How much does order fulfilment cost in the UK?

Nearly every UK 3PL builds its pricing from the same four blocks. Ask any provider to quote you all four and you can compare like for like.

• Pick & pack — per order, typically 55p–£1.50, sometimes plus 10–30p per extra item
• Packaging — the box, mailer or bubble wrap; either at cost or bundled into the pick fee
• Storage — per shelf/bin/pallet per week; a pallet is typically £2–£4.50/week
• Postage — usually the biggest single cost, but 3PLs ship at bulk rates most small sellers cannot get alone

Take a clothing seller shipping 300 orders a month, one item per order, from two pallets of stock. A typical quote might be: 90p pick & pack, 20p mailer, £7/week storage, and £2.20 average tracked postage — roughly £3.40 per order all-in, or about £1,020 a month.

Compare that with doing it yourself: the same postage at retail rates alone often costs £2.90+, before packaging, and before the 25–35 hours a month of your time that 300 orders realistically take.

The gap between a fair quote and an expensive one is usually in the extras. Before signing anything, ask directly about these:

• Setup or onboarding fees (good small-seller 3PLs charge none)
• Minimum monthly volumes or minimum billing
• Goods-in fees per delivery or per hour
• Returns processing fees
• Long-term storage surcharges
• Account management fees
• Notice periods and exit fees — check how easily you can leave

Lightweight packaging pays twice: cheaper materials and cheaper postage bands. Fewer, larger stock deliveries beat many small ones if goods-in is charged. And accurate product weights and dimensions upfront prevent surprise postage corrections later.