What are bol shipping costs and why are they so important?
Bol shipping costs are one of the largest variable cost factors for sellers on bol.com. Every order you ship comes with costs - whether you ship yourself or use the logistics services of bol.com. Understanding these costs is crucial for your profit margin, pricing strategy, and customer satisfaction. In this comprehensive article, we'll discuss all shipping options, current rates for 2026, and provide you with practical tips to keep your bol shipping costs as low as possible.
Many starting sellers underestimate the impact of shipping costs on their margins. For an average product of €25, shipping costs can quickly make up 20-30% of your selling price. If you don't calculate these costs accurately, you risk selling at a loss - even if the product has a nice margin on paper. That's why it's essential to optimize your shipping strategy before you put your first products online.
The three shipping methods on bol.com
Bol.com offers sellers three ways to ship orders. Each method has its own rates, advantages, and disadvantages. Below, we'll discuss them in detail so you can make the best choice for your situation.
1. Shipping via bol.com (VVB)
With Shipping via bol.com (VVB), you keep your stock in your own storage and choose PostNL or DHL as the carrier via the bol.com partner platform. You must hand in your packages before 5:00 PM at a drop-off point to guarantee next-day delivery. The bol shipping costs for VVB are standardized and apply to all sellers who are not eligible for volume discounts.
VVB is ideal for sellers who want to maintain control over the shipping process, use their own packaging, or sell products that require special handling. The downside is that you're responsible for timely delivery, and any delays caused by the carrier will affect your seller performance.
2. Shipping via bol.com+ (VVB+)
VVB+ is an extended version of regular VVB and is interesting for sellers who ship more than 20 packages per day. The biggest advantage is the delivery promise "ordered before 23:59, delivered the next day" - a powerful sales argument that can significantly increase your conversion rate. The bol shipping costs for VVB+ are the same as standard VVB, but you benefit from a pickup service by the carrier if you drop off your packages before 10:00 AM at an Ampère point.
Note: with VVB+, customers cannot choose evening delivery or delivery to a pickup location. This can be a disadvantage for some product categories. Weigh this against the benefit of the stronger delivery promise.
3. Logistics via bol.com (LVB)
With Logistics via bol.com (LVB), you send your stock to bol.com's fulfillment center. They then take care of the complete logistics: storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for delivery questions. The bol shipping costs for LVB consist of a combination of storage costs and shipping costs per order, but are generally lower than shipping yourself.
The big advantage of LVB is that carrier performance doesn't affect your seller score. If DHL delivers late, it won't hurt your ratings. Additionally, bol.com reimburses up to 75% of the selling price if a shipment gets lost. Customers can also choose a desired delivery day and select evening delivery - extra options that increase customer satisfaction.
Current bol shipping costs rates (2026)
Below, you'll find a complete overview of the bol shipping costs for the different shipping methods and package sizes. These rates include VAT and apply to standard sellers.
| Package type | VVB / VVB+ | LVB (shipping) | LVB (storage/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailbox package | €4,15 | €2,49 | €0,25/article |
| Small package (up to 2 kg) | €6,95 | €3,49 | €0,45/article |
| Standard package (up to 10 kg) | €6,95 | €4,19 | €0,65/article |
| Large package (up to 23 kg) | €13,20 | €5,99 | €1,10/article |
| Extra large package (up to 31.5 kg) | €13,20 | €8,49 | €1,50/article |
| Shipping to Belgium | +€2,50 surcharge | Included | See above |
Important: LVB storage costs increase the longer your products stay in the warehouse. After 180 days, a long-term storage surcharge applies. Plan your inventory carefully. The exact rates can be adjusted quarterly by bol.com - always check the current rate overview on the partner platform.
VVB vs LVB: which method is more cost-effective?
The question of which shipping method is most cost-effective depends on your sales volume, product size, and business situation. Below, we compare the two main methods based on the most important criteria.
| Criteria | VVB (self-ship) | LVB (bol.com ships) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per package | Higher (€4,15 – €13,20) | Lower (€2,49 – €8,49) |
| Storage costs | Own storage required | €0,25 – €1,50/article/month |
| Control over shipping process | Full | None |
| Impact on seller performance | Shipping errors count | Shipping errors do not count |
| Customer service for delivery | Handle yourself | Bol.com handles |
| Delivery promise | Standard | Evening delivery + day choice possible |
| Suitable for starters | Yes (low volume) | Yes (no own storage required) |
| Scaling benefits | Limited | Strong at high volume |
As a rule of thumb: for sellers just starting out with a small assortment, VVB is fine. Once you grow and have higher volumes, LVB becomes more financially attractive. Sellers with fragile products or products requiring special packaging often choose VVB to maintain maximum control.
Lowering bol shipping costs: 7 practical tips
1. Optimize your packaging
Bol shipping costs are calculated based on weight and dimensions. By optimizing your packaging, you can fall into a lower rate class. Use the smallest possible boxes, avoid unnecessary filling material, and choose lightweight packaging materials. A product that just fits in a mailbox package can save you €2,80 per shipment compared to a regular package.
2. Use the LVB-box-size-checker
Bol.com calculates LVB costs based on the dimensions in their system. Sometimes these do not match the actual dimensions of your product. With the LVB Box Size Checker from Boloo, you can check after each invoice whether the billed dimensions are correct. In case of discrepancies, you can request a re-measurement and get incorrectly charged costs back.
3. Combine shipments smartly
If a customer orders multiple products, these are automatically combined into one shipment with LVB. With VVB, you can arrange this yourself. By packaging products together, you save on bol shipping costs per article. Analyze your order data to see which products are often bought together and consider bundle offers.
4. Negotiate rates for high volume
Do you ship more than 100 packages per day via VVB? You can request business rates from PostNL or DHL that are significantly lower than the standard rates. Some sellers save up to 40% on their bol shipping costs by entering into volume contracts. Request non-binding quotes from both carriers and compare.
5. Choose the right shipping method per product
You don't have to ship all your products using the same method. Many successful sellers use a hybrid strategy: small, lightweight products via LVB (lower costs, less hassle) and large or fragile products via VVB (more control). Analyze which method is most beneficial per SKU.
6. Keep your returns low
Return shipments involve double shipping costs - you pay for both the outbound and return shipment. Invest in high-quality product photos, accurate descriptions, and correct sizing to reduce the return rate. Every avoided return is a direct saving on your bol shipping costs. Also, check if you can use e-mail campaigns to help customers choose the right product.
7. Calculate your margins accurately
Use a profit calculator to accurately calculate all your costs, including shipping costs, bol.com commission, purchase price, and return costs. This is the only way to know if a product is actually profitable. Many sellers only discover afterwards that their margins are negative because they didn't correctly factor in the bol shipping costs.
Common mistakes with bol shipping costs
Charging shipping costs separately
On bol.com, it's strictly forbidden to charge shipping costs separately to the customer. The selling price on the product page must include shipping costs. Therefore, always calculate your selling price including the full shipping costs. Sellers who don't do this risk a warning or suspension of their account.
Ignoring price scores
Bol.com assigns a price score to your product based on the price-quality ratio. Four or five stars means you're competitively priced. Since you need to factor your bol shipping costs into your selling price, a wrong shipping choice can negatively impact your price score. Regularly compare whether switching to a different shipping method can improve your price - and thus your price stars.
Not taking Belgium into account
Selling to Belgium involves an additional surcharge of €2.50 per shipment with VVB. Many sellers forget to factor this into their margin calculation. With LVB, shipping to Belgium is included in the standard rates - this can be a reason to use LVB for Belgian orders, even if you ship your Dutch orders via VVB.
Bol shipping costs and your selling price: the right balance
Since you're not allowed to charge separate shipping costs on bol.com, it's essential to fully factor your bol shipping costs into your selling price. Keep in mind that you're not allowed to charge a higher price on bol.com than on your own webshop. Plan your pricing strategy across all sales channels.
A golden rule: calculate your minimum selling price by adding up all costs - purchase price, bol.com commission, shipping costs, return costs, and a desired profit margin. Anything below this is loss-making. Use sales dashboards to monitor your actual margins per product and adjust as needed.
When to switch from VVB to LVB?
Switching from VVB to LVB is not an all-or-nothing decision. You can start gradually by shipping part of your assortment via LVB and continuing to handle the rest yourself. Consider switching when:
- You process more than 50 orders per week and logistics takes up a lot of time
- Your sales performance is under pressure due to carrier delays
- You don't have your own storage space or want to free it up
- You want to benefit from evening delivery and day choice for customers
- You sell to Belgium and want to avoid the VVB surcharge
Start with your best-selling products and evaluate the impact on your costs and customer satisfaction after a month. Then, gradually expand to your entire range.
Frequently asked questions about bol shipping costs
Can I pass on return costs to the customer?
No, on bol.com you are not allowed to charge return costs to the customer. Returns are at the expense of the seller. This makes it even more important to keep your return percentage low by providing good product information and high-quality images.
What are the extra shipping costs to Belgium?
For VVB, a surcharge of €2.50 per shipment to Belgium applies. With LVB, shipping to Belgium is included in the standard rates, making LVB more financially attractive for Belgian orders.
How are the bol shipping costs calculated for LVB?
LVB costs consist of a shipping rate per order (based on dimensions and weight) plus storage costs per item per month. After 180 days in storage, a long-term surcharge applies. Use the LVB Box Size Checker to check if the billed dimensions are correct.
Can I use VVB and LVB at the same time?
Yes, many sellers use a hybrid strategy. You can choose which shipping method to use per product. This allows you to select the most cost-effective option per SKU.
What if bol.com uses incorrect dimensions for my product?
If bol.com records incorrect dimensions for your LVB products, you may pay too much in bol shipping costs. You can request a re-measurement via the partner platform. With Boloo's LVB Box Size Checker, you receive a report with the differences after each invoice, so you can quickly intervene and save costs.
Discover LVB Box-size Checker
See how LVB Box-size Checker can help you sell smarter on bol.com.
View LVB Box-size Checker
