apples comparison. In-house: labor minutes per order × hourly rate + warehouse fixed cost spread across volume + your shipping rates. 3PL: pick/pack per item + storage by cubic foot + 3PL-negotiated shipping. FBA: fixed FBA fee per item + Amazon storage. The cheapest option varies dramatically by AOV, weight, and volume.
The general patterns: in-house wins under 50 orders/day or when you need custom packaging. 3PL wins for typical DTC volume (50-2,000 orders/day). FBA wins for low-AOV (under $25) Amazon-channel orders where the FBA fixed fee is below 3PL rates. Multi-channel mix beats single-channel for most brands at scale.
The hidden cost line is usually 3PL "extras" — receiving fees, returns processing, special handling, monthly minimums. Add 15-25% to headline 3PL pick/pack rates to get realistic all-in costs. Pair with the Amazon FBA Fee Calculator and the Shipping Cost Analyzer for fuller fulfillment economics.
Frequently asked questions
When does in-house fulfillment beat 3PL?
Generally under 200 orders/day OR with custom packaging requirements that 3PLs can't handle well. In-house gives more brand control over packaging, but the per-order labor cost is usually higher than 3PL once you exceed ~50 orders/day.
How does FBA fulfillment compare to 3PL?
FBA is cheaper per-order for sub-$25 items because Amazon's fixed FBA fee scales below typical 3PL pick/pack rates. For higher-value items, FBA fulfillment fees ($5-15+) often exceed 3PL fees ($3-6). Plus FBA only fulfills Amazon orders unless you use Multi-Channel Fulfillment (which adds 50-100% premium).
What's the typical 3PL pick/pack fee?
$2-4 base for first item, $0.50-1 each additional item, $0.30-0.50 for kit/assembly steps. Plus $0.05-0.20 per cubic foot per month storage. Most 3PLs have $200-500 minimum monthly fees for low-volume accounts.
What hidden costs come with 3PL?
Receiving fees ($25-50 per inbound pallet), inventory cycle counts, returns processing ($3-5 per return), special projects (kitting, relabeling), and minimums during slow months. Total hidden costs often add 15-25% to the headline pick/pack rate.
Should I use multiple fulfillment channels?
Yes if you have meaningful volume across channels. FBA for Amazon (forced unless you opt out of Prime), 3PL for DTC volume, in-house for low-volume premium SKUs that need custom packaging. Multi-channel adds operational complexity but usually wins on per-order cost.