Bol.com Shipping Fees: Complete Overview for Sellers in 2026

As a seller on bol.com, shipping costs are one of the biggest variable expenses that directly affect your profit margin. The bol.com shipping costs vary widely depending on the shipping method you choose, the weight and dimensions of your products. In this comprehensive article we give you a complete overview of all shipping costs, compare the three shipping options and show how you as a seller can smartly save on your shipping expenses.

Three shipping methods and their costs on bol.com

On bol.com you have three ways to ship your products as a seller. Each method has its own rates, advantages and disadvantages. The choice you make has a direct impact on your shipping costs, your selling price and your profit margin.

Logistics via bol.com (LVB)

With Logistics via bol.com you send your inventory to bol.com’s distribution centre. They take care of the entire shipping, returns processing and customer service. You pay a fee per shipped product that depends on the dimensions and weight. The big advantage is that poor carrier performance does not count towards your seller performance. In addition, your product qualifies for the "next-day delivery" promise, which significantly boosts conversion.

Shipping via bol.com (VVB)

With Shipping via bol.com you keep your own inventory and drop off packages at a PostNL or DHL point before 17:00. Bol.com offers reduced shipping rates thanks to their volume. A letterbox parcel costs €4,15 incl. btw, a parcel up to 10 kg costs €6,95 and a parcel up to 23 kg costs €13,20. You retain maximum control over your inventory and the shipping process.

Shipping via bol.com+ (VVB+)

VVB+ is the extended version for sellers who ship more than 20 parcels per day. In addition to the standard VVB benefits you get access to the "order before 23:59, delivered next day" promise and can have parcels picked up by the courier at an Ampère point (drop-off before 10:00). The rates are the same as VVB, but the extra service and faster delivery promise can increase your conversion. The downside is that customers cannot choose evening delivery or a pickup address.

Compare bol.com shipping costs per method

To make an informed decision it is essential to line up the shipping costs of all three methods side by side. The table below provides a complete overview of the rates and features per shipping method:

The LVB rates depend on dimensions and are calculated based on the size and weight of your product. Use the Zoloo LVB Box Size Checker to calculate the exact costs for your products and check whether bol.com applies the correct dimensions.

Hidden costs and extra fees

Besides the direct delivery costs there are extra expense items that many sellers don’t think of right away. These hidden costs can raise your total logistics expenses significantly if you don’t include them in your margin calculation.

Storage fees with LVB

With Logistics via bol.com you pay storage fees per cubic metre per day. Products that sit in the warehouse for a long time become increasingly expensive. Therefore it’s essential to monitor your inventory turnover with a sales dashboard. Seasonal items that remain after the season can drive your storage costs up sharply.

Return costs

On bol.com you as a seller may never charge the customer return costs. All return costs are your responsibility. With LVB returns are processed by bol.com, but you still pay a fee per return shipment. With VVB and VVB+ you have to arrange the return logistics yourself and bear the costs. Account for an average return rate of 5-15% depending on your product category.

Hermeting costs and dimension discrepancies

A common issue with LVB is that bol.com sometimes records different dimensions for your products, causing you to overpay. With the LVB Box Size Checker from Zoloo you can receive a report after each invoice showing the differences between the billed dimensions and the actual measurements. This lets you request a hermeting and get wrongly paid fees back.

Calculating delivery costs and including them in your selling price

A crucial mistake many new sellers make is not correctly passing delivery costs on in their selling price. On bol.com it is not possible to show shipping costs separately to the customer - the delivery costs are always included in the item price. You as a seller may never charge shipping costs retroactively.

With the Zoloo Profit Calculator you can calculate the exact minimum selling price for each product, including all delivery costs, commission and return fees. This prevents you from unintentionally selling below cost.

Price star scores and delivery costs

Bol.com has a price-star scoring system that shows how your price compares to competitors. Because delivery costs are built into your selling price, they directly affect your price stars. A higher selling price due to high shipping costs can lead to lower price stars, which negatively impacts your visibility and winning the koopblok.

The system works like this: with 5 stars you have the sharpest price compared to your competitors. With 4 stars your price is still good. Below 3 stars it becomes difficult to win the buy block. Keep in mind that your competitors also have shipping costs, so you can be perfectly competitive on price if you manage your shipping method wisely.

Not all products can have a price star score calculated by bol.com. This may be because competitor data is missing or there is insufficient price information available. Monitor your price position regularly with the Zoloo Ranking Checker to see how you are performing.

Six strategies to lower your shipping costs

Smart sellers actively look for ways to reduce their shipping costs without compromising service or delivery time. Here are six proven strategies:

1. Optimize your packaging dimensions

Shipping costs are largely determined by the volume of your package. By optimizing your product packaging - smaller packing, less filler material, mailbox size where possible - you can save significantly. A product that fits just as a mailbox parcel saves you more than €2,00 per shipment compared to a regular parcel.

2. Choose the right shipping method per product

You don’t have to ship all your products using the same method. Small, light products are best sent via VVB as a mailbox parcel. Large or heavy products with high turnover are often cheaper via LVB. Perform a cost-benefit analysis per product category.

3. Check LVB dimensions after each invoice

Incorrect dimension registration with LVB is a common issue. After each invoice, verify that the recorded dimensions are correct and request a re-measurement if there are discrepancies. The LVB Box Size Checker automates this process and saves sellers an average of 5-15% on their LVB costs.

4. Combine shipments and bundle products

When customers order multiple products, they are sent as separate packages with VVB. Consider offering product bundles that fit in a single package. This lowers your average shipping cost per product while increasing your average order value.

5. Monitor your return rate per product

Returns are a hidden cost driver for your shipping expenses. Analyze which products have a high return rate and investigate the cause. Often you can reduce returns with better product descriptions, clearer photos and more accurate sizing. Use your sales dashboard to monitor return trends.

6. Scale up to VVB+ when you have enough volume

Once you ship more than 20 packages per day, VVB+ can be advantageous. The rates are the same as VVB, but you get access to the delivery promise "order by 23:59, delivered tomorrow" and a pickup service. The faster delivery promise can boost your conversion rate, indirectly offsetting the costs.

Common mistakes with shipping costs

Many sellers lose unnecessary revenue or run at a loss because they make common mistakes around shipping costs. Below are the seven most frequent pitfalls:

LVB versus self shipping: when do you choose what?

Choosing between LVB and self shipping (VVB/VVB+) is one of the most important decisions for your delivery strategy. Both options have specific pros and cons that depend on your situation as a seller.

Choose LVB if you don’t have your own storage space, want to focus on purchasing and marketing instead of logistics, your products are compact enough to keep storage costs low, and you want to benefit from the fast delivery promise. LVB is especially attractive for sellers with a wide assortment and medium to high turnover speed.

Choose VVB or VVB+ if you already have storage space, like to keep control over the shipping process, your products are large or heavy (where LVB storage costs rise quickly) or you have specific packaging requirements. VVB+ becomes interesting once you ship more than 20 parcels daily and want to benefit from the faster delivery promise without LVB storage costs.

Many successful sellers choose a hybrid approach: fast-moving products via LVB for the delivery promise and slow-turning or bulk products via VVB. With the Zoloo Sales Dashboard you can analyze per product which shipping method is most profitable.

Shipping costs for Belgium and international shipping

Through bol.com you can also sell to Belgian customers. Shipping costs for Belgium are higher than for the Netherlands. With LVB, Belgian orders are automatically handled with an extra charge. With VVB you have to select a carrier yourself that ships to Belgium. Keep in mind that as a seller on bol.com you are required to ship to Belgium as well, unless you explicitly disable it in your sales settings.

Tip: calculate your Belgian shipping costs separately and consider adding a slightly higher margin on Belgian orders in your profit calculation.

Frequently asked questions about shipping costs on bol.com

Can I display shipping costs separately to the customer?

No, on bol.com shipping costs are always included in the item price. You may never charge shipping fees separately to the customer. Therefore calculate your full cost picture including shipping costs in advance and incorporate it into a competitive selling price.

Is it cheaper to ship via LVB or yourself?

This depends on your product type, volume and situation. LVB is often cheaper for small products with high turnover because of the lower rates and the delivery promise. For large or slow-moving products VVB can be cheaper since you don’t pay storage fees. Use the Winstcalculator to compare per product.

How can I get a refund for overpaid LVB fees?

Check after each LVB invoice whether the billed dimensions are correct. If there are discrepancies you can request a re-measurement from bol.com. The LVB Box Size Checker automates this check and shows the differences between billed and actual dimensions, so you can request re-measurements purposefully.

Do I have to pay return costs as a seller?

Yes, on bol.com all return costs are the seller’s responsibility. You must never charge return fees to the customer. Include an average return rate in your margin calculation - depending on your category this ranges from 5% to 15%.

What are the delivery costs when I’m just starting to sell?

As a new seller you pay the standard VVB rates: €4.15 for a letterbox parcel, €6.95 for a parcel up to 10 kg and €13.20 for a parcel up to 23 kg. As your volume grows you can consider switching to LVB or VVB+ for better rates or faster delivery promises. Calculate your margins carefully with the Winstcalculator before you list your first product online.

The delivery costs on bol.com don’t have to be an obstacle to profitable sales. By choosing the right shipping method, optimizing your packaging and calculating your costs accurately you can save a lot as a seller. Start 14 days free with Zoloo and get immediate access to tools like the LVB Box Size Checker and Winstcalculator to keep your delivery costs under control and maximise your margin.