Are you a seller on Walmart marketplace? If so, you know how important it is to understand the ins and outs of Walmart shipping cost. With detailed information in mind, you can stay up-to-date on any changes or updates to Walmart’s shipping policies and improve customer satisfaction.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Walmart shipping costs, including:
- What you need to know about Walmart Fulfillment Services;
- The cost of Walmart Fulfillment Services;
- Third-party Fulfillment for Walmart Marketplace;
- The best shipping option for your Walmart store.
Let’s explore!
What are Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)?
Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is a cost-effective solution for eCommerce sellers needing end-to-end fulfillment. Walmart will pick, pack, and ship the items to customers on the seller’s behalf. This allows the seller to take advantage of Walmart’s expansive distribution network, which can lead to faster delivery times and increased sales.
Before going through Walmart shipping cost, let’s find out how this shipping solution works.
How does Walmart Shipping Supplies Work?
Fulfilled by Walmart services enables eCommerce sellers to store their products at Walmart’s fulfillment centers. Once an order is placed on Walmart.com, the WFS team will pick, pack, and ship the order on behalf of the seller. Additionally, Walmart handles customer support and returns for orders fulfilled through WFS.
If you choose to use Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) as your order fulfillment solution, you can enjoy several benefits that make selling on Walmart more appealing. These benefits include:
- Low-cost, 2-day shipping service: Walmart’s expansive distribution network allows faster delivery times and lower shipping costs. This means you can offer your customers a great shipping experience at a low cost to you.
- Multiple ways to track orders: You can track your orders easily through seller center, direct APIs, or third-party apps. This gives you more control and visibility over your orders, helping you to manage your inventory and customer expectations better.
- Excellent customer service: Walmart is known for providing excellent customer service. When you use WFS, Walmart handles customer support and returns for orders fulfilled through the service. This can save you time and effort in managing customer inquiries and returns.
- No hidden fees: They provide sellers with clear and upfront information about the costs associated with their fulfillment services, including storage, picking and packing, shipping, and customer service support. By offering a straightforward fee structure and detailed invoices, Walmart ensures that sellers can accurately predict and track their expenses.
- Free shipping option: Walmart offers a free shipping option for orders over a certain amount. Using WFS, you can take advantage of this free shipping option and pass on the savings to your customers.
Who can use Walmart Fulfillment Services?
With all the advantages mentioned, eCommerce sellers can leverage Walmart’s expansive distribution network, leading to faster delivery times (Walmart same-day delivery) and increased sales.
It’s not complicated to access WFS. Initially, sellers need to create a Walmart account. After that, when choosing shipping methods, sellers can choose WFS.
However, it’s important to note that Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is currently unavailable for all eCommerce enthusiasts. There are some limits that sellers should consider, such as:
- The WFS is only applicable for items listed on Walmart.com. Therefore, you cannot use Walmart shipping facilities if you sell on other best selling platforms besides Walmart.
- Walmart’s built-in shipping service is currently limited to delivering to addresses within the United States. Sellers using Walmart Fulfillment Service can only ship their products domestically within the United States and are not able to fulfill orders to international destinations.
Although mentioned obstacles, Walmart is still a lucrative marketplace to sell online. If you also list your items on other top online marketplaces or sell internationally, you can use third-party services to deliver your items.
However, it’s worth noticing that managing orders fulfilled across multiple stores can be a mess without a smart solution. To avoid stockout and many drawbacks from poor shipping management, sellers can use LitCommerce. This comprehensive solution will make your multichannel selling journey smooth and easy.
What is The Walmart Shipping Fee for WFS?
Mentioning Walmart Marketplace fees, the marketplace offers a cost-effective shipping service for sellers without hidden fees. Overall, regarding Walmart Shipping cost for WFS, sellers will need to pay some fees such as:
- Fulfillment fee;
- Storage fee;
- Problem inventory;
- Return shipping;
- Disposal & removal fees;
- Additional WFS programs.
1. Fulfillment fee
Sellers must pay a fulfillment cost for using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). The fulfillment fee includes a base fee and extra for clothes, hazardous products, goods with low retail pricing, and oversized items.
Here is the base fee that you can refer to estimate your base fee.
Shipping Weight | Fee |
≤ 1 lb. | $3.45 |
2 lb. | $4.95 |
3 lb. | $5.45 |
4–20 lb. | $5.75 + $0.40 for each lb. > 4 lb. |
21–30 lb. | $15.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 21 lb. |
31–50 lb. | $14.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 31 lb. |
51–150 lb. | $17.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 51 lb. |
+ $0.50 if you sell Apparel or Hazmat items | |
+ $1.00 if your item’s retail price is less than $10 | |
Additional costs are charged to the base fee if the packages exceed mentioned dimension standards.
Shipping Dimensions | Fee |
Maximum side > 48″ OR Median side > 30″ OR Length + girth > 105″ | Add $3.00 |
Maximum side > 96″ OR Length + girth > 130″ | Add $25.00 (The unit weight starts at 90 lb. when determining the fulfillment fee) |
2. Storage fee
As mentioned before, your items can be stored at Walmart warehouse before an order is placed. Therefore, you might pay some fee to keep your products there, which is called storage fee.
The cost of keeping your things at a Walmart fulfillment facility will be included in Walmart shipping cost. It is determined by the amount of product held and the duration of time. The unit cubic feet is the unit volume in inches (length x width x height) divided by 1,728.
Length of time | Fee |
January–September | $0.75 per cubic foot per month |
October–December | $0.75 per cubic foot per month for items stored for fewer than or up to 30 days
|
More than 12 months | $7.50 per cubic foot per month |
3. Problem inventory
If there is a problem with the inventory you send to Walmart’s fulfillment center, such as a missing or incorrect label or poly bag, sellers will also be charged a Walmart shipping fee to cover the cost of fixing the issue.
Issue | Chargeback Fee |
Missing or incorrect label | $0.65 per unit |
Missing or incorrect poly bag | $0.80 per unit |
4. Return shipping
When a customer returns an item fulfilled by Walmart, the seller is responsible for the cost of return shipping. Walmart charges a return shipping fee based on the weight of the item being returned. This fee can be found in the table below.
Shipping Weight | Return Shipping Fee |
≤ 1 lb. | $4.70 |
2 lb. | $6.20 |
3 lb. | $6.70 |
4–20 lb. | $7.00 + $0.40 for each lb. > 4 lb. |
21–30 lb. | $15.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 21 lb. |
31–50 lb. | $14.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 31 lb. |
51–150 lb. | $17.55 + $0.40 for each lb. > 51 lb. |
5. Disposal & removal fees
Regarding Walmart shipping cost, Walmaer chges disposal and removal fees when a seller’s inventory is damaged or cannot be sold. Walmart charges these fees to cover the cost of removing the inventory from fulfillment centers and ship back to you. It’s important to note that the fees will vary depending on the item’s weight being disposed of or removed.
Unit Weight | Disposal Fee (Per Unit) | Removal Fee (Per Unit) |
≤ 2 lb. | $0.35 | Disposal fee + $0.40 per lb. shipping cost |
3–150 lb. | $0.35 + $0.20 for each lb. > 2 lb. | Disposal fee + $0.40 per lb. shipping cost |
6. Additional WFS Programs
Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) provide additional programs that can benefit WFS sellers. These programs include:
- Prep services: Prep Services are designed to help you get your products ready for shipment to Walmart fulfillment centers. When using the prep service, sellers can send their inventory to a Walmart fulfillment center, and Walmart’s team will inspect, package, and label the products according to specific requirements.
- Preferred carrier program: The Preferred Carrier Program is an optional program that provides WFS sellers with reduced shipping rates. This program is based on the preferred carriers, and pricing is negotiated based on your shipping volume.
- Inventory transfer services: Inventory Transfer Services allow you to distribute your inventory across the WFS network. This program simplifies the process of distributing inventory to multiple fulfillment centers.
Service | Referral Price |
Prep Services | From $0.45 to $0.80 per unit |
Preferred Carrier Program | Based on the preferred carriers |
Inventory Transfer Services | From $0.25 to $0.80 per unit |
Besides a built-in shipping service, Walmart offers many benefits making selling on this marketplace worth it. You can learn more via Walmart online marketplace review.
Third-party Fulfillment for Walmart Marketplace
As mentioned above, WFS is not available for sellers who also sell on other marketplaces or sell internationally. Instead, sellers can use a third-party service to deliver.
Can I use my own shipping option on Walmart?
Yes, you can use your own shipping option on your Walmart store. If you want to use other delivery services besides WFS, there are two options that you can choose from:
- A seller-managed fulfillment center. This is a facility that you manage directly and define in Seller Center so the platform knows where it is and which items are housed there.
- A Walmart fulfillment partner. Walmart has collaborated with third-party warehouse that ships your items for you. For example: Deliverr, ShipBob, Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL), Ruby Has, or Red Stag.
What is Walmart shipping cost for the self-managed option?
If you’re a seller on Walmart marketplace, you can use your own shipping option on your Walmart store. There are many national carriers that you can choose from. Walmart FedEx is the most common choice for seller-managed fulfillment service.
In terms of cost, the price of this option will vary depending on the carrier you choose and the size and weight of the package. It’s important to research and compare shipping rates from different carriers to find the most cost-effective option for your business.
Additionally, you may want to consider Walmart as a fulfillment partner for delivering your orders. Below is Walmart shipping cost through Deliverr if you choose this option:
- Faster fulfillment and delivery: Starting at $5.67 per unit
- Low storage fees: Starting at $0.81 per cu. ft. per month
Which Walmart Fulfillment Option Is for You?
If you’re a seller on Walmart Marketplace, using WFS can provide numerous benefits, such as faster delivery times, lower shipping costs, and excellent customer service.
However, third-party fulfillment services may be a better option if you sell on other marketplaces or internationally. While they may be more expensive, they offer more flexibility and control over the fulfillment process. Ultimately, the best option for your business will depend on your needs, budget, and goals.
Here are some pros and cons of Walmart Fulfillment Services vs third-party fulfillment that you can look at to pick the best for your business.
Pros | Cons | |
Fulfilled by Walmart |
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Third-party fulfillment |
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It is recommended that you should leverage of multiple shipping options to save more cost to sell on Walmart. Additionally, you can implement a Walmart pricing strategy and sell best seller Walmart items to maximize profit in this marketplace.
Walmart Shipping Cost – FAQs
- How much is Walmart delivery?
The cost of Walmart delivery depends on the shipping option you choose. Overall, regarding Walmart Shipping cost for WFS, sellers will need to pay some fees such as:
- Fulfillment fee;
- Storage fee;
- Problem inventory;
- Return shipping;
- Disposal & removal fees;
- Additional WFS Programs.
- Does Walmart offer free shipping?
Yes, Walmart offers free shipping for buyers who are in membership. There are many benefits further than free shipping, such as:
- Save over $500/year using this benefit alone. Savings based on 2 Walmart.com orders under $35 per week vs. non-member $6.99 fee.
- Even small orders ship for free.
- Free next-day & two-day shipping on items from Walmart.com.
- Huge assortment of eligible items.
- How to get free shipping from Walmart?
Customers need to become a member of Walmart+ to get Walmart free shipping. There are several plans that are available, such as Monthly: $12.95/month. Annual: $98/year. Plus applicable taxes.
Walmart Delivery Cost – Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding Walmart shipping cost is crucial for sellers on the Walmart marketplace. Sellers can decide which fulfillment and shipping options are best for their business. Ultimately, the best option for your business will depend on your needs, budget, and goals.
You should research and compare different options to determine what works best for you. By doing so, you can ensure that you are providing the best possible service to your customers and maximizing your profits as a seller on the Walmart marketplace.
In addition, you can sell on many top-selling platforms and easily manage shipping processes or inventory with LitCommerce. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to drop us a message.
Moreover, don’t forget to follow LitCommerce retailer blog and join our Facebook community to be up-to-date on eCommerce trends, learn more knowledge, insights, sharing, and guides.
