How Much Does 3PL Cost in Australia?
Australian 3PL pricing is almost always built from five components: receiving inbound stock, storage over time, pick and pack per order, delivery, and kitting or rework. There is no single headline rate, because the total depends on your order volume, units per order, storage footprint and whether you need temperature control.
The five components
- Receiving — charged per pallet, carton or hour to unload, check and put away inbound freight
- Storage — charged per pallet, shelf or cubic metre per week or month
- Pick and pack — usually a base rate for the first item in an order plus a smaller rate per additional item
- Delivery — the carrier rate, sometimes at the 3PL’s negotiated pricing
- Kitting and rework — assembly, bundling or relabelling, typically per unit or per hour
What actually moves your number
Units per order. A single-item order is far cheaper to pick than a six-item order. Two businesses shipping identical volumes can pay very different amounts.
Storage velocity. Stock that turns over quickly costs little to store. Slow-moving lines accumulate storage charges every week they sit.
Temperature. Chilled storage costs more per cubic metre than ambient, because the space is more expensive to build and run.
Volume. Most providers improve pick and pack rates as monthly volume rises.
Costs worth asking about explicitly
- Account or platform fees charged monthly regardless of activity
- Minimum monthly spend
- Receiving charges for non-conforming inbound freight
- Returns processing
- Packaging supplied by the 3PL, if you are not supplying your own
- Exit or offboarding fees if you leave
The last one catches people out. Ask about it before you sign, not after.
How to compare quotes fairly
Send every provider the same profile: monthly order count, average units per order, SKU count, pallet or shelf footprint, temperature requirement, and your five busiest and quietest months. Quotes built on different assumptions cannot be compared, and the cheapest headline pick rate frequently loses once storage and receiving are added.
How we price
OPS 3PL charges the five components above and nothing else — no upfront cost, and pick and pack rates improve at every additional 1,000 orders processed monthly. Send us your order profile and we will price it against those inputs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 3PL cost in Australia?
Australian 3PL pricing is built from five components: receiving inbound stock, storage over time, pick and pack per order, delivery, and any kitting or rework. There is no single headline rate because the total depends on order volume, units per order, storage footprint and temperature requirements.
What hidden costs should I ask a 3PL about?
Ask about monthly account or platform fees, minimum monthly spend, receiving charges for non-conforming freight, returns processing, packaging supplied by the 3PL, and exit or offboarding fees. The last one catches people out most often.
What are the five components of 3PL pricing?
Receiving, charged per pallet, carton or hour to unload, check and put away inbound freight. Storage, charged per pallet, shelf or cubic metre per week or month. Pick and pack, usually a base rate for the first item in an order plus a smaller rate per additional item. Delivery, the carrier rate. Kitting and rework, typically per unit or per hour.
Why do two businesses shipping the same volume pay different amounts?
Units per order, storage velocity, temperature and volume all move the number. A single-item order is far cheaper to pick than a six-item order. Stock that turns over quickly costs little to store, while slow-moving lines accumulate storage charges every week they sit. Chilled space costs more per cubic metre than ambient.
How do I compare 3PL quotes fairly?
Send every provider the same profile: monthly order count, average units per order, SKU count, pallet or shelf footprint, temperature requirement, and your five busiest and quietest months. Quotes built on different assumptions cannot be compared, and the cheapest headline pick rate frequently loses once storage and receiving are added.
Is there a minimum monthly spend with a 3PL?
It varies by provider, and it is one of the charges worth asking about explicitly, alongside account or platform fees and exit or offboarding fees. OPS 3PL has no minimum term, no lock-in contract and no monthly platform fee.