Pick and pack is the fee a 3PL charges to pull your products off the shelf, pack them and hand the parcel to a carrier. It is usually the first number brands compare, and often the least important one. This guide explains how it is billed and shows real rates.
- Pick and pack is billed per order, per item, or both
- Our published rate: $1.50 per order, covering up to 2 units
- Packaging is often a separate line; ask
- Shipping, not picking, is the largest share of total cost
How 3PLs bill pick and pack
There are three common structures. A per-order fee covers picking the first item and packing the box. A per-item fee is added for every additional unit. Some providers combine both: a base order fee plus a fee for each extra pick.
The structure matters as much as the number. A low per-order fee with a high additional-item charge gets expensive for brands that sell bundles or multi-unit orders, while a flat fee that covers several units favors them.
Real numbers: our published rate
Fulfillment EZ publishes its rates on the pricing page. For brands shipping up to 2,000 orders a month, pick and pack is a flat $1.50 per order, and that fee covers an average of up to two units per order with no extra pick fees. The standard box or mailer is included.
Extras are priced per use: a marketing insert adds $0.15 per order and kitting or assembly adds $0.75 per unit. Final pricing depends on your SKU count and average items per order, so the calculator is a starting point rather than a contract.
- Pick and pack: $1.50 per order (up to 2 units)
- Standard box or mailer: included
- Marketing insert: +$0.15 per order
- Kitting or assembly: +$0.75 per unit
Why pick and pack is rarely the biggest cost
On a typical 2 lb ground order, shipping costs several times more than picking and packing. In the worked example on our pricing page, pick and pack is $1.50 of a roughly $7.63 all-in cost per order; shipping is about 80% of the total.
That is why it pays to compare quotes on total landed cost per order, using a month of your real orders, rather than on the pick fee alone.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask every provider the same questions so the quotes are comparable.
- How many units does the base order fee include?
- Is packaging included, or billed per box and mailer?
- Are there separate fees for inserts, gift notes or custom packing?
- Do rates change with volume tiers, and where are the breakpoints?