{"id":164623,"date":"2026-09-04T10:43:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T09:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.international-logistics-group.com\/uk-en\/?p=164623"},"modified":"2026-09-04T12:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T11:56:11","slug":"what-does-a-3pl-cost-in-the-uk-a-pricing-breakdown-for-growing-brands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.international-logistics-group.com\/uk-en\/insights\/what-does-a-3pl-cost-in-the-uk-a-pricing-breakdown-for-growing-brands-164623\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a 3PL Cost in the UK? A Pricing Breakdown for Growing Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ILG Author Danny Ellard<\/a>Danny Ellard<\/a><\/span>04 Sep 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does a 3PL Cost in the UK? A Pricing Breakdown for Growing Brands<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Every 3PL structures its quote differently, which is exactly why comparing fulfilment pricing is so frustrating. One provider charges per pick, another bundles picks into a flat rate, a third bills storage by the pallet and a fourth by the cubic metre. Put two quotes side by side and they can look nothing alike, even for the same volume.

Third-party logistics (3PL) pricing in the UK is built from five to seven cost components, of which pick and pack fees and storage charges account for most of a brand\u2019s monthly bill. A 3PL does more than pick and pack, though: it receives and checks your stock in, stores it, picks and packs each order, supplies the packaging, handles returns and arranges delivery, and each of those becomes a line on the quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a premium 3PL, International Logistics Group (ILG) prices in the mid-to-upper range and is not the cheapest option you’ll find. Branded packing, gift messaging and condition-graded returns are handled in-house rather than subcontracted or charged as extras, and every account has a named Corporate Account Manager. That’s what sits inside the higher per-order rate.
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This article breaks down how much a 3PL costs in the UK, what pushes those numbers up or down and what a premium operation adds that a commodity 3PL doesn\u2019t. Any figures stated are benchmarks to plan against, not a substitute for a quote run against your real order data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK 3PL pricing benchmark table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The table below lays out what 3PL fulfilment costs in the UK typically look like across the six cost components that make up a typical fulfilment quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost componet<\/th>Typical UK range<\/th>How it’s charged<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Goods-in (receiving)<\/td>\u00a310-\u00a330 per pallet<\/td>Per pallet received<\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/td>\u00a310-\u00a330 per pallet \/ month<\/td>Per pallet, bin or shelf, per month<\/td><\/tr>
Pick and pack<\/td>\u00a30.45-\u00a32.60+ per order<\/td>Per order; rises with items\/SKUs per order<\/td><\/tr>
Packaging<\/td>\u00a30.10-\u00a30.50 standard; up to \u00a35 branded<\/td>Per order, by material specification<\/td><\/tr>
Returns<\/td>\u00a30.50-\u00a32.00 per item<\/td>Per item processed<\/td><\/tr>
Shipping<\/td>At carrier rate<\/td>Passed through (sometimes with a handling margin)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shipping is passed through at the carrier rate, whether that\u2019s Royal Mail, DPD or DHL. As a rough planning figure, all-in simple order fulfilment benchmarks at \u00a31 to \u00a33 per order. Of these lines, pick and pack cost and 3PL storage fees are the two that affect a monthly bill the most, so those are the ones to model carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What moves your cost up or down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Six variables shift the total more than any headline rate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Order volume.<\/strong> Per-order costs fall as you scale, often dropping 30 to 40 percent between low and high volumes. A brand shipping 5,000 orders a month typically pays less per order than one shipping 500, even for an identical product<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. SKU count.<\/strong> More SKUs means more storage locations and more complex picking<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Product size and weight.<\/strong> Bulky or heavy items cost more to store and to ship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Packaging specification.<\/strong> A plain poly bag and a branded box with tissue and a gift card aren\u2019t the same line item<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Channel mix.<\/strong> DTC through Shopify, marketplace and retail orders have different pick profiles and labelling requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Peak throughput.<\/strong> If you need guaranteed capacity in Q4, that commitment carries a cost<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The four pricing models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Activity-based (pay-as-you-go).<\/strong> You pay for each activity (pick, pack, storage and returns) as it happens. It suits brands with variable or seasonal volume that want costs to track activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Fixed \/ flat-rate.<\/strong> A set fee per order covering pick, pack and standard packaging. It\u2019s predictable and easy to budget, but can be less efficient if your order profile varies widely<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Cost-plus.<\/strong> The 3PL passes through its costs and adds a transparent margin. It suits larger, complex operations that want visibility into the underlying numbers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Hybrid.<\/strong> A base fee plus activity charges for anything outside the standard profile. It\u2019s the most common model for growing brands, because it balances predictability with flexibility<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Hidden costs to ask about before signing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Ask each provider directly about the charges that tend to appear later:<\/p>\n\n\n\n