ShipBob Price Calculator
Estimate your monthly e-commerce fulfillment costs with ShipBob.
| Cost Component | Estimated Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Fees | $0.00 | Based on space used by bins, shelves, and pallets. |
| Pick & Pack Fees | $0.00 | Includes a set number of picks per order. |
| Estimated Shipping | $0.00 | An estimate based on average domestic rates. |
| Total Monthly | $0.00 | Sum of ongoing monthly fulfillment costs. |
| One-Time Receiving | $0.00 | A one-time cost for initial inventory intake. |
What is a ShipBob Price Calculator?
A shipbob price calculator is a specialized tool designed to help e-commerce businesses estimate their potential costs when using ShipBob’s fulfillment services. ShipBob is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that handles inventory storage, order packing, and shipping for online brands. This calculator simplifies their complex pricing structure into a user-friendly format, allowing you to input key metrics about your business—like order volume and storage needs—to receive a detailed cost projection. Understanding these potential expenses is crucial for budgeting and determining if a 3PL partner like ShipBob is the right financial fit for your business.
ShipBob Price Formula and Explanation
The total fulfillment cost with ShipBob is not a single number but a sum of several components. Our shipbob price calculator uses a formula that combines these core fees to provide a comprehensive estimate.
Estimated Total Cost = (Monthly Storage Fee) + (Monthly Pick & Pack Fee) + (Estimated Monthly Shipping Cost) + (One-Time Receiving Fee)
Each part of the formula is broken down below:
Variables Table
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving Fee | Cost to receive and process inbound inventory. | USD ($) per hour | $35-$45 |
| Storage Fee | Monthly cost for inventory storage space. | USD ($) per bin/shelf/pallet | $5 – $40 |
| Pick & Pack Fee | Cost to pick items and pack an order. ShipBob includes a number of picks for free. | USD ($) per order/item | $0.20 – $0.50 per additional pick |
| Shipping Cost | The actual cost charged by carriers (UPS, FedEx, etc.). | USD ($) per shipment | $5 – $25 (highly variable) |
Practical Examples
Example 1: Small E-commerce Startup
A new clothing brand needs a simple way to manage its inventory and shipping. They want to use a shipbob price calculator to estimate their initial costs.
- Inputs:
- Monthly B2C Orders: 150
- Average Items Per Order: 1.5
- Storage Bins: 8
- Storage Shelves: 0
- Storage Pallets: 0
- One-Time Receiving Time: 2 hours
- Results:
- One-Time Receiving: ~$35.00
- Monthly Storage: ~$40.00 (8 bins * $5/bin)
- Monthly Pick & Pack: ~$450.00 (150 orders * ~$3/order)
- Estimated Monthly Shipping: ~$1,275.00 (150 orders * ~$8.50/order)
- Estimated Total Monthly Cost: ~$1,765.00
Example 2: Growing Gadget Store
An established electronics store is scaling up and needs more robust fulfillment. Their orders are more complex and require more storage space.
- Inputs:
- Monthly B2C Orders: 800
- Average Items Per Order: 2.5
- Storage Bins: 20
- Storage Shelves: 5
- Storage Pallets: 2
- One-Time Receiving Time: 6 hours
- Results:
- One-Time Receiving: ~$195.00 ($35 for first 2 hours + 4 * $40)
- Monthly Storage: ~$230.00 (20*$5 + 5*$10 + 2*$40)
- Monthly Pick & Pack: ~$2,400.00 (800 orders * ~$3/order)
- Estimated Monthly Shipping: ~$6,800.00 (800 orders * ~$8.50/order)
- Estimated Total Monthly Cost: ~$9,430.00
How to Use This ShipBob Price Calculator
Follow these simple steps to get your estimated fulfillment cost:
- Enter Order Volume: Input the total number of orders you ship to customers each month.
- Specify Items Per Order: Provide the average number of items in a single customer order. This helps calculate the pick and pack fee.
- Define Storage Needs: Enter the number of bins, shelves, and pallets your inventory requires. This is crucial for an accurate storage cost. For help, check out our guide on inventory management best practices.
- Estimate Receiving Time: Input the hours you expect your first shipment to take for intake.
- Review Your Results: The calculator will instantly update your total estimated monthly cost, along with a breakdown of each fee component and a visual chart.
Key Factors That Affect ShipBob Pricing
Several variables can influence your final bill. This shipbob price calculator accounts for the main ones, but it’s important to understand all the factors at play.
- Order Volume: Generally, higher monthly order volumes can lead to lower per-order costs.
- Storage Footprint: The physical space your products occupy is a primary cost driver. Pallets are more expensive than bins. Learn more about warehouse optimization.
- Items Per Order (Pick Fees): While ShipBob includes some picks for free, orders with many items may incur additional fees.
- Shipping Destinations (Zones): The distance a package travels significantly impacts shipping costs. Our calculator uses an average, but your actual costs will vary based on your customers’ locations.
- Receiving Complexity: The initial intake of your inventory is a one-time cost, but it can be substantial if your shipment is large or disorganized.
- Special Projects: Additional services like kitting (bundling items), custom packaging, or returns processing will add to your total cost and are not included in this basic estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, this calculator provides a close estimate based on ShipBob’s standard pricing model. Your final quote may differ based on specific product weights, dimensions, shipping zones, and any custom requirements. It is intended for budget planning and comparison.
A “pick” refers to the action of a warehouse worker taking one item off a shelf to include in an order. If an order has three items, that is considered three picks.
ShipBob charges for storage based on the type of space your inventory occupies (bin, shelf, or pallet) and bills it monthly. This calculator multiplies your required units by ShipBob’s standard per-unit monthly rates.
Yes, ShipBob includes standard, unbranded boxes, mailers, and dunnage in their fulfillment fee. If you require custom-branded packaging, this will be an additional cost. Explore custom packaging options here.
No, this tool estimates costs based on average domestic shipping rates. International shipping is significantly more complex and costly, involving duties, taxes, and different carrier fees. You should request a custom quote for international fulfillment.
The receiving fee is a one-time charge for the labor involved in accepting your inventory, counting it, and placing it into storage. ShipBob charges an hourly rate for this service.
Yes, ShipBob typically has a minimum monthly spend to ensure the partnership is viable. This calculator helps you see if your volume is likely to meet that threshold. Our article on 3PL cost analysis can provide more details.
Actual shipping costs depend on package weight, dimensions (dimensional weight), shipping service selected (e.g., Ground, 2-Day Air), and the shipping zone (distance). This calculator uses a blended average for simplicity.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Explore other tools and resources to help grow your e-commerce business:
- Shipping Cost Calculator: Estimate shipping rates across different carriers.
- Inventory Turnover Calculator: Analyze how efficiently you are managing your stock.
- E-commerce Profit Margin Calculator: Understand the profitability of your products after all costs.
- Guide to Third-Party Logistics (3PL): Learn everything you need to know about outsourcing fulfillment.
- Optimizing Your Supply Chain: A deep dive into creating a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain.
- Subscription Box Fulfillment Costs: A specific look at fulfillment for subscription-based businesses.