By Ayberk Onat, Business Developer at ShipHouse. Ayberk helps Shopify brands plan their move to outsourced fulfillment, from integration to first shipment.
Shopify fulfillment is how orders placed in your Shopify store get picked, packed, and shipped: by you, by a third-party logistics provider (3PL) connected to your store, or through a marketplace's fulfillment network. Shopify doesn't run its own warehouses. Since it sold its logistics business to Flexport in 2023, outsourcing on Shopify means working with a 3PL.
This guide explains what changed, how a 3PL actually plugs into your Shopify admin, what it costs, and a checklist for switching without disrupting orders.
Three ways to fulfill Shopify orders
Ship it yourself | A 3PL connected to Shopify | Marketplace fulfillment (Amazon MCF, Walmart MCS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Who stores and ships | You | The 3PL | Amazon or Walmart, from inventory you've sent them |
Packaging | Yours | Yours: branded boxes, inserts, kits | Unbranded |
Other channels from the same stock | Yes | Yes | Mostly that marketplace |
Best for | Early stage, low volume | Growing brands, multichannel, custom packing | Brands whose inventory already sits in FBA or WFS |
What happened to the Shopify Fulfillment Network?
The Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) used to be Shopify's own fulfillment offering. In 2023, Flexport acquired Shopify's logistics business, including Deliverr. In 2026:
- SFN is now a connector app, not a warehouse network. Shopify describes it as connecting you "with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) that store your inventory and fulfill orders on your behalf."
- Shopify's SFN marketing page is gone. Shopify.com/fulfillment now redirects to the Shopify Shipping page.
- Flexport is built directly into the Shopify admin. Other providers connect as apps, including Amazon MCF and Buy with Prime, ShipBob, and others.
- The SFN app is free to install and works only for fulfillment from the United States. The 3PL you choose charges for storage and fulfillment.
- Some merchants have reported minimum monthly spends with SFN providers. Check current terms directly with the provider.
Many articles still describe SFN as Shopify's own network with guaranteed two-day delivery. That's out of date.
How a 3PL connects to your Shopify store
This is the part most guides skip, and it's what determines whether outsourcing runs smoothly.
- The 3PL becomes a location. In Shopify, a fulfillment service is set up as its own location, and the products it manages are stocked and shipped from there. Since Shopify's April 2026 API update, the same SKU can be stocked at a 3PL and at your other locations.
- Orders become fulfillment orders. When an order comes in, Shopify groups the items that ship from the 3PL's location into a fulfillment order.
- A fulfillment request goes to the 3PL. With automatic fulfillment, Shopify sends the request as soon as the order is paid. With manual fulfillment, you send it yourself, and the order shows "In progress" until the 3PL accepts.
- The 3PL accepts, then picks and packs. If you need to cancel after the 3PL has accepted, you send a cancellation request, which the 3PL can approve or decline if the order is already packed. 3PLs can also report that work is in progress, which limits late changes.
- Tracking flows back automatically. The 3PL creates the shipment with tracking, Shopify adds it to the order, and you choose whether Shopify notifies the customer.
A few settings worth knowing:
- Fulfillment holds pause an order before it reaches the 3PL while keeping inventory reserved. They're useful for address checks or fraud review.
- "Mark as fulfilled" isn't available for orders assigned to a fulfillment service. The 3PL closes them by shipping.
- Reverting an order to unfulfilled doesn't stop the 3PL from shipping it. Confirm cancellations with the 3PL directly.
- Split shipping is coming by default. Shopify's next-generation fulfillment model, open for opt-in since October 1, 2026 and default for eligible shops from July 1, 2027, allows one order to produce multiple shipments. Ask your 3PL whether its integration handles split fulfillments.
Shipping labels and carrier rates
A 3PL can ship on its own carrier accounts, and since Shopify's July 2026 API update, approved 3PL apps can also buy Shopify Shipping labels on your behalf (not for FedEx). Either way, tracking returns to the Shopify order. Some integrations also pass the 3PL's carrier rates to your checkout.
Shop Promise: you can qualify with a 3PL
Shop Promise shows a delivery-date promise and badge to shoppers. It isn't tied to the Shopify Fulfillment Network. Shopify's eligibility requirements are:
- An active Shopify plan
- At least one active U.S. location that fulfills to the U.S.
- Shop Pay activated
- Tracking information on at least 90% of eligible orders
- An account in good standing
Delivery speed isn't a store-level requirement; Shopify assesses delivery reliability by product category. A store fulfilled by a U.S. 3PL can qualify. The key dependency is reliable tracking sync from your 3PL.
What Shopify fulfillment through a 3PL costs
3PL pricing is made up of line items, not one rate. Using ShipHouse's published starter rates, here's a hypothetical month for a brand shipping 1,000 Shopify orders with an average of 1.3 items per order and 10 pallets of inventory:
Line item | Calculation | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
Pick & pack, including standard packaging | 1,000 orders × $2.50 | $2,500 |
Additional items | 300 extra units × $0.50 | $150 |
Storage | 10 pallets × $40 | $400 |
Receiving | Within the included allowance | $0 |
Account management | Waived at 500+ orders | $0 |
Fulfillment subtotal | $3,050 (≈ $3.05 per order) | |
Shipping | From $4 per package, depending on weight and zone | Varies |
Custom packaging, inserts, and kitting are quoted per project. At higher volumes, the growth program rates are lower. You can also model your own numbers with our fulfillment cost calculator. For how 3PL pricing works in general, see What is a 3PL?.
Branded packaging, inserts, and kitting
The biggest reason Shopify brands choose a 3PL over Amazon MCF or Walmart MCS is the unboxing. MCF and MCS ship in unbranded packaging, which is fine for a marketplace order but not for a brand's own website. A DTC-focused 3PL can:
- Pack in your branded mailers or boxes, with tissue, stickers, or custom fill
- Add thank-you cards, samples, and promotional inserts
- Build kits and bundles to order, or pre-kit before a launch
- Handle gift notes and subscription boxes
See DTC fulfillment and pick and pack.
One inventory pool: Shopify plus marketplaces
Most Shopify brands also sell on marketplaces. Your options:
- Shopify Marketplace Connect lists and syncs orders with Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Target Plus. It's free for the first 50 synced orders per month, then 1% per order, capped at $99 per month.
- The TikTok app syncs TikTok Shop orders and inventory with Shopify. A 3PL can ship those orders too. See our TikTok Shop fulfillment guide.
- Amazon MCF and Buy with Prime fulfill Shopify orders from FBA inventory, in unbranded packaging.
- Walmart MCS Fulfillment, launched as a Shopify app in August 2026, fulfills Shopify orders from WFS inventory. See Walmart Fulfillment Services.
The alternative is one inventory pool at a 3PL. Your Shopify orders ship in your branded packaging, marketplace orders ship to each marketplace's rules, and FBA and WFS are replenished from the same stock. See FBA vs FBM.
Returns with Shopify and a 3PL
Shopify's self-serve returns let customers request a return from their order status page. You approve or decline it, and a return label is sent on approval. Your return rules set eligibility, the return window, and who pays for return shipping. Your 3PL then receives the return, inspects it, and restocks or sets it aside based on your instructions. Agree on those disposition rules before you go live. See returns management.
When should a Shopify store outsource fulfillment?
Consider a 3PL when:
- Packing orders is taking time away from growing the business
- You're running out of space, or about to lease a warehouse
- Delivery times to your biggest markets are too slow
- You're adding marketplaces and need one inventory pool
- You're launching kits, subscriptions, or seasonal spikes you can't staff for
Stay in-house a little longer if your volume is very low or unpredictable, or if each order is customized in ways you can't yet write down as rules.
Onboarding checklist: switching to a 3PL
- Clean up SKUs and barcodes. Every variant needs a unique SKU and a scannable barcode.
- Install the 3PL's app or integration and confirm it creates a fulfillment location.
- Assign products to the 3PL location and set inventory to sync from the 3PL.
- Add shipping rates for the 3PL's location, and set order routing rules if you use more than one location.
- Choose automatic or manual fulfillment requests. Automatic is standard once you trust the setup.
- Decide on customer notifications for shipments.
- Send your first inbound shipment with an advance shipping notice.
- Place test orders, including a cancellation, a split order, and a return.
- Set return rules and disposition instructions.
- Go live, then review accuracy, ship times, and tracking coverage after the first week.
A note on sales tax: inventory stored at a 3PL's warehouse can create sales tax nexus in that state, as Shopify notes in its own SFN billing guidance. See our East Coast fulfillment guide for how this works in New Jersey and Delaware.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify have its own fulfillment service in 2026?
No. Shopify sold its logistics business to Flexport in 2023. The Shopify Fulfillment Network is now an app that connects you with 3PLs, including Flexport, that store and ship your inventory.
What happened to the Shopify Fulfillment Network?
SFN became a connector to third-party logistics providers. Flexport is built into the Shopify admin, and other 3PLs connect as apps. Shopify's former SFN marketing page now redirects to Shopify Shipping.
How do I connect a 3PL to my Shopify store?
Install the 3PL's fulfillment app or integration. It creates a fulfillment location in Shopify, and orders for products assigned to that location are sent to the 3PL as fulfillment requests.
What is a fulfillment order in Shopify?
A fulfillment order groups the items in an order that ship from one location. When the items are assigned to a 3PL, Shopify sends the 3PL a fulfillment request, which it accepts before picking and packing.
Should I use automatic or manual fulfillment with a 3PL?
Automatic fulfillment sends orders to the 3PL as soon as they're paid, which is faster. Manual gives you a chance to review orders first. Most brands switch to automatic once the setup is tested, and use fulfillment holds for exceptions.
Can my 3PL use Shopify Shipping labels?
Yes. Since July 2026, approved 3PL apps can buy Shopify Shipping labels (not for FedEx). 3PLs can also ship on their own carrier accounts. Either way, tracking flows back to the order.
How does tracking get back to my customers?
When the 3PL ships, it adds tracking to the fulfillment in Shopify. Shopify updates the order and, if you choose, emails the customer.
Can I get the Shop Promise badge if a 3PL ships my orders?
Yes. Shop Promise requires a U.S. fulfillment location, Shop Pay, tracking on at least 90% of eligible orders, and an account in good standing. It isn't limited to the Shopify Fulfillment Network.
Can one 3PL fulfill Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop orders?
Yes. A multichannel 3PL can ship every channel's orders from one inventory pool, and replenish FBA or WFS from the same stock.
How much does Shopify fulfillment through a 3PL cost?
It depends on order volume, items per order, storage, and packaging. With ShipHouse's published starter rates, a brand shipping 1,000 orders a month at 1.3 items each, with 10 pallets in storage, pays about $3.05 per order before postage.
How do returns work with Shopify and a 3PL?
Customers request returns through Shopify's self-serve returns. Once you approve them, the 3PL receives, inspects, and restocks or sets aside the items based on your rules.
The bottom line
On Shopify, outsourcing fulfillment now means choosing a 3PL, not a Shopify network. The best setup connects through fulfillment orders, syncs tracking reliably enough to earn Shop Promise, keeps your branded unboxing, and ships every other channel from the same inventory.
If you're ready to hand off your Shopify fulfillment, tell us about your store and volume. We'll walk through the integration and onboarding with you.
Information in this guide comes from Shopify's Help Center, developer documentation, and App Store listings, current as of November 2026. Shopify updates its features regularly, so check your admin for the latest. The featured image is AI-assisted and was created from photos of the ShipHouse team.
