When evaluating a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, most focus on headline rates like pick-and-pack pricing or shipping discounts. But in practice, those numbers rarely reflect the true cost of fulfillment.
In 2025, warehousing and fulfillment pricing has become more complex, more restrictive, and harder to forecast, especially for ecommerce brands managing diverse inventories.
Industry data and expert analysis confirm that many of the most expensive 3PL fees are easy to overlook unless you ask the right questions.
Warehousing Costs Are Shifting Beneath the Surface
According to the 2025 Warehousing and Fulfillment Costs & Pricing Survey, which analyzes responses from over 600 warehouses, base fulfillment rates have remained relatively stable. However, costs are increasingly being pushed into minimums, storage penalties, and receiving methods.
As the report explains, it tracks not just pricing, but how contracts and customer-facing fees change year-over-year.
This aligns with broader industry commentary. As 3PL Center notes:
“Hidden fees, vague billing lines, and surprise surcharges are some of the most common complaints businesses have about their 3PL partners.” – 3PL Center, “3PL Transparency”
1. Rising Minimum Monthly Volume and Spend Requirements
One of the most impactful changes seen throughout 2025 is the rise in minimum monthly volume and spend requirements.
The survey reports that the average monthly minimum increased from $337.50 in 2024 to $517 in 2025. For businesses with seasonal volume, new product launches, or uneven demand, minimums can quietly turn fulfillment into a fixed overhead cost.
Fulfillment pricing guides consistently warn that minimums are often under-emphasized during sales discussions:
“Minimum monthly fees are one of the most overlooked 3PL costs – and one of the most damaging when volume fluctuates.” – Forthmatch, “Ultimate Guide to 3PL Pricing & Hidden Fees”
Key questions to ask before commitment:
What happens if our order volume drops below the minimum?
2. Long-Term Storage Fees Are Becoming Standard
Long-term storage fees were once an exception. They are now increasingly normalized.
The 2025 survey shows that 48.6% of warehouses charge long-term storage fees, up from 23.33% the previous year. These fees can apply after inventory sits for a defined period and may stack on top of standard storage charges.
Industry analysts frequently flag this as a hidden risk for brands and slow-moving or backlist inventory:
“Long-term storage premiums are among the most severe hidden costs for ecommerce sellers. US 3PLs charge 1.5-3x standard rates for inventory >30/60/90 days, aimed at turnover but devastating seasonal sellers.” – WinsBS Logistics Insights
3. Receiving Fees Depend on How Inventory Is Counted
Receiving is one of the least standardized components of 3PL pricing.
Survey data shows:
- Cost of receiving per pallet decreased
- Cost of receiving per container increased sharply (from $350 to $500)
- Cost of receiving per SKU increased
3PLs may bill for receiving by pallet, carton, SKU, hour, container, or some combination of any of these. This means that the same inbound shipment can incur very different costs depending on how the inventory is received.
This variability is frequently cited as a source of post-onboarding surprises in fulfillment audits.
4. Contract Flexibility Is Declining
Pricing changes aren’t limited to line items; contract terms are tightening as well.
The survey shows:
- Month-to-month agreements are becoming far less common
- 77% of warehouses now increase pricing on a regular basis
- Minimum commitments are more frequently enforced
For growing brands, this can mean being locked into a pricing model that no longer fits as business needs change.
The Real Issue Isn’t Fees – It’s Transparency
Warehousing is capital-intensive and labor-driven. Fees themselves aren’t inherently unfair.
The real issue is transparency:
- Fees that stack without explanation
- Pricing rules that change after onboarding
- Costs that can’t be modeled in advance
- Invoices that require investigation to understand
As Cleverence explains in its analysis of transparent 3PL pricing:
“Transparent pricing reduces friction. When a client… immediately understands what storage, handling, and value-added services will cost, you unlock faster onboarding and fewer month-end disputes.”
How Ware-Pak Approaches 3PL Pricing Differently
At Ware-Pak, we work with publishers, associations, and ecommerce brands that value predictability and long-term partnerships.
Our pricing philosophy is built around:
- Clear activity-based pricing with a transparent price schedule
- Upfront disclosure of minimums, storage rules, and exceptions
- Predictable B2C fulfillment pricing
- No surprise stacking of storage, receiving, or return fees
We believe fulfillment pricing should be something you can confidently estimate before your first order ships, not reverse-engineer after invoices arrive.
Final Thoughts
The 3PL landscape of 2025 has been defined by rising costs, tighter contracts, and increasingly complex pricing models.
Transparency isn’t just a nice to have, it’s a necessary competitive advantage.
Ware-Pak’s commitment to clear, predictable pricing helps clients scale fulfillment operations without unpleasant surprises and build partnerships that last.
Download a Free 3PL Pricing Review Checklist
Every 3PL invoices differently, and most 3PL pricing issues don’t arise from headline pick-and-pack rates, but from unclear minimums, storage rules, receiving methods, and contract terms. Every brand should be doing due diligence in making sure they understand how each 3PL will invoice them for fulfillment. To assist with your review process, Ware-Pak has prepared a 3PL Pricing Review Checklist that is available for download.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!
