Amazon FBA Fees: Complete Guide for 2026

Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) can transform your business by handling storage, packing, shipping, and customer service. But success depends on understanding the fee structure that determines your profit margins.

Amazon FBA Fees

This comprehensive guide breaks down every Amazon FBA fee you’ll encounter, explains how they’re calculated, and provides strategies to minimize costs while maximizing your returns.

What Are Amazon FBA Fees?

Amazon FBA fees are charges that Amazon collects for storing, picking, packing, and shipping your products to customers. These fees also cover customer service, returns processing, and access to Amazon Prime’s vast customer base.

The fee structure includes several components:

• Fulfillment fees (picking, packing, shipping)
• Storage fees (monthly and long-term)
• Referral fees (Amazon’s commission)
• Additional service fees

Understanding each component helps you price products correctly and choose the most profitable items for your FBA business.

Amazon FBA Fulfillment Fees

Fulfillment fees represent the core cost of Amazon’s FBA service. These fees vary based on product size, weight, and category.

Size Tiers and Pricing

Amazon categorizes products into specific size tiers:

Small Standard Size

• Maximum dimensions: 15″ x 12″ x 0.75″
• Maximum weight: 16 oz
• Fee range: $3.22 – $4.00 per unit

Large Standard Size

• Maximum dimensions: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
• Maximum weight: 20 lbs
• Fee range: $4.75 – $7.32 per unit

Small Oversize

• Maximum dimensions: 60″ x 30″ x 8″
• Maximum weight: 70 lbs
• Fee range: $9.73 – $21.20 per unit

Medium Oversize

• Maximum dimensions: 108″ x 30″ x 8″
• Maximum weight: 150 lbs
• Fee range: $20.02 – $36.17 per unit

Large Oversize

• Maximum dimensions: 108″ x 30″ x 8″
• Maximum weight: Over 150 lbs
• Fee range: $89.98+ per unit

Dangerous Goods Fees

Products containing hazardous materials incur additional fees ranging from $0.45 to $2.40 per unit, depending on the classification level.

Amazon FBA Storage Fees

Storage fees depend on the volume of inventory you keep in Amazon’s fulfillment centers and the time of year.

Monthly Storage Fees

Standard-Size Products

• January-September: $0.87 per cubic foot
• October-December: $2.40 per cubic foot

Oversize Products

• January-September: $0.56 per cubic foot
• October-December: $1.40 per cubic foot

Long-Term Storage Fees

Amazon charges additional fees for inventory stored longer than 365 days:

• $6.90 per cubic foot or $0.15 per unit (whichever is greater)

These fees apply on the 15th of each month for eligible inventory.

Aged Inventory Surcharge

Products stored for 181-365 days face an aged inventory surcharge:

• $0.50 per cubic foot per month for standard-size
• $0.40 per cubic foot per month for oversize

Amazon Referral Fees

Referral fees are Amazon’s commission on each sale, calculated as a percentage of the total sale price (including shipping and gift wrap charges).

Category-Based Referral Rates

Common referral fee rates include:

• Electronics: 8%
• Clothing and Accessories: 17%
• Home and Kitchen: 15%
• Books: 15%
• Automotive: 12%
• Sports and Outdoors: 15%

Most categories have a minimum referral fee of $0.30 per item.

Variable Closing Fees

Media products (books, music, video, software) incur an additional $1.80 closing fee per item.

Additional Amazon FBA Fees

Return Processing Fees

When customers return items, Amazon charges return processing fees:

• $5.00 for orders under $10
• $10.00 for orders $10 and above

Disposal and Removal Fees

Disposal Fees

• Standard-size: $0.30 per unit
• Oversize: $0.40 per unit

Removal Fees

• Standard-size: $0.78 per unit
• Oversize: $1.39 per unit

Unplanned Service Fees

Amazon charges these fees when shipments don’t meet preparation requirements:

• Labeling: $0.55 per unit
• Bagging: $0.55 per unit
• Bubble wrap: $0.65 per unit
• Taping: $0.55 per unit

Strategies to Reduce Amazon FBA Fees

Optimize Product Dimensions

Small changes in packaging can move your product to a lower fee tier. Consider:

• Reducing packaging size
• Using lighter materials
• Redesigning product dimensions

Manage Inventory Levels

Avoid long-term storage fees by:

• Forecasting demand accurately
• Running promotions on slow-moving inventory
• Removing excess inventory before fee assessments

Choose Profitable Categories

Focus on categories with lower referral fees and higher profit margins. Research category-specific fees before adding new products.

Prep Products Correctly

Avoid unplanned service fees by:

• Following Amazon’s packaging guidelines
• Applying proper labels
• Using required protective materials

Calculating Your Amazon FBA Profitability

Revenue Calculation

Start with your selling price and subtract:

• Referral fees
• Fulfillment fees
• Storage fees (monthly allocation)
• Additional service fees

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Include:

• Product cost
• Shipping to Amazon
• Packaging materials
• Labor costs

Profit Margin Formula

Profit = Revenue – (Amazon Fees + COGS + Other Expenses)

Use Amazon’s FBA Revenue Calculator to estimate profitability for specific products.

Fee Changes and Updates

Amazon regularly updates its fee structure. Stay informed by:

• Checking Amazon Seller Central announcements
• Reviewing fee schedules quarterly
• Subscribing to Amazon seller newsletters
• Monitoring industry news sources

Major fee changes typically take effect in February and August each year.

Comparing FBA to Alternative Fulfillment Methods

Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)

Consider FBM when:

• Your products have high storage fees
• You have efficient fulfillment capabilities
• Margins are tight with FBA fees

Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

3PL services might offer savings for:

• High-volume sellers
• Oversize products
• Multi-channel fulfillment needs

Tools for Fee Management

Amazon Native Tools

• FBA Revenue Calculator
• Inventory Age Report
• Fee Preview Report
• Reimbursement Reports

Third-Party Solutions

Popular tools include:

• SellerApp
• Jungle Scout
• Helium 10
• ManageByStats

These platforms offer advanced analytics and fee optimization features.

Making Amazon FBA Fees Work for Your Business

Understanding Amazon FBA fees is crucial for building a profitable business. While fees represent a significant expense, they provide access to Amazon’s massive customer base and world-class fulfillment infrastructure.

Focus on product research, inventory management, and continuous optimization to maximize your returns. Regular fee analysis and strategic adjustments will help you maintain healthy profit margins while scaling your Amazon business.

Start by calculating fees for your current products, identify optimization opportunities, and implement changes systematically. Success with Amazon FBA comes from treating fees as an investment in growth rather than just another cost.