{
  "slug": "warehouse-storage-cost",
  "title": "Warehouse Storage Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Warehouse Storage Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/warehouse-storage-cost",
  "summary": "Monthly 3PL cost by pallet, plus receiving and pick fees per order.",
  "description": "Third-party logistics bills storage by pallet or cubic foot, then adds receiving, pick, and pack fees per order. Model your inventory turns to see the true monthly cost of holding stock.",
  "formula": "Monthly = pallets × pallet rate + receiving + (orders × (pick base + extra picks × per-pick)).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=warehouse-storage-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "pallets",
      "label": "Pallets stored",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "palletRate",
      "label": "Storage rate per pallet",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 24,
      "unit": "$/mo",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "orders",
      "label": "Orders per month",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1200,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pickBase",
      "label": "Pick + pack base per order",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2.75,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "extraItems",
      "label": "Extra items per order",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.4,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "perPick",
      "label": "Cost per extra pick",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.45,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "receiving",
      "label": "Receiving fees per month",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 320,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "minimum",
      "label": "Monthly minimum",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Monthly 3PL cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "perOrder",
      "label": "Cost per order",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "storage",
      "label": "Storage component",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "fulfillment",
      "label": "Fulfillment component",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Annual cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Pallets stored: 40",
      "Storage rate per pallet: 24 $/mo",
      "Orders per month: 1200",
      "Pick + pack base per order: 2.75 $",
      "Extra items per order: 1.4",
      "Cost per extra pick: 0.45 $",
      "Receiving fees per month: 320 $",
      "Monthly minimum: 500 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Monthly 3PL cost: $5,336",
      "Cost per order: $4.45",
      "Storage component: $960",
      "Fulfillment component: $4,056",
      "Annual cost: $64,032"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter pallets stored.",
      "Enter storage rate per pallet ($/mo).",
      "Enter orders per month.",
      "Enter pick + pack base per order ($).",
      "Enter extra items per order.",
      "Enter cost per extra pick ($).",
      "Enter receiving fees per month ($).",
      "Enter monthly minimum ($).",
      "Read your monthly 3pl cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "pallets": 24,
        "palletRate": 14,
        "orders": 700,
        "pickBase": 1.65,
        "extraItems": 0.84,
        "perPick": 0.27,
        "receiving": 190,
        "minimum": 300
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "pallets": 40,
        "palletRate": 24,
        "orders": 1200,
        "pickBase": 2.75,
        "extraItems": 1.4,
        "perPick": 0.45,
        "receiving": 320,
        "minimum": 500
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "pallets": 64,
        "palletRate": 38,
        "orders": 1900,
        "pickBase": 4.4,
        "extraItems": 2.2399999999999998,
        "perPick": 0.7200000000000001,
        "receiving": 510,
        "minimum": 800
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Pallet rate or cubic foot rate — which is better?",
      "a": "Cubic-foot pricing favors slow-moving small items; pallet pricing favors dense, full-pallet SKUs. Run both against your actual mix before signing."
    },
    {
      "q": "What drives 3PL cost up unexpectedly?",
      "a": "Long-term storage surcharges on aged inventory, oversized item fees, and per-SKU receiving charges on mixed inbound shipments."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Warehouse Storage Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/warehouse-storage-cost)"
}