The Complete Guide to Amazon Seller Fees in 2026
Amazon charges more than a dozen different fee types to sellers. Some are obvious (the referral fee on every sale), some are expected (FBA fulfillment fees), and some catch sellers by surprise (long-term storage surcharges, return processing fees, inventory placement fees).
This guide documents every fee Amazon charges to FBA and FBM sellers in 2026, with current rates, examples, and tips for minimizing each one. Bookmark this page — it is the reference you will come back to whenever a fee shows up that you do not recognize.
Seller Account Fees
#### Professional Selling Plan
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Who pays: Any seller on the Professional plan (required for advertising, brand registry, and most third-party tools)
Notes: The Individual plan ($0 monthly fee, $0.99 per item sold) only makes sense if you sell fewer than 40 items per month.
#### Individual Selling Plan Per-Item Fee
Rate: $0.99 per unit sold
Who pays: Sellers on the Individual plan only
Notes: Switches to Professional when monthly item fees would exceed $39.99 (approximately 40 units per month).
Sales-Related Fees
#### Referral Fee
Rate: Category-dependent percentage of the total sale price (including any shipping charges the buyer pays)
Common rates:
- Most categories: 15%
- Electronics: 8%
- Computers: 8%
- Amazon Device Accessories: 45%
- Automotive: 12%
- Beauty: 8% for items ≤ $10, 15% above $10
- Clothing and Accessories: 17%
- Furniture: 15% (first $200), 10% (portion above $200)
- Grocery: 8% for items ≤ $15, 15% above $15
- Jewelry: 20% (first $250), 5% (portion above $250)
- Media (books, music, DVD): 15%
- Personal Computers: 6%
- Video Game Consoles: 8%
- Everything Else: 15%
Minimum referral fee: $0.30 for most categories. This means very low-priced items pay a disproportionately high percentage.
Example: A product selling for $24.99 in the Home & Kitchen category pays $24.99 x 15% = $3.75 referral fee. A product selling for $4.99 in the same category pays $0.75 — but the 15% rate means the referral fee is actually higher as a percentage of your profit.
How to minimize: You cannot avoid referral fees, but you can factor them into product selection. Categories with lower referral fees (electronics at 8%, computers at 6%) leave more margin. Price points above category-specific thresholds (like beauty items above $10) jump to higher rates.
#### Variable Closing Fee
Rate: $1.80 per unit
Who pays: Media sellers only (books, music, DVDs, video games, software)
Notes: This is on top of the referral fee. Media sellers effectively pay referral fee + $1.80 per unit.
FBA Fulfillment Fees
FBA fees cover the picking, packing, and shipping of your product to the customer. Rates depend on the product's size tier and shipping weight.
#### Standard-Size Tier (2026 Rates)
Standard-size items must be no more than 18 inches on the longest side, 14 inches on the median side, 8 inches on the shortest side, and weigh no more than 20 lb.
| Shipping Weight | FBA Fulfillment Fee |
|---|---|
| 2 oz or less | $3.06 |
| 2+ to 4 oz | $3.15 |
| 4+ to 6 oz | $3.24 |
| 6+ to 8 oz | $3.33 |
| 8+ to 10 oz | $3.43 |
| 10+ to 12 oz | $3.53 |
| 12+ to 14 oz | $3.60 |
| 14+ to 16 oz | $3.65 |
| 1+ to 1.5 lb | $4.15 |
| 1.5+ to 2 lb | $4.55 |
| 2+ to 2.5 lb | $4.91 |
| 2.5+ to 3 lb | $5.24 |
| 3+ to 20 lb | $5.24 + $0.16/half-lb above 3 lb |
#### Oversize Tier (2026 Rates)
Items exceeding standard-size dimensions or weight are classified as oversize and incur higher fees:
| Size Tier | Shipping Weight | FBA Fulfillment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small Oversize | 70 lb or less | $9.73 + $0.42/lb above first lb |
| Medium Oversize | 150 lb or less | $19.05 + $0.42/lb above first lb |
| Large Oversize | 150 lb or less | $89.98 + $0.83/lb above first 90 lb |
| Special Oversize | Over 150 lb | $158.49 + $0.83/lb above first 90 lb |
How to minimize:
- Design product packaging to fit within lower size tiers. Sometimes removing 1 inch from packaging drops you to a cheaper tier.
- Reduce shipping weight through lighter packaging materials.
- For products near a weight breakpoint, every ounce matters. An item at 16.1 oz pays the 1-1.5 lb rate instead of the 14-16 oz rate.
#### Low-Inventory-Level Fee
Rate: Varies based on historical days of supply and shipping volume
Who pays: Sellers with consistently low FBA inventory relative to their sales velocity
When it applies: When your FBA historical days of supply drops below 28 days for standard-size or 21 days for oversize
Notes: This fee was introduced to incentivize sellers to maintain adequate inventory levels. It is waived for new ASINs (first 180 days) and for sellers with low overall shipping volume.
How to minimize: Maintain at least 4 weeks of supply in FBA. Monitor your inventory dashboard for low-stock warnings.
Storage Fees
#### Monthly Inventory Storage Fee
Rates (2026):
| Period | Standard-Size (per cubic foot) | Oversize (per cubic foot) |
|---|---|---|
| January - September | $0.87 | $0.56 |
| October - December | $2.40 | $1.40 |
How it is calculated: Based on the daily average volume of inventory (in cubic feet) in Amazon's fulfillment centers during the month.
Example: A product with dimensions 10" x 8" x 4" = 0.185 cubic feet. If you have 200 units stored in June: 200 x 0.185 x $0.87 = $32.19 for the month.
Q4 surge: Storage fees nearly triple in October through December. This is Amazon's way of encouraging sellers to clear slow-moving inventory before the holiday rush when warehouse space is most valuable.
How to minimize:
- Do not send excess inventory to FBA. Send smaller, more frequent shipments.
- Run promotions to clear slow-moving inventory before October.
- Use Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) for longer-term storage at lower rates, then replenish FBA as needed.
#### Aged Inventory Surcharge (formerly Long-Term Storage Fee)
Rates:
| Inventory Age | Surcharge (per cubic foot) | Surcharge (per unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 181-210 days | $1.50 | — |
| 211-240 days | $3.00 | — |
| 241-270 days | $4.50 | — |
| 271-300 days | $5.25 | — |
| 301-330 days | $5.85 | — |
| 331-365 days | $6.45 | — |
| 365+ days | $6.90 | or $0.15/unit, whichever is greater |
Charged: Monthly, on the 15th
Notes: The aged inventory surcharge is in addition to regular monthly storage fees. For small, cheap items with slow sales velocity, this fee can exceed the cost of the product itself.
How to minimize:
- Set up inventory age alerts at 120 days (giving you 60 days to act before the first surcharge)
- Create removal orders for unsellable inventory before it ages into surcharge territory
- Run clearance promotions on aging stock
- Consider FBA Liquidation for items that cannot be sold at a profit
#### FBA Inventory Storage Overage Fee
Rate: $10.00 per cubic foot
When it applies: When your inventory storage exceeds your capacity limits
Notes: Amazon enforces capacity limits based on your IPI score and sales history. Exceeding your limits incurs this punitive overage fee.
Inbound Shipping and Placement Fees
#### Inbound Placement Service Fee
Rate: Varies by size tier and number of inbound locations
What it is: When you ship to a single Amazon fulfillment center (instead of distributing across multiple centers), Amazon charges this fee to cover the cost of redistributing your inventory.
Options:
- Amazon-optimized splits (send to multiple locations): Reduced or no fee
- Minimal shipment splits (send to fewer locations): Partial fee
- Single location (send everything to one center): Full fee
How to minimize: Use Amazon-optimized splits. Yes, it means shipping to multiple locations, but the inbound placement fee is often more expensive than the additional shipping cost.
Return-Related Fees
#### Return Processing Fee
Rate: Equivalent to the FBA fulfillment fee for the item
Who pays: Sellers in categories with free customer returns (most categories)
When it applies: When a customer returns a product in a free-returns category
Notes: This is one of the most commonly overlooked fees. At a 6% return rate with a $4.50 FBA fee, the return processing cost per unit sold is approximately $0.27. At a 15% return rate (common in apparel), it is $0.68 per unit sold.
#### Refund Administration Fee
Rate: The lesser of $5.00 or 20% of the referral fee
When it applies: When Amazon issues a refund to a customer, Amazon keeps a portion of the referral fee it originally charged
Example: On a $25 product with a $3.75 referral fee, the refund administration fee is $0.75. You get back $3.00 of the $3.75 referral fee when the item is returned.
Removal and Disposal Fees
#### Removal Order Fee
Rate:
- Standard-size: $0.97 per unit (shipped back to you) or $0.52 per unit (liquidated)
- Oversize: $1.78 per unit (shipped back to you) or $0.97 per unit (liquidated)
When to use: When inventory is aging toward long-term storage surcharges, when items are unsellable, or when you want to move inventory to a different sales channel.
#### Disposal Order Fee
Rate:
- Standard-size: $0.52 per unit
- Oversize: $0.97 per unit
When to use: When inventory has no residual value and the cost of return shipping exceeds the product's value.
Advertising Fees
#### Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display
Rate: Cost-per-click (CPC), bid-based auction
How it works: You set bids for keywords or targeting, and Amazon charges you per click at the second-price auction rate (slightly above the next-highest bid).
Average CPCs (2026): $0.50-3.00 depending on category and competition
#### Sponsored Brands Video
Rate: Cost-per-click, typically 20-40% higher CPCs than standard Sponsored Brands due to limited inventory and higher engagement rates
#### Sponsored TV
Rate: Cost-per-impression (CPM) based
Minimum budget: No minimum, but effective campaigns typically require significant spend
#### Amazon DSP
Rate: CPM-based, with programmatic bidding
Minimum spend: Varies; self-service has lower minimums than managed service
Other Fees
#### High-Volume Listing Fee
Rate: $0.005 per eligible ASIN per month
When it applies: Sellers with more than 100,000 active ASINs that have not had sales in the last 12 months
Notes: Only affects very large catalog sellers.
#### Brand Registry and A+ Content
Rate: Free (included with Brand Registry enrollment)
Notes: Brand Registry, A+ Content, and Brand Analytics are free for trademark holders enrolled in the program.
#### FBA Prep Service Fee
Rate: Varies by service type ($0.50-2.00+ per unit)
When it applies: When you have Amazon prepare your products (labeling, bagging, bubble wrapping) instead of doing it yourself
Notes: Most sellers use third-party prep centers which are typically cheaper than Amazon's prep service.
#### Subscribe & Save Fee
Rate: You fund the customer discount (5% or 15% depending on subscription count)
Notes: Subscribe & Save orders also count toward your regular referral and FBA fees. The discount is an additional cost.
Fee Summary: Where Your Money Goes
For a typical product selling at $25.00 in a standard FBA category:
| Fee Type | Amount | % of Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Referral Fee | $3.75 | 15.0% |
| FBA Fulfillment | $4.50 | 18.0% |
| Monthly Storage | $0.30 | 1.2% |
| Advertising | $3.00 | 12.0% |
| Returns (@ 6% rate) | $0.30 | 1.2% |
| Inbound Shipping | $1.00 | 4.0% |
| Promotions | $0.30 | 1.2% |
| Total Fees | $13.15 | 52.6% |
If your COGS is $5.00 (20%), your total costs are $18.15, leaving $6.85 in profit (27.4% margin). That margin must also cover your business overhead (software, tools, insurance, accounting, your time) before reaching true net profit.
Fee Changes and Trends
Amazon adjusts its fee structure annually, typically announcing changes in December/January for implementation in February/March. Notable trends:
- FBA fulfillment fees generally increase 3-5% annually
- Storage fees have increased more aggressively, especially the Q4 surcharge
- The aged inventory surcharge has become more punitive over time with more granular age tiers
- Inbound placement fees are a relatively new addition designed to shift distribution costs to sellers
- The low-inventory-level fee incentivizes maintaining higher FBA stock levels
How to Track All These Fees
Manual fee tracking is impractical. The number of fee types, their varying application conditions, and the per-transaction nature of charges make spreadsheet tracking a nightmare.
Option 1: Amazon's built-in reports. The Transaction View in Seller Central's Payments section shows every fee on every order. The Settlement Report provides periodic summaries. These are accurate but require manual processing.
Option 2: Profit tracking tools. Sellerboard, SellerPilot AI, and Inventory Lab connect to Amazon's APIs and automatically categorize and aggregate all fees. This is the practical approach for any seller with more than a handful of SKUs.
SellerPilot AI connects to Amazon's Financial Events API, which captures fees at the transaction level — the most granular data source available. This means edge-case fees like return processing fees, reimbursement credits, and promotional charge-backs are captured automatically rather than estimated.
Option 3: Accounting software. For tax preparation, QuickBooks or Xero with Amazon integration (via Inventory Lab, A2X, or similar connectors) provides accounting-ready fee categorization.
Tips for Fee Optimization
- Optimize product size and weight. Even small packaging changes can drop you into a lower FBA fee tier. Measure your product carefully and design packaging to minimize dimensions and weight.
- Monitor inventory age weekly. Set up alerts at 90, 120, and 150 days. Take action before the 181-day surcharge kicks in.
- Use Amazon-optimized inbound splits. The savings on inbound placement fees usually exceed the additional shipping cost.
- Negotiate COGS. Since you cannot negotiate Amazon's fees, lowering your product cost is the most controllable way to improve margins.
- Reduce return rate. Better product photos, accurate descriptions, improved packaging, and sizing guides all reduce returns. Every return avoided saves you the return processing fee plus potential inventory loss.
- Time inventory shipments. Avoid sending large shipments in September/October when Q4 storage rates are about to kick in. Send lean shipments and replenish frequently during Q4.
- Review fee accuracy. Amazon occasionally charges incorrect fees (wrong size tier, for example). Periodically audit a sample of transactions against the published fee schedule.
Amazon's fee structure is complex, but it is not opaque. Every fee is documented, every rate is published, and every charge is traceable in your transaction reports. The sellers who understand these fees and plan for them operate with clear eyes. The sellers who ignore them are surprised when their "30% margin" turns out to be 12%.
This is your reference page. Bookmark it, review it when Amazon announces annual fee changes, and use it to make informed decisions about your products, pricing, and operations.