Pallet Storage Cost & Warehouse Storage Cost Per Month

How Much Does it Cost to Store Pallets in a Warehouse?

One of the most frequently asked questions is: How do Companies Charge for Warehousing? We created this article to help companies understand the costs of storing products or goods in a warehouse. Our main focus for this article is to explain pallet storage pricing, including the basic storage fees that may accompany them.

Results from our most recent pricing survey show an average price of $20.17 per pallet per month. Typical pallet storage costs range from $18 to $25 per pallet per month, depending on location, market conditions, and the types of warehousing services provided.

Warehouse Pallet Storage Costs in 2025

Warehouse Storage Costs by Method

The cost of 3PL warehousing generally depends on the storage method, with the most common options being storage space by pallet, cubic feet, or square feet. Pallet storage space is the standard in most 3PL warehouses. Storage fees are typically billed monthly, though some providers may charge bi-monthly, weekly, or daily based on average space usage.

Please reference our in-depth articles on warehousing costs and fulfillment pricing for more comprehensive scenarios, including the costs associated with full-scale fulfillment services.

How Many Pallet Positions Do You Need, and How to Calculate Your Storage Cost Per Pallet?

When projecting costs, businesses may not know how much pallet space they need each month. Alternatively, companies moving to a new 3PL warehouse may not fully understand their current pallet usage. You can estimate the pallet space needed by calculating how many cartons/boxes fit on a standard 40 x 40 x 48-inch pallet using our pallet calculators below.

Why Pallet Prices May Vary Each Month

• Pallet In/Pallet Out Fees: In addition to your monthly warehouse storage fees, each pallet incurs an additional fee when brought into or shipped out of the warehouse, typically ranging from $4 to $8 per pallet each way. These fees add to overall storage costs.
• Pallet Rates Vary by Warehouse Location: The cost to store a pallet changes based on where the warehouse is located. Urban areas charge more per pallet due to higher real estate and labor costs. Suburban or rural warehouses may offer lower pallet storage rates but could lead to higher freight costs. However, storing goods farther from your business, customers, or shipping ports can increase transportation costs.
• Special Conditions Raise the Per-Pallet Cost: Dry warehouses are generally more affordable, as they have lower operating costs due to the lack of climate control systems. Pallets requiring climate-controlled storage, like food or pharmaceuticals, are priced higher than standard dry storage pallets. The added energy and equipment required to regulate temperature and humidity increase the per-pallet rate.
• Insurance Costs: Insurance fees are factored into pallet pricing. Pallets containing high-value, fragile, or regulated items tend to cost more to store due to higher coverage needs and risk categories.. The cost varies based on the value and type of goods stored, with higher fees for fragile, high-value, or hazardous items.
• Cross Docking: When pallets are moved directly from inbound to outbound trucks without being stored long-term, it reduces your warehouse storage costs but increases labor charges. These pallets are priced differently than those placed in racking for ongoing warehouse storage.
• Bonded Pallet Storage for Imports: Pallets stored in bonded warehouses carry a higher base rate due to customs compliance requirements. However, they can delay or avoid duties until items are officially imported, especially useful for alcohol, electronics, or other regulated goods.
• Trade Show Pallet Storage is Short-Term and High-Touch: Pallets sent to trade shows often require temporary warehouse storage and coordinated logistics. These short-term pallet arrangements come at a premium due to specialized handling and quick turnaround.
• FBA Prep and Overflow Warehouse Storage: Many businesses that sell through Amazon send their inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers (FBA), but Amazon charges steep fees for long-term warehouse storage. To avoid those costs, sellers often store their pallets in a separate warehouse first. These offsite pallets fall into two common categories:
  • FBA Prep Pallets: These are pallets holding products that still need to be prepped before being accepted by Amazon. That might mean labeling, bundling, shrink-wrapping, or separating items according to Amazon’s rules. This extra prep work adds handling time and cost per pallet.
  • Overflow Pallets: When sellers have more inventory than Amazon will accept at once, or don’t want to pay Amazon’s monthly storage fees, they use outside warehouses to hold the extra pallets. These pallets are stored temporarily and shipped to Amazon in smaller batches as needed.
• Commercial Storage: Commercial storage is typically a cost-effective option for businesses that need straightforward storage for products or raw materials. Most pallets in dry warehouse storage are priced based on how many you store and how often they’re moved. Warehouses usually charge a monthly rate per pallet. If pallets need to be accessed or rotated frequently, that adds to the cost.
• Basic Warehouse Storage for Products: These are standard pallets with no special handling or temperature requirements. Typically the most cost-efficient, they are priced based on how many pallets occupy racking or floor space and how long they stay.
• Overflow Storage in Shared Spaces: Overflow pallets are often placed in temporary or shared warehouse space. The rates are usually lower, but amenities and access may be limited compared to private warehouse storage spaces.
• Short-Term Pallet Storage Commands Higher Rates: Warehouses often charge more per pallet for storage terms under 12 months. The shorter the time commitment, the higher the price per pallet, especially for stays under 30 days.
• Limited Availability for Low Pallet Counts: If you need to store fewer than 30 pallets for just a few weeks or months, you may run into limited options. Most warehouses prefer larger, longer-term contracts because they help cover costs like labor. Smaller projects take up room but don’t generate much revenue, so many facilities either turn them down or charge a higher monthly minimum to make it worthwhile.
• Better Rates for Long-Term Warehouse Storage: Long-term storage agreements (over a year) with higher pallet volumes (typically 50+ pallets) allow for better-negotiated rates. Warehouses are more willing to offer aggressive discounts for larger, consistent storage commitments, making long-term arrangements more cost-effective.
• Bulk Pallet Storage Discounts: Volume discounts are a common way to reduce storage costs, with around 42% of warehouses offering 5-10% off for storing over 100 pallets per month. These discounts can make high-volume storage more affordable.

Warehouse Storage & Pallet Storage FAQs

What do warehouses charge for storage?

Public warehousing companies typically charge around $15–$20 per pallet per month, $0.46 per cubic foot per month, $3.08 per bin per month, or $1.73 per square foot per month for storage services.

What do warehouses charge for pallet-in/pallet-out services?

Warehouses usually charge between $4 and $8 per pallet for inbound and outbound services, covering tasks such as receiving, pulling, and preparing pallets for shipment. Pricing within this range can vary based on factors like warehouse location, additional services, and the types of products being stored or shipped.

Do warehouses offer price breaks for skid storage?

Warehouses often provide price breaks ranging from 5% to 10% for customers storing over 100 skids. These discounts depend on factors like pricing structure, storage duration, and pallet volume. Negotiating these price breaks can help customers with large storage needs reduce costs.

How frequently does skid storage get charged?

Charges for pallet storage typically occur at intervals aligned with the warehouse’s billing cycle, often monthly or quarterly.

How are skids stored in a warehouse?

Items are stored on racks or shelves, typically stacked using forklifts for easy access. The stacking method depends on the warehouse layout and the type of products stored, organized systematically to maximize space and improve inventory management.

What are the average dimensions of a pallet?

The average pallet size in a warehouse is 40 × 48 inches, with a height of 4–6 feet.

Is FREE storage common, and if so, for how long?

Free storage is uncommon in third-party warehousing. However, some 3PLs may offer a few days of free storage for customers moving large volumes or with established relationships.

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