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Free tool · Peak Capacity Planner

Should you pay for peak all year?

Compare holding enough space and people for your busiest weeks all year round with running at base level and buying flexible storage and agency labour only when you need it. See which is cheaper, and how long peak has to last before that changes.

Storage

Example figures are illustrative; use your own rates where you have them.

Rent, rates, racking, power and running costs of your own space, per pallet position per week. Illustrative; use your own.
UK 3PL list prices typically run £3 to £5 per pallet per week.
Receiving and dispatching each pallet; UK list prices run about £1.30 to £3.50 per pallet each way.
Labour
Hourly pay plus employer National Insurance, pension and holiday. Illustrative; use your own.
The agency charge rate per hour. Illustrative; use your own quote.

This is an estimate from the figures you enter. Nothing you type is sent anywhere unless you choose to send it with the form.

Your results

Enter normal and peak pallets and the length of peak to compare the options.

Peak capacity all year
Base plus flexible capacity
Difference
Flexible stays cheaper until peak lasts

Want a peak plan?

Send us your figures. Convoy arranges flexible storage, labour and transport for peak.

Your results are sent with the form so we can reply properly. We use these details only for that. See our privacy notice.

How it works

The sums, in plain sight.

Peak all year = peak pallets x your own space rate x 52, plus normal and peak hours at the permanent rate for 52 weeks.

Base plus flex = normal pallets x your own rate x 52, plus extra pallets at the overflow rate for the peak weeks and the cost of moving them in and out once, plus normal hours at the permanent rate and peak hours at the agency rate for the peak weeks.

The break-even is the length of peak at which both options cost the same. It leaves out one-off costs such as recruiting and training, and the service risk of relying on others in your busiest weeks.

Sources

Pay for peak only when it comes.

Convoy manages warehousing and freight partners as one, so capacity flexes with demand.

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