Calculator
What does one order really cost you to fulfil?
Enter your current fulfillment invoice and an alternative quote, line by line. The calculator spreads monthly fees across your orders, so you compare the true cost per order rather than the headline pick-and-pack fee.
In short
True fulfillment cost per order is the total monthly spend on fulfillment and shipping divided by orders shipped. It includes per-order fees, additional-unit fees, packaging, shipping and separately billed duties, plus monthly storage, receiving, returns and account fees. This calculator uses only the figures you enter.
Calculator
Your costs, side by side.
Nothing you enter is sent or stored. Results update as you type.
| Cost line | Current setup | Alternative quote |
|---|---|---|
| Orders per monthApplies to both columns. | ||
| Average units per orderApplies to both columns. | ||
| Order fee (per order)Pick and pack for the first unit. | ||
| Fee per additional unitCharged for each unit after the first. | ||
| Packaging per orderMailers, boxes, fill. | ||
| Average shipping per orderFrom your invoices or quote. | ||
| Duties and taxes paid separately (per order)Enter 0 where they are included in shipping (DDP). | ||
| Storage (per month)Pallet, bin or cubic-volume charges. | ||
| Receiving and handling (per month)Inbound, labelling, special handling. | ||
| Returns processing (per month) | ||
| Account, software and other fees (per month)Including any minimum-billing top-up. | ||
Use one currency throughout. Leave a line at 0 if it doesn't apply. Orders are counted in whole numbers; units per order can be an average such as 1.4.
Current setup
0.00
true cost per order
0.00 per month
Alternative quote
0.00
true cost per order
0.00 per month
Difference
–
enter both columns to compare
These are estimates calculated only from the figures entered above. They aren't a SuperFulfill quotation: shipping, duties, custom packaging and any special handling are confirmed in an individual quote.
Monthly breakdown
| Line | Current | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Order fees | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Additional-unit fees | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Packaging | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shipping | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Duties and taxes paid separately | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Storage | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Receiving and handling | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Returns | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Account, software and other fees | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total per month | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Method
How the calculator works.
Every formula, so you can check the result against your own spreadsheet.
- Per-order charges
- order fee + (units per order − 1) × additional-unit fee + packaging + shipping + duties paid separately
- Monthly charges
- storage + receiving and handling + returns + account, software and other fees
- Monthly total
- per-order charges × orders per month + monthly charges
- True cost per order
- monthly total ÷ orders per month
Getting an accurate answer
What to include, and what the total leaves out.
Use invoices, not rate cards
Take each line from the last two or three monthly invoices. Rate cards leave out surcharges, minimums and the fees that only appear when something unusual happens.
Count the monthly fees
Storage, receiving, account or software fees and any minimum-billing top-up are fixed for the month. Spread across orders, they are often what separates a low headline fee from a higher true cost.
Compare like with like
If duties and taxes are included in one provider's shipping price (DDP) and billed separately by the other, enter the separate amount on the duties line so both columns cover the same work.
Keep shipping honest
Shipping usually dominates the total. Use an average from real orders to your actual destinations, or a quote priced on your packed parcel sizes and weights.
Limitations
- The calculator compares the figures you enter. It doesn't know any provider's rates, and it doesn't show market averages or benchmarks.
- Delivery speed, service quality, error rates, stock tied up in transit and the cost of a migration aren't in the total, but belong in any decision.
- The optional SuperFulfill prefill uses the published US$0.50 order fee, which includes receiving, storage, pick and pack, a standard mailer, inspection, kitting, inserts, relabelling, parcel insurance and a dedicated account manager. Shipping is quoted for your products and destinations, with the applicable terms (DDP shipping as standard) confirmed in the quotation, and must be entered from a quote. Custom packaging materials are quoted separately.
FAQ
Fulfillment cost questions
What is the true cost per order in fulfillment?
It's everything you pay your fulfillment provider and carriers in a month, divided by the orders shipped that month. It includes per-order fees, additional-unit fees, packaging, shipping and separately billed duties, plus monthly charges such as storage, receiving, returns and account or software fees.
Why is my true cost per order higher than the pick-and-pack fee?
Because the pick-and-pack fee is only one line. Shipping, packaging, additional units and fixed monthly charges such as storage and receiving all add to it. Spread across fewer orders, fixed monthly charges raise the cost per order more.
Should shipping be included when comparing fulfillment quotes?
Yes. Shipping is usually the largest part of the cost of an order, and providers price it differently. Compare totals that include shipping to your real destinations, with duties treated the same way in both columns.
Does the calculator use SuperFulfill's rates?
Only if you choose the prefill, which enters the published US$0.50 order fee and sets storage and receiving to zero because they are included in that fee. Shipping isn't prefilled: it's quoted for your products and destinations.
Want a quote to put in the second column?
Tell us your products, monthly orders and destinations. We'll reply with the order fee and a shipping quote for your packed parcels, so the comparison uses real figures.