Bol Shipping Rates: 2026 Guide

Shipping via bol.com rates are one of the most important cost factors for every bol.com seller. The choice between shipping yourself, shipping via bol.com (VVB) or logistics via bol.com (LVB) directly affects your profit margin, customer satisfaction, and sales performance. In this comprehensive guide, we provide a complete overview of all shipping rates, compare the three shipping methods, and share strategies to reduce your shipping costs.

Overview of shipping methods on bol.com

As a bol.com seller, you have three options for shipping orders. Each method has its own rates, advantages, and disadvantages. It's crucial to make the right choice based on your product assortment, shipping volume, and business strategy.

Detailed rates per shipping method

The exact shipping via bol.com rates vary per method, volume tier and size. Below, you'll find a detailed breakdown so you can accurately calculate the shipping costs for your products.

LVB rates (Logistics via Bol.com)

With Logistics via bol.com (LVB), you send your inventory to bol.com's warehouse. They handle the entire shipping process, including customer service and returns. The shipping costs per shipment are generally lower than with VVB because bol.com has scale advantages by processing millions of packages per year.

Be aware: in addition to shipping costs, you also pay monthly storage costs with LVB. These are calculated per item per month. Products that remain in the warehouse for more than 180 days incur a 100% surcharge on storage costs (long-stored stock surcharge). Calculate all your LVB costs in advance with the Zoloo Winstcalculator to avoid unpleasant surprises. You can find more information about all LVB costs in our comprehensive LVB cost guide.

VVB rates (Shipping via Bol.com)

With Shipping via bol.com (VVB), you store the stock yourself and bring the packages to a DHL or PostNL drop-off point. You must hand in orders before the drop-off point's collection time so they can be shipped with the courier on the same day.

VVB rates only cover the shipping label, but you save on storage costs and have full control over your stock. This is ideal for sellers with their own warehouse or workspace who want to maintain control over the shipping process.

VVB+ rates (Shipping via Bol.com+)

Shipping via bol.com+ (VVB+) is an extended version of VVB (bol.com now calls it Verzenden via bol Compleet), recommended by bol.com from 50 packages per day. The shipping rates are the same as VVB, but you get additional benefits:

• Delivery promise "ordered before 23:59, delivered the next day" — this significantly increases your conversion rate
• Pick-up service via Ampère points — hand in your packages before 9:30 AM the next morning or let the courier pick them up
• Longer cut-off time (until 23:59) for customers to place orders

Good to know: with VVB+, customers can also choose delivery to a pickup point, to an office, in the evening or on a day of their choice. If you use the pickup service with fewer than 11 parcels per pickup, you pay €40 per pickup.

LVB vs. VVB vs. VVB+: which method is the most advantageous?

The cheapest shipping method depends on your situation. Below, we compare the total costs for four common scenarios:

Whether LVB is cheaper depends on the size and your volume: compare the amounts in the table above. The LVB rate also covers pick & pack, customer service and returns, but add the storage costs. For products that sell quickly (high turnover), LVB is almost always the best choice. For slow-moving products or products with large dimensions, VVB may be more advantageous. Use the Zoloo LVB Box Size Checker to check if bol.com uses the correct dimensions — incorrect dimensions lead to higher costs.

Hidden costs when shipping via bol.com

In addition to the standard shipping rates, there are extra costs that many sellers don't think of immediately:

Return costs

On bol.com, you can never charge return costs to the customer. As a seller, you bear all return costs yourself. At LVB, returns are handled by bol.com (free for the customer, at your expense). With VVB, you need to provide return labels and pay the costs. The average return rate on bol.com is between 3% and 15%, depending on the product category.

Packaging costs

With VVB and VVB+, you are responsible for packaging materials yourself. Budget €0.20–€1.50 per package, depending on the size. At LVB, bol.com packs the product for you, but you must deliver it to the warehouse in suitable packaging.

Storage at LVB

Storage costs at LVB increase the longer your products stay in the warehouse. After 180 days, a 100% surcharge on storage costs applies. Products that sell poorly can become a cost factor. Monitor your inventory turnover rate via the Zoloo Sales Dashboard.

Dimensions and remeasurement

Bol.com measures the dimensions of your products when they arrive at the LVB warehouse. If their measurement differs from what you specified, you will be assigned to a higher weight class — resulting in higher shipping costs. After your invoice, you can receive a report with the differences between the invoiced dimensions and the actual dimensions via the LVB Box Size Checker and request a remeasurement to save costs.

Shipping to Belgium

Bol.com serves both the Dutch and Belgian markets. If you ship via LVB, bol.com automatically handles Belgian deliveries. With VVB, you can also ship to Belgium: a (letterbox) parcel to Belgium costs €6.33, against €5.56 for a parcel within the Netherlands (volume tier 1, excl. VAT). Consider shipping products that are frequently ordered in Belgium via LVB to limit costs and complexity.

Price scores and shipping costs

On bol.com, sellers are evaluated with price scores (1–5 stars). Since the sales price must include shipping costs, you as a seller have higher product prices than on your own webshop. This affects your price scores:

• 5 stars: sharpest price compared to competitors — maximum visibility
• 4 stars: good price-quality ratio — good position
• 3 stars or lower: price is too high — less visible in search results

Keep in mind that your competitors on bol.com also have to deal with shipping rates, so you can be competitive in terms of price. The difference lies in the shipping method you choose: a lower shipping cost via LVB gives you more room for a competitive sales price.

8 strategies to reduce your shipping costs

With the right approach, you can save significantly on shipping via bol rates:

1. Choose the right shipping method per product

Not every product needs to be shipped via the same method. Fast-selling products with small dimensions are ideal for LVB, while large or slow-moving products are better suited for VVB.

2. Optimize product dimensions

Shipping costs are determined by weight and dimensions. By reducing your packaging, you can sometimes get into a lower weight class. A product that fits in a mailbox package (max 3.2 cm high) costs €4.02 per shipment with VVB instead of €5.56 for a parcel (volume tier 1, excl. VAT).

3. Check dimensions with the LVB Box Size Checker

After each LVB invoice, you'll receive a report from the Zoloo LVB Box Size Checker comparing the dimensions charged by bol.com with the actual dimensions. Incorrect measurements are common and can lead to unnecessary higher costs. Always request a remeasurement in case of significant deviations.

4. Calculate all costs in advance

Use the Zoloo Winstcalculator to include all shipping costs, commission, storage costs, and return costs in your margin calculation before you purchase products. Avoid surprises later on.

5. Optimize your inventory management

With LVB, you pay storage costs per month. By adjusting your inventory to demand — not too much, not too little — you limit unnecessary storage costs. Monitor your inventory levels and turnover rate via the Sales Dashboard.

6. Bundle products smartly

By selling complementary products as a bundle, you save on shipping costs per product. Instead of two separate shipments, you send one package — the shipping costs per item decrease significantly as a result.

7. Consider VVB+ for high volume

If you ship 50 or more packages per day (bol.com's recommendation), VVB+ offers the same rates as VVB but with the delivery promise "next day at home". This can increase your conversion rate by 10–20%, which makes the extra logistical effort pay off.

8. Analyze your shipping data regularly

Review your shipping costs per product and per method on a monthly basis. Products whose margin is under pressure due to high shipping costs can possibly be switched to a different method or have their packaging optimized. Use the Zoloo Sales Dashboard for a complete overview of your costs and margins.

Common mistakes when shipping via bol.com

These mistakes regularly cost sellers money or customer reviews:

Frequently asked questions about shipping via bol rates

What is the cheapest way to ship via bol.com?

LVB (Logistics via Bol.com) offers the lowest shipping rates thanks to the scale advantages of bol.com. A mailbox package (3XS) costs €3.05 all-in via LVB (€2.85 at a selling price below €16), compared to €4.02 for just the VVB label (volume tier 1, excl. VAT). However, you should also consider the storage costs. For fast-moving products, LVB is almost always the most advantageous. Calculate the difference with the Zoloo Winstcalculator.

Can I combine different shipping methods?

Yes, you can choose between LVB and VVB for each product. Many sellers use LVB for their best-selling products and VVB for slow-moving or very large items. This hybrid model optimizes costs and flexibility.

Can I charge shipping costs separately?

No, on bol.com you're never allowed to show or charge shipping costs separately to the customer. The selling price must include shipping costs. This also applies to returns - customers are allowed to return items for free.

How does bol.com calculate shipping costs for LVB?

Bol.com bases LVB rates on the weight and dimensions of your product. When products arrive at the warehouse, they're measured and weighed. If the measurement differs from your specification, you'll be assigned to a different weight class. Always check the dimensions with the LVB Box Size Checker after receiving your invoice and request a remeasurement if there are errors.

What happens if my package gets lost?

With LVB, bol.com handles shipping itself. With VVB, bol.com takes over responsibility for delivery once you've handed in the parcel, and you receive compensation for lost parcels; the current amount is in the terms on the partner platform. It's a good idea to always ship with track & trace so you can prove the package was sent.