In 2026, most ecommerce brands pay a 3PL in New Jersey about $3 to $4 per order for pick and pack, $20 to $40 per pallet per month for storage, and anywhere from $5 to $45 per pallet for receiving, before shipping. Add it all up and a typical brand’s 3PL cost in New Jersey lands around $4.50 to $7.50 per order, not counting postage.
The headline pick and pack rate is only part of the bill. Below we break down every fee you’ll see, why New Jersey pricing is different from the national average, and a worked example so you can estimate your own monthly cost.
What does a 3PL cost in New Jersey?
| Fee | Typical range (2026) | Crown Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|
| Pick and pack (B2C order) | $2.75 to $4.25 per order | $3.50 per order (up to 2 items, 2 inserts, polybags and small boxes included) |
| Each additional item | $0.30 to $0.75 | $0.50 |
| Pallet storage | $18 to $25 nationally; NYC/NJ metro runs higher | Tiered Pricing as low as $20 per pallet |
| Bin / shelf storage | $1 to $5 per bin | Tiered Pricing as low as $3 per bin |
| Receiving | $5 to $45 per pallet, depending on what’s included | $35 per pallet; loose cartons and parcels free, Putaway included |
| Setup / onboarding fee | $250 to $1,000 at about half of 3PLs | $0 |
| Account management fees | Common at larger 3PLs | $0 – Same day replies |
National ranges come from Fulfill.com’s 2026 3PL pricing benchmarks and Eightx’s 2026 fulfillment cost analysis. Postage is billed separately at every 3PL.
What goes into a 3PL bill?
Almost every 3PL invoice is built from the same handful of line items. Knowing them is how you compare quotes fairly.
Receiving. The fee to check in your inventory when it arrives from your supplier. It’s charged per pallet, per carton, per container, or by the hour. Ask what’s included: a basic “pallet in” fee is cheap, while full receiving with piece counts and damage checks costs more at most 3PLs.
Storage. Monthly rent for the space your inventory occupies. Bulk inventory is usually billed per pallet, smaller SKUs per bin or shelf. Watch for long-term storage surcharges on slow-moving stock.
Pick and pack. The labor to pull your items off the shelf and pack them into a box for each order. Most 3PLs charge a per-order fee that covers the first item, plus a smaller fee for each additional item.
Packaging. Some 3PLs include basic boxes and polybags in the pick and pack rate. Others charge for every box, mailer and insert. This is one of the easiest places for costs to creep up.
Shipping. The postage itself, usually passed through at the 3PL’s discounted carrier rates. For most brands, shipping is the single biggest part of the total cost per order.
Account fees. Setup fees, monthly minimums, software or integration fees, and account management fees. Not every 3PL charges these, so ask about each one directly.
Why are New Jersey 3PL prices different?
Warehouse space in the New York and New Jersey metro area costs more than in most of the country. One industry estimate puts NYC/NJ storage rates 30 to 50% above the national baseline, which is why NJ pallet storage often runs above the national average of roughly $20 per pallet per month.
New Jersey also saves you money in ways that don’t show up on the storage line:
- Lower inbound freight. If you import, a warehouse near the Port of NY/NJ means short, cheap drayage. Crown is less than 10 minutes from Port Newark, compared to hours for inland warehouses.
- Cheaper, faster outbound shipping. From North Jersey you can reach customers from Maine to Virginia in 1 to 2 days by ground, and the most densely populated region in the country sits in your closest shipping zones.
- Local delivery options. Some NJ 3PLs, including Crown, run their own trucks for B2B deliveries to NYC and New Jersey, which can replace expensive LTL or courier costs.
The right way to judge a 3PL is total cost per order, not any single rate.
Which 3PL fees should you watch out for?
Most surprises on a 3PL invoice come from fees that weren’t in the headline quote. Ask every 3PL about these before you sign:
- Setup or onboarding fees. Roughly half of 3PLs charge $250 to $1,000 just to get started.
- Monthly minimums. A minimum spend can make a cheap per-order rate expensive in a slow month.
- Per-box and per-insert charges. If packaging and inserts aren’t included, a $2.75 pick fee can quickly become $4 or more.
- Long-term storage surcharges. Extra fees on inventory that sits longer than a set period, often 6 months.
- Account management or support fees. A monthly charge for having a point of contact.
- Peak-season surcharges. Higher rates during Q4, exactly when you’re shipping the most.
- Long contracts. A 12-month commitment with an early termination fee makes it costly to leave if service slips.
Already working with a 3PL? Send us your last invoice and we’ll send back a same-day breakdown of what you’re paying and any charges you shouldn’t be. Request your free invoice review.
How do you compare 3PL quotes?
Use one number: true cost per order.
- Ask each 3PL to price your real order profile: monthly orders, average items per order, number of SKUs, pallets in storage, and how inventory arrives.
- Add up every monthly charge except postage.
- Divide by your monthly order count.
Then compare postage separately using a sample of your real orders, since carrier discounts vary between 3PLs. A quote with a low pick fee and high storage, packaging or minimums can easily cost more than one with a higher headline rate.
Learn more about our ecommerce fulfillment, Amazon FBA prep and storage and receiving services.
Frequently asked questions
Most 3PLs charge $2.75 to $4.25 per order for pick and pack in 2026, with $0.30 to $0.75 for each additional item. Postage is billed separately.
Pallet storage in New Jersey typically runs $20 to $40 per pallet per month. The NYC/NJ metro area costs more than the national average of about $20 because warehouse space near the city is in high demand.
Many do, especially larger 3PLs. Crown Fulfillment has no monthly minimums and no setup fees.
For most ecommerce brands, total 3PL costs excluding postage come to roughly $4.50 to $7.50 per order once receiving, storage, pick and pack and account fees are added up.
Usually, once you count your own time, rent, packing supplies and the shipping discounts a 3PL gets from carriers. Most brands find it makes sense once they ship more than a few hundred orders a month.
Want an exact number for your brand? Tell us your monthly orders and products, and we’ll send a custom quote. Get your quote →