Chicago, IL offers several strategic areas for renting warehouse space, each catering to different business needs:
Each area offers clear advantages in transportation access and cost, allowing businesses to choose the best fit for their specific warehousing needs.
| Warehouse Management Option | Description | Pros and Cons | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renting Warehouse Space and Managing In-House | Ideal for companies prioritizing control over warehouse operations. This approach involves renting or leasing warehouse space, requiring full responsibility for operations, from receiving and storage to fulfillment and shipping. | Pros: Complete control over warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping; no competition with other customers; ability to customize logistics. Cons: Fixed lease costs with multi-year commitments, higher overhead; responsible for hiring, training, and managing staff; requires significant space (1,500-2,000+ sq ft). | $3,000-$10,000+/month depending on location and size. |
| Using Co-Warehousing Space and Managing In-House | Co-warehousing offers a more flexible lease with shared facilities. Companies lease smaller, locked spaces within a larger warehouse, managing their operations with access to common resources like docks and equipment. | Pros: Lower costs compared to traditional leasing; flexible lease terms (3-6 months); smaller space requirements (250+ sq ft); access to shared facilities. Cons: Still requires managing in-house operations and staffing; smaller spaces may limit growth potential; operational management responsibilities remain. | $1,000-$5,000/month depending on space and location. |
| Using Pallet Storage Warehouse or Overflow Warehouse | Suited for companies needing additional storage or managing overflow. This hybrid approach involves storing products on pallets, which the 3PL handles for storage, retrieval, or direct shipping. | Pros: Cost-effective, pay only for space used; maintain control over fulfillment; ideal for overflow or bulk storage needs. Cons: Not suitable for complex environments needing picking and packing; limited availability of 3PLs willing to handle this approach; responsibility for in-house fulfillment. | $15-$25/pallet per month. |
| Using Fully Outsourced 3PL Company or Fulfillment Center | Fully outsourced solution where a 3PL handles all logistics operations, including receiving, storage, fulfillment, shipping, and returns, freeing businesses from day-to-day management. | Pros: Reduced costs (storage, shipping, labor); simplified logistics; focus on core business activities; variable costs, pay only for what you use. Cons: Loss of direct control over operations; adherence to 3PL’s guidelines; reduced flexibility and customization; quality depends on the 3PL’s standards. | $2-$5/order; $15-$25/pallet per month; plus other fees for receiving, returns, and account management. |
To find 3PL fulfillment and warehousing services in Chicago, IL, start by searching online listings or consulting local brokers. Review providers based on their track record, services, and customer feedback, with a focus on inventory management and order tracking capabilities. Compare options for reliability, how well they meet your needs, and overall value.
Our service makes the process easier by connecting you with trusted, vetted providers for warehousing, co-warehousing, pallet storage, and 3PL services. Fill out a quick form to get matched with options tailored to your specific requirements.
When choosing 3PL and warehouse providers in Chicago, IL, businesses should consider these key factors:
By focusing on these factors, you can select a 3PL provider in Chicago that fits your operational needs and logistics goals.
Finding reliable warehouse services in Chicago, IL can be difficult when relying on search rankings, as top results may reflect paid placements rather than quality. Our network, built on real reviews since 2005, offers an unbiased way to connect with vetted 3PL providers. Simply fill out a form or give us a call, and we’ll match you with options tailored to your business needs, based on genuine feedback, not paid listings.
Warehousing in Chicago, IL offers several practical advantages:
These factors make Chicago a strong option for businesses looking for accessible, flexible, and scalable warehousing solutions.
Warehousing in Chicago, IL comes with several challenges businesses should consider:
These factors highlight the need for businesses to plan carefully when selecting a warehouse in Chicago, balancing costs, location, and logistical demands.
Illinois is an affordable option from a fulfillment pricing perspective but tends to run close to the national average. Below are some of the fees and prices in Illinois, as compared to the U.S. national average.
| Pricing Type | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| B2C Order Fulfillment Fee Per Single Item Order | $3.12 | $3.25 |
| B2B Order Fulfillment Fee Per Single Item Order | $4.79 | $4.85 |
| Pallet storage fee per pallet per month | $19.75 | $20.17 |
If you’re planning on bringing your business to Illinois, there are many factors to consider. To help with your decision, we’ve provided some key data so that you can better know if Illinois is a good fit to locate your third-party warehousing and fulfillment services.
| Information | Data |
|---|---|
| Population | 12.58 million (2022) |
| Warehouses in State | 2440 |
| Amazon Warehouses in State | 59 |
| Average Warehouse Labor Rate | $22.02/hr |
| Sales Tax Rate | 6.25% |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.07% |
| Personal Tax Rate | 4.95% |
| Corporate Tax Rate | 9.25% |
It’s also important to look at the top businesses in the state of Illinois. Doing so can help you understand what industries thrive in the state, what competition might you encounter, or whether your business could cater to an untapped niche. Here are the top 10 businesses in the state of Illinois:
| Business Name | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Allegiance Properties | 562,000 employees |
| City Garden Waldorf School | 228,000 employees |
| Walgreens | 210,000 employees |
| McDonald’s | 210,000 employees |
| ArcelorMittal | 209,000 employees |
| Boeing | 142,000 employees |
| Power Construction | 132,000 employees |
| Hyatt Hotels | 127,000 employees |
| Alliance Boots | 120,000 employees |
| Abbott | 109,000 employees |
Don’t rely on search rankings alone—many top listings are paid placements, not the best options. Our curated network, built on unbiased reviews since 2005, connects you with reliable warehouse services in Chicago, IL. Fill out our form or call us to get your tailored matches today.
Most Chicago 3PL warehouses fulfill orders within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the service level agreement (SLA) and order volume. Expedited options, such as same-day or next-day delivery, are often available for orders placed before cutoff times. Shipping speed also depends on inventory availability and carrier performance.
Yes, many Chicago 3PL warehouses focus on industries like e-commerce, healthcare, fashion, and electronics. These warehouses provide industry-specific services, including temperature-controlled storage, specialized packaging, and regulatory compliance.
Warehouse sizes in Chicago range from 50,000 to over 180,000 square feet. Many offer scalable storage options to accommodate changing inventory levels, making it easier for businesses to manage seasonal shifts or growth.
Chicago’s location offers strong access to highways, rail, and airports, making it an effective distribution hub for reaching both regional and national markets. This connectivity can reduce transit times and improve shipping efficiency.
Many Chicago 3PL warehouses provide extra services like kitting, assembly, returns management, and inventory tracking, allowing businesses to handle more complex logistics needs without needing multiple providers.
Your contact information is held in the strictest of confidence. We will contact you before we connect you with vendors so that we can learn about your situation, obtain any of your contact preferences, and answer any of your questions.
YOU have control over your contact details:
We Care About Your Privacy. Your information is shared with only pre-screened providers. You may opt out of communication at any time. View our Privacy Policy.
Why Warehousingfulfillment.com?
I want to say thank you for your help in finding a warehouse so quickly. Your service was amazing. I received replies the same day and have selected a company that will work well for us. I definitely recommend your services.
They really listened to our requirements and then matched us with great vendors that could meet our specific challenges.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for setting me up with these vendors. I have found pricing better than I ever expected to find.
I want to say thank you for your help in finding a warehouse so quickly. Your service was amazing. I received replies the same day and have selected a company that will work well for us. I definitely recommend your services.
I wanted to express my gratitude for your services and let you know that it was a very enjoyable experience! We have selected one of the companies and they are awesome!
You are doing such a great job and this service that you provide is a life saver for people especially startups like me....We cannot spend budgets on researching as much as the big firms can...and you provide us one stop solution which will answer all our questions.
I just wanted to let you know that I selected one of your vendors as our fulfillment house. They can do what we need and we’re looking forward to working with them. They can handle our “special projects” fulfillment, which was key to our decision in bringing them onboard. I appreciate this service. It was great for our company.
I didn’t know there was so much difference in fulfillment companies — this was my first time in need of this sort of service. After a Google search I luckily stumbled upon WarehousingAndFulfillment.com. They saved me an incredible amount of time and money. Within minutes I had a couple of emails from good companies that fit my situation. I am very appreciative of their help.
Warehousing and Fulfillment was the perfect matchmaker in finding us a fulfillment partner. They provided several great options, all of whom were very responsive and willing to take the time to talk through our needs. We ended up going with W&F’s top match and we couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend W&F, particularly to anyone whose business relies on a strong fulfillment partner.
We were having multiple issues with our 3PL fulfilling warranty replacement parts. Our company needed to make a change and make one fast. I reached out to WarehousingAndFulfillment.com to facilitate my search for a reputable, service oriented 3PL that can handle the demands of a highly seasonal business to pick, pack and ship parts quickly. I received several qualified 3PL leads that matched what we were looking for and we found a great partner.
We found the perfect third-party fulfillment vendor through insightQuote. We never would have found them on our own. We can’t thank you enough and our customers thank you too.
Thanks for all of your help. This was a huge undertaking for us and your guidance was extremely helpful!
Thank you so much for your excellent service. We have chosen one to go forward with. This has saved us a great deal of time.
They really listened to our requirements and then matched us with great vendors that could meet our specific challenges.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for setting me up with these vendors. I have found pricing better than I ever expected to find.
Legit, this was such a good experience ... I was shocked how fast the vendors contacted me and got the ball rolling. This was such a pleasant experience
What an awesome service. A problem I fought with daily for over 3 weeks, solved in less than 24 hours.
WarehousingAndFulfillment.com’s content, including ratings and recommendations, is curated by a team of dedicated warehousing experts with decades of experience in the logistics industry. Each writer and editor adheres to WarehousingAndFulfillment.com’s strict editorial and evaluation guidelines. Our work has been featured in authoritative industry publications such as Information Week, Bplans, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, Chain Store Age, Parcel Industry, Manufacturing Digital, and The Association for Supply Chain Management. Since 2005, our experience in matching businesses with warehouse solutions and vetting warehouse providers includes:
Individual searches processed for warehousing solutions.
Companies matched with vetted warehouse providers.
Warehouse providers reviewed.
Warehouse providers approved.
Receive Warehouse Wisdom in your inbox every Friday!
(877) 486-5236
