Are Amazon FBA fees eating into your profits without you knowing? These hidden costs catch many sellers off guard, turning promising products into money losers. Understanding these charges upfront helps you price correctly and avoid expensive surprises that can destroy your business margins.
Quick Summary of Amazon FBA Fees
| Fee Category | Fee Types | Fee |
| Sales Fees | Referral Fee Closing Fee Refund Administration Fee | 8-45% by category (mostly 15%) $1.80 for media Lesser of $5 or 20% of referral |
| Account Fees | Individual Plan Professional Plan | $0.99 per item sold $39.99 per month |
| Fulfillment Fees | Standard FBA Apparel FBA Dangerous Goods Low-Price FBA | $3.06-$194.95+ by size/weight Separate apparel rates Higher fees for hazmat $0.77 discount under $10 |
| Storage Fees | Monthly Storage Storage Utilization Aged Inventory | $0.78-$2.40/cubic foot $0.44-$1.88 surcharge $0.25-$6.90 after 181 days |
| Additional Fees | Inbound Placement Low Inventory Level Returns Processing Disposal/Removal | $0.23-$6.00 placement $0.32-$0.89 low stock $1.78-$157.35+ returns $1.04-$14.32+ removal |
| Penalty Fees | Labeling Violations Prep Violations Manual Processing Optional Prep Services | $0.20-$0.40 labels $0.20-$2.00 prep $0.15-$0.30 manual $0.70-$2.55 prep service |
| Miscellaneous | High-Volume ListingRental Book Service | $0.00005 per item (100K+) $5.00 per textbook |
What Are Amazon FBA Fees?
Amazon FBA fees are the costs sellers pay for using Fulfillment by Amazon. They mainly include fulfillment fees for picking, packing, and shipping customer orders, along with storage fees for keeping products in Amazon’s warehouses.
Types Of Amazon FBA Fees
Amazon FBA fees are structured across multiple categories, each serving different aspects of the fulfillment process. Understanding these fee types helps sellers calculate total costs and optimize their pricing strategies effectively.
Sales Fees
The sales price includes the product cost along with delivery and gift-wrapping charges, and the exact percentage varies depending on the product category.
Referral Fee
Amazon applies a referral fee to each product you sell. This fee is calculated as a percentage of the total sales price, excluding any taxes collected by Amazon.
| Product Category | Referral Fee Percentage |
|---|---|
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% |
| Compact Appliances | 15% on the portion up to $3008% above $300 |
| Full-Size Appliances | 8% |
| Automotive & Powersports | 12% |
| Baby Products | 8% if item price ≤ $1015% if > $10 |
| Backpacks, Handbags & Luggage | 15% |
| Beauty, Health & Personal Care | 8% if item price ≤ $1015% if > $10 |
| Business, Industrial & Scientific Supplies | 12% |
| Clothing & Accessories | 5% if ≤ $1510% if > $15–$2017% if > $20 |
| Computers | 8% |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% |
| Electronics Accessories | 15% up to $1008% above $100 |
| Eyewear | 15% |
| Fine Art | 20% up to $10015% for $100–$1,00010% for $1,000–$5,0005% above $5,000 |
| Footwear | 15% |
| Furniture | 15% up to $20010% above $200 |
| Gift Cards | 20% |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | 8% if ≤ $1515% if > $15 |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Jewelry | 20% up to $2505% above $250 |
| Lawn & Garden | 15% |
| Lawn Mowers & Snow Throwers | 15% up to $5008% above $500 |
| Mattresses | 15% |
| Media (Books, DVD, Music, Software, Video) | 15% |
| Musical Instruments & AV Production | 15% |
| Office Products | 15% |
| Pet Supplies | 15% (except 22% for veterinary diet products) |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% |
| Tires | 10% |
| Tools & Home Improvement | 15% |
| Toys & Games | 15% |
| Video Games & Gaming Accessories | 15% |
| Video Game Consoles | 8% |
| Watches | 16% up to $1,5003% above $1,500 |
| Everything Else | 15% |
Closing Fee
Along with the referral fee, Amazon charges a closing fee for items sold in specific media categories. This is a flat $1.80 per item, added on top of the referral fee.
Media categories that include the closing fee are books. DVDs, music, software (including video games), and video
Note: This fee was previously called the “variable closing fee”, since in the past it was calculated as a percentage of the sale price.
Refund Administration Fee
When you issue a refund to a customer, Amazon will return the referral fee you paid for that order. However, Amazon keeps a refund administration fee, which is the lesser of $5.00 or 20% of the referral fee.
For example, if the referral fee on the order was $12, then Amazon keeps $2.40. If the referral fee was $40, Amazon keeps $5.00 (since $5 is less).
Notes:
- This fee only applies when you refund an order where Amazon has already collected payment.
- If you refund multiple items in one order, Amazon may apply a cap (for example, a maximum $10 for two items).
Account/Subscription Fee
Amazon provides two types of seller plans: Individual and Professional.
Individual Plan
- Price: $0.99 per item sold (no monthly fee)
- Included
- Seller University & Help pages
- Amazon Seller Support
- List products one at a time
- Manage inventory per product
- Handle seller-fulfilled orders (FBM)
- Set static prices
- Use Revenue Calculator, Amazon Seller App, and Service Provider Network
- Optional programs available
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
- Amazon Currency Converter (receive payouts in local currency)
Professional Plan
- Price: $39.99 per month
- Included everything in Individual, plus:
- Add multiple users to one account
- Apply to restricted categories
- Brand-building tools (A+ Content, Storefront, usually require Brand Registry)
- Eligible to compete for the Featured Offer (Buy Box)
- Create promotions & coupons
- Integrate via SP-API
- List & manage inventory in bulk
- Global Selling, Local Selling & Renewed
- Dynamic pricing (Automated Pricing)
- Custom shipping rates for non-media
- B2B tools
- Detailed business reports
- Optional programs (accessible / typically require Pro)
- Amazon Ads
- Lightning Deals & 7-Day Deals
- Transparency
- Amazon Lending, Customer Service by Amazon (CSBA), Strategic Account Services (SAS)
- Amazon Global Logistics (ocean freight)
Fulfillment Fees
Amazon’s Fulfillment Fees include several cost components that cover different aspects of the FBA service, as detailed below.
Fulfillment Fee
FBA Fulfillment Fees (excluding Apparel):
FBA Fulfillment Fees for Apparel (USA):
FBA Fulfillment Fees for dangerous goods:
Storage Fees
Monthly Storage Fees:
| Product Size | Jan-Sep (Off-Peak) | Oct-Dec (Peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard-Size | $0.78 per cubic foot/month | $2.40 per cubic foot/month |
| Oversize (combined length and over 130 inches girth) | $0.78 per cubic foot/month | $1.40 per cubic foot/month |
Storage Utilization Surcharge (applies to Professional sellers with a storage utilization ratio above 22 weeks, excluding inventory aged 0-30 days)
| Weeks in Storage | Standard-Size Products | Oversize Products |
|---|---|---|
| Below 22 weeks | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 22-28 weeks | $0.44 | $0.23 |
| 28-36 weeks | $0.76 | $0.46 |
| 36-44 weeks | $1.16 | $0.63 |
| 44-52 weeks | $1.58 | $0.76 |
| Over 52 weeks | $1.88 | $1.26 |
Long-Term Storage Fees (Aged Inventory Surcharge):
| Storage Duration | Fee per Unit | Fee per Cubic Foot |
|---|---|---|
| 181-270 days | $0.25 | — |
| 271-365 days | $0.50 | $3.80 |
| Over 365 days | $0.50 | $6.90 |
Note: Fees are assessed monthly on the 15th. The higher of the per unit or per cubic foot fee is applied.
Fulfillment and Shipping Fees
Amazon charges fulfillment and shipping fees based on product size, weight, and category to cover picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for each order:
| Fee Type / Program | Description | Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Fulfillment Fee | Fees vary based on product size and weight | $3.90 – $51.37 per unit |
| Low-Price FBA Program | Applies to products priced under $10 | $0.77 less than standard FBA |
| Fulfillment Peak Season Fee | From October 15, 2025, through January 14, 2026, a holiday peak fulfillment fee will be in effect for all major Amazon fulfillment services, including FBA. | $0.20 – $1.00 per unit |
Inbound And Outbound Placement Service Fee
Amazon charges Inbound and Outbound Placement Service Fees to cover the distribution of inventory across fulfillment centers and the processing of customer orders through their network.
Inbound Placement Service Fee
Amazon charges an inbound placement service fee to cover the cost of distributing inventory across fulfillment centers close to customers. The fee is charged per unit 45 days after your shipment is received by Amazon, with rates varying based on product size, weight, and destination location.
- Standard-sized products: Average fee of $0.27 per unit.
- Large bulky-sized products: Starting January 15, 2025, fees are reduced by an average of $0.58 per unit for minimal shipment splits.
Outbound Placement Service Fee
These fees cover picking, packing, and shipping products to customers when orders are placed. Fee ranges by product size include:
- Small standard (≤16 oz): $3.06 to $3.65 per unit
- Large standard (≤20 lbs): $3.68 to $6.92 plus $0.08 per half-pound over first 3 lbs
- Large bulky (≤50 lbs): $9.61 + $0.38 per lb over first pound
- Extra-large: $26.33 + $0.38 per lb
Disposal and Removal Order Fee
When sellers decide to discontinue using Amazon’s FBA service, retrieving or disposing of stored inventory incurs significant expenses. Amazon charges between $1.04 and $14.32 per unit (or higher) for removal services, with pricing determined by the item’s weight and dimensions.
Returns Processing Fee
Amazon assigns specific return rate thresholds to each product category. When a seller’s returns exceed their category threshold, they incur fees ranging from $1.78 to $157.35+ per unit, calculated based on product size and weight.
Low Inventory Level Fee
Amazon charges a low-inventory-level fee to standard-sized products when sellers maintain consistently low inventory relative to customer demand. This fee applies when your product’s historical days of supply fall below 28 days and will be added to your FBA fulfillment fee for shipped units.
Miscellaneous Fees
Miscellaneous fees include various additional charges that may apply during service usage, such as the High-Volume Listing Fee and the Rental Book Service Fee, which should be considered for better financial management.
High-Volume Listing Fee
Sellers with extensive catalogs exceeding 100,000 active listings face an additional monthly charge of $0.00005 per qualifying item. This fee coincides with standard FBA storage billing cycles, requiring high-volume sellers to factor this cost into their inventory management strategy.
Rental Book Service Fee
Amazon charges a $5 rental book service fee per textbook for sellers participating in the textbook rental program. This fee is automatically deducted from each rental transaction at the point of sale, requiring no upfront payment from sellers.
Other Fees
Amazon enforces strict packaging and preparation standards for FBA inventory. When products don’t meet these requirements, sellers face various penalties and service fees.
Unplanned Service Fees (Penalty Fees):
- Labeling violations: $0.20 – $0.40 per unit for missing or incorrect barcode labels
- Prep violations: $0.20 – $2.00 per unit for improper packaging that doesn’t meet Amazon’s preparation guidelines.
- Manual processing: $0.15 – $0.30 per unit for incomplete shipment information
- Optional FBA Prep Service Fees: If you choose to have Amazon prepare your products, fees range from $0.70 to $2.55 per unit depending on product category, size tier, and selected services.
Specific Prep Services:
- FNSKU labeling: $0.55 per item.
- Missing FNSKU labels: $0.20 per label applied retroactively.
- Bubble wrapping: Variable fee for fragile items.
- Bagging: Required for certain product categories.
- Overboxing: Additional protection for vulnerable items.
Note: Starting January 1, 2026, Amazon will discontinue prep and labeling services in the U.S., requiring sellers to handle all preparation themselves or use third-party services.
Amazon FBA Fee Calculators
Amazon FBA fee calculators help sellers estimate total costs before listing products. These tools are essential for determining profitability and making informed business decisions.
Official Amazon Tools
- Amazon Revenue Calculator: Free tool available in Seller Central that provides accurate estimates using Amazon’s current fee structure.
- FBA Calculator: Built into product research tools, shows real-time fee calculations.
Popular Third-Party Calculators
- Helium 10 Profitability Calculator: Includes competitor analysis and market data.
- Jungle Scout FBA Calculator: Integrates with product research features.
- Seller Assistant FBM&FBA Calculator: Works directly on Amazon product pages.
- AMZScout FBA Calculator: Provides detailed cost breakdowns.
How To Minimize Amazon FBA Fees?
Now that you understand the various Amazon FBA fees and their cost structure, it’s time to explore proven strategies to minimize these expenses and maximize your profit margins.
Amazon Brand Registry For Fee Reduction
Amazon Brand Registry provides up to 10% referral fee discounts when you drive external traffic to your listings. Customers must click from your social media or email campaigns and purchase within seven days to qualify.
For instance, selling a $50 product normally costs $7.50 in referral fees (15%). With external traffic, you save $0.75 per sale. However, this requires existing marketing capabilities and only applies to externally-driven sales, not organic Amazon traffic.
Efficient Inventory Management
Proper inventory management helps you avoid Amazon’s costly storage fees and penalties that can significantly impact your profits. By balancing supply with actual demand, you can minimize unnecessary expenses while maintaining adequate stock levels:
- Send only what sells within 6 months to avoid aged inventory fees ($6.90/cubic foot after 365 days).
- Keep IPI score above 500 to prevent storage capacity limits.
- Remove slow-moving items before the 181-day mark when surcharges begin ($0.25/unit).
- Focus on fast-sellers during peak season when storage costs triple (Oct-Dec: $2.40/cubic foot).
- Use inventory planning tools to track sell-through rates and optimize restock timing.
Optimize Packaging
Smart packaging design reduces both fulfillment and storage costs by minimizing dimensional weight charges. Amazon uses the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139) to calculate fees, so eliminating empty space directly cuts costs.
Specific optimization strategies:
- Right-size packaging: Use boxes that closely match product dimensions rather than oversized standard boxes
- Custom packaging solutions: Work with suppliers to design packaging that fits products precisely
- Packaging calculators: Use Amazon’s FBA Revenue Calculator to test different box dimensions and see fee impacts before ordering packaging
- Poly mailers for soft goods: Switch from boxes to padded mailers for clothing, textiles, and non-fragile items
- Multi-pack bundling: Combine multiple small items into single packages to improve dimensional efficiency
- Packaging audit tools: Services like PackSize or Packhelp offer packaging optimization analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities
FAQ About Amazon FBA Fees
Lower FBA costs by maintaining optimal stock levels to prevent long-term storage fees, using minimal packaging to decrease dimensional weight charges, creating product bundles for better shipping efficiency, and enrolling in programs like SIPP (Ships in Product Packaging) to receive fulfillment discounts.
Amazon charges a variable referral fee, typically ranging from $6 to $25 for a $100 sale, depending on the product category. Most categories have a 15% referral fee (around $15 for a $100 item), but additional costs like FBA fees and other charges can cause Amazon’s total fees to account for 20% to 30% or more of the sale price.
Amazon FBA fees consist of several components, including a monthly Professional selling plan fee, referral fees, FBA fulfillment fees based on product size and weight, monthly storage fees that fluctuate depending on product size and time of year, inbound placement fees, and possible charges for returns and long-term storage.
Yes. Amazon charges fees even if you don’t sell, including the monthly Professional plan fee ($39.99), storage fees for inventory in Amazon’s warehouses, and long-term storage fees for items stored over 365 days.
Get Professional Help from Megaficus
Mastering Amazon FBA fees is crucial for maintaining healthy profit margins and scaling your business successfully on the platform. These costs directly impact your bottom line, so understanding each fee type helps you make smarter pricing decisions and avoid unnecessary expenses.
Don’t hesitate to contact Megaficus for expert guidance and tailored strategies to optimize your FBA cost structure and maximize your selling profits.
