Expansion to new markets
The seven US 3PLs worth a European brand's shortlist in 2026 are Cahoot, SHIPHYPE, ShipBob, ShipMonk, Red Stag Fulfillment, DCL Logistics and Flowspace. What separates them is how much of the country they reach in one or two days, how flexible the contract is, and how US returns are handled.
The timing matters. Since August 2025, parcels worth $800 or less no longer enter the US duty free, and US consumers now expect free delivery in 2.7 days on average (AlixPartners, 2026). The usual setup is stock on each side of the Atlantic: European orders shipped from a European warehouse, US orders from a US fulfillment partner. This guide compares the seven fulfillment companies, then covers the customs, tax and product rules to settle before the first pallet leaves Europe.
Key takeaways
- The US de minimis exemption is suspended for parcels from every country and ends in law on July 1, 2027 (Federal Register, 2026), so parcels shipped one by one from Europe now go through full customs treatment.
- Since July 24, 2026, most EU goods face a combined US duty of 10% and UK goods an additional 10% (Federal Register, 2026). Tariff rules have changed several times since 2025, so check the rate for your products before shipping.
- Holding stock in a US state can create a sales tax obligation in that state (CDTFA).
- US stock serves US customers. Keep stock in Europe for European orders and plan inventory across both.
How to ship to the US from Europe in 2026: what changes
- Customs. The $800 de minimis exemption has been suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025, indefinitely since rules published in June 2026, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ends it in law on July 1, 2027 (Federal Register, 2026). Importing stock in bulk to a US warehouse replaces one customs entry per parcel with one entry per shipment.
- Tariffs. Under Section 301 tariffs in force from July 24, 2026, EU products whose normal duty is below 10% pay a top-up that brings the total to 10%, and products already at 10% or more pay no top-up. UK products pay an additional 10% (Federal Register, 2026). Products on the exemption lists pay only their normal duty, and goods covered by Section 232 sector tariffs, for example on steel, aluminum or copper, pay the sector tariff instead. These rules have changed several times since 2025 and remain subject to legal challenge.
- Importer of record. The importer of record stays responsible for the entry and the duties, even when a broker files it (CBP). A company incorporated outside the US needs a resident agent and a customs bond to import in its own name (19 CFR 141.18).
- Sales tax. Since the Supreme Court's Wayfair decision in 2018, states can require remote sellers to collect sales tax above an economic threshold, often $100,000 of sales a year (Supreme Court, 2018); California and Texas use $500,000 (CDTFA, Texas Comptroller). Stock held in a warehouse in a state can also count as a physical presence there, as California's tax agency states explicitly.
- Product rules. Under MoCRA, facilities that make cosmetics must register with the FDA and the brand must list each product, unless a small-business exemption applies; a foreign facility also needs a US agent (FDA). Facilities that make, pack or hold food and supplements need an FDA food facility registration, renewed between October 1 and December 31 of every even-numbered year, 2026 included (21 CFR 1.230), and each food shipment needs prior notice before it arrives (FDA).
How we compared them
- Coverage: how much of the US the network reaches in one or two days, and whether it extends to Canada.
- Model: owned warehouses, a network or a mix, and how flexible the contract is.
- Technology: the software used to manage stock, orders and returns, and its integrations with Shopify, Amazon and other channels.
- Fit for an international brand: onboarding, multichannel support and specialized services such as kitting, big-and-heavy handling or retail compliance.
The 7 best 3PL companies in the US for European brands
1. Cahoot: best for nationwide delivery and US returns
What it is. Cahoot is a fulfillment operations platform for shipping, inventory, order routing and returns, run on a nationwide network of more than 100 fulfillment locations (Cahoot).
What it does well
- Nationwide reach. Inventory is spread across the network for 1-day and 2-day delivery across the country.
- Returns that stay in the US. Peer-to-Peer Returns ship an eligible return straight to its next buyer, which Cahoot reports cuts handling cost by 64% (Cahoot).
- One platform, every channel. Connected to Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, eBay, WooCommerce and BigCommerce.
Best for
- Brands that want national US coverage and a US returns model on one platform.
2. SHIPHYPE: best for covering the US and Canada together
What it is. SHIPHYPE is a North American 3PL with fulfillment hubs in California, Texas and New Jersey in the US, plus Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
What it does well
- The US and Canada from one provider. SHIPHYPE reports 1-2 day ground delivery to more than 95% of US households and to most Canadian customers.
- Fast dispatch. Orders received before 2 p.m. ship the same day.
- No lock-in. Contracts can be canceled at any time, which suits a brand testing the market.
Best for
- Shopify, Amazon and TikTok Shop sellers that want the US and Canada covered on flexible terms.
3. ShipBob: best for brands across several regions
What it is. ShipBob is a global fulfillment platform with more than 50 locations, including fulfillment centers in the US, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Australia (ShipBob).
What it does well
- 2-day delivery nationwide. ShipBob reports that its 2-Day Express service reaches the whole continental US, even from a single fulfillment center (ShipBob).
- One dashboard across regions. Inventory in North America, Europe and Australia is managed from a single login.
- More than 50 integrations. Sales channels, marketplaces and business tools connect to the same account.
Best for
- Brands that want one provider across several regions.
4. ShipMonk: best for fast-growing DTC brands
What it is. ShipMonk is a third-party logistics provider with centers across the US, Canada, the UK and mainland Europe (ShipMonk).
What it does well
- Two-day reach. ShipMonk reports coverage of 95% of the US within two days and 99.9% order accuracy.
- Security certification. Its platform is SOC 2 Type II certified.
- DTC references. Brands such as Dr. Squatch and Larroudé run their fulfillment with ShipMonk.
Best for
- Fast-growing D2C brands that want a large, technology-led network.
5. Red Stag Fulfillment: best for big and heavy products
What it is. Red Stag Fulfillment is an independent, privately held fulfillment company headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with fulfillment centers in Sweetwater, Tennessee, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
What it does well
- Big and heavy specialist. Built for products bigger than a toaster or heavier than 10 pounds.
- Guarantees with compensation. Zero shrinkage, zero mispicks and zero late shipments, or Red Stag compensates the client.
- Contract choice. Month-to-month flexibility or a long-term contract.
Best for
- Brands selling large, heavy or bulky products.
6. DCL Logistics: best for kitting and retail distribution
What it is. DCL Logistics is a California-based logistics provider shipping more than 20,000 orders a day from seven US facilities in California, Kentucky and Pennsylvania (DCL).
What it does well
- Its own software. Orders, inventory and returns run on eFactory, DCL's order management platform, backed by ISO 9001 certification.
- Growing capacity. DCL acquired a 165,000-square-foot building in Perris, California, in January 2026 (Business Wire).
- Consumer brand references. Clients include Magic Spoon and Therabody.
Best for
- Consumer electronics and DTC brands with kitting or retail distribution needs.
7. Flowspace: best for DTC plus retail
What it is. Flowspace is a fulfillment network and software platform that connects warehouses from coast to coast across the US.
What it does well
- Omnichannel by design. One platform runs DTC orders and retail replenishment from the same inventory; Reel Paper used it to expand from DTC into B2B.
- Broad integrations. Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, TikTok, Target, ERPs and EDI connect to the same system.
- Direct-to-consumer references. Brands such as Reel Paper and Proper Wild use Flowspace.
Best for
- Brands selling direct and into US retail at the same time.
US 3PL comparison table (2026)
| Provider | Footprint | Stand-out strength | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cahoot | Network of 100+ fulfillment locations across the US | Nationwide 1-day and 2-day delivery, Peer-to-Peer Returns | National coverage and US returns on one platform |
| SHIPHYPE | Hubs in California, Texas, New Jersey, Toronto, Vancouver | 1-2 day ground to 95%+ of US households, plus Canada, no long-term commitment | The US and Canada on flexible terms |
| ShipBob | 50+ locations worldwide | 2-day delivery across the continental US | One provider across several regions |
| ShipMonk | US, Canada, the UK and mainland Europe | 95% of the US within two days | Fast-growing DTC brands |
| Red Stag Fulfillment | Tennessee and Utah | Guarantees on shrinkage, mispicks and late shipments | Large, heavy or bulky products |
| DCL Logistics | Seven US facilities | Own software, ISO 9001 | Electronics, kitting, retail distribution |
| Flowspace | Warehouses from coast to coast | Omnichannel integrations, including EDI | DTC plus US retail |
Where your European operation fits
A US warehouse serves US customers. Shipping European orders from it would recreate the transatlantic problem in the other direction, so brands that sell in both markets hold stock on each side and plan inventory across them.
For the European side, Bigblue, used by more than 600 brands, runs fulfillment from eleven warehouses in France, Spain, Italy, the UK and Germany, with a delivery date shown before checkout, branded tracking and a returns portal built around exchanges. Bigblue's network covers Europe, so brands selling on both sides of the Atlantic pair it with one of the US fulfillment partners above. For the European shortlist, see our guide to the top 3PL companies in Europe.
What to ask for before you sign
- Who will act as importer of record, and who holds the customs bond?
- Which HS codes and country of origin will your products be declared under, and what duty applies today?
- In which states will your stock be held, and what does that mean for sales tax?
- Do your products need FDA registration, listing or prior notice, and is the 3PL's warehouse FDA-registered for food?
- How are US returns inspected, restocked or resold, and at what cost?
- How will US and European stock levels be visible in one place?
Turn logistics into a retention lever
Run your D2C and B2B logistics with Bigblue, the commerce operations platform powering Europe's most ambitious brands.
Discover BigblueFrequently asked questions
What is the best 3PL in the US for European brands in 2026?
There is no single answer. For national coverage and a US returns model on one platform, Cahoot. To cover the US and Canada together on flexible terms, SHIPHYPE. For large and heavy products, Red Stag Fulfillment, and for brands selling into US retail as well as online, Flowspace or DCL Logistics.
Do I need a US warehouse to sell to US customers?
It is not required, but with the de minimis exemption suspended and US customers expecting free delivery in under three days, shipping every order from Europe is slow and costly. A US fulfillment partner starts to pay once US demand is steady enough to import stock in bulk.
What tariffs apply to EU and UK goods in the US in 2026?
Since July 24, 2026, most EU goods pay a combined 10% (the normal duty, topped up to 10% where it was lower) and UK goods pay an additional 10%. Goods under Section 232 sector tariffs pay those instead, and the rules remain subject to legal challenge, so confirm the current rate for your HS codes with a customs broker.
Is the $800 de minimis exemption still available in 2026?
No. It has been suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025, indefinitely since the June 2026 rules, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ends it in law on July 1, 2027.
Do I need a US company to import?
A company incorporated outside the US can act as importer of record if it has a resident agent and a customs bond. Many brands instead use a partner that offers importer-of-record services, with a licensed customs broker filing the entry.
Can a US 3PL also ship to Canada?
Yes. SHIPHYPE runs hubs in Toronto and Vancouver alongside its US hubs, and ShipBob and ShipMonk also operate Canadian sites, so one logistics partner can cover both countries.
How should I handle US returns?
Keep them in the US: shipping returns back to Europe rarely pays. Ask each 3PL whether returned items are inspected and restocked, resold, or, as with Cahoot's Peer-to-Peer Returns, shipped straight to the next buyer.
Sources
- Federal Register, indefinite suspension of the de minimis exemption, June 2026
- White House, suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment, July 2025
- Federal Register, Section 301 actions, July 2026
- CBP, importer and exporter tips, 19 CFR 141.18
- Supreme Court, South Dakota v. Wayfair, 2018, California CDTFA, Texas Comptroller
- FDA, MoCRA registration and listing guidance, 21 CFR 1.230, FDA prior notice
- AlixPartners, 2026 home delivery survey
- Cahoot, Cahoot Peer-to-Peer Returns, SHIPHYPE, ShipBob, ShipMonk, Red Stag Fulfillment, DCL Logistics, Business Wire, DCL Perris facility, Flowspace
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