What are Amazon referral fee rates by category?
Amazon referral fees typically range from 8% to 17% of the item price, charged per sale. Most private-label categories sit at 15%. Consumer electronics is 8%, jewelry can hit 20% above a threshold, and there is a minimum referral fee of $0.30 per unit that catches low-price SKUs.
Jul 26, 2026 · 3 min read
How referral fees work
Amazon takes a referral fee off every unit sold, calculated as a percentage of the total sale price including shipping paid by the buyer. It is deducted at settlement and shows on the transaction detail report.
The minimum referral fee is $0.30 per unit in US and most marketplaces. That floor bites hardest on sub-$5 SKUs and is a major reason accessories often show negative margin at list price.
Rates most sellers care about
Rates vary by category and sometimes by price band within a category. The most common bands sellers hit:
- Most categories (home, kitchen, toys, beauty, grocery, pet, sports): 15%.
- Consumer electronics, cameras, PC: 8%.
- Automotive parts and accessories: 12%.
- Clothing and shoes: 17%.
- Furniture: 15% up to $200, 10% above.
- Jewelry: 20% up to $250, 5% above.
- 3P Amazon device accessories: 45%. Yes, really.
How Nova shows this
Nova pulls the exact referral fee charged per unit from settlement data, not a category estimate, and rolls it into per-SKU net profit. That surfaces the outliers where Amazon reclassified an ASIN into a higher-fee node.
Frequently asked questions
Does the referral fee apply to shipping?
Yes. It is calculated on the total price the buyer pays, including any shipping charged, then rounded per unit.
Can I get a lower referral fee?
Only by changing categories, which is not something you should do to game fees. Amazon polices misclassification and will reclaim fees plus penalties.
Is the $0.30 minimum on every sale?
Yes, per unit in most marketplaces. Two units sold together on one order pay $0.60 minimum in aggregate.
See this in Nova
Nova surfaces this metric per SKU so you can act before your next monthly close catches it.
Try Nova free for 14 daysRelated questions
What is a good net profit margin on Amazon FBA?
A healthy Amazon FBA net profit margin sits between 15% and 25% after fees, COGS, PPC, and refunds. Under 10% usually signals hidden fees or overspending on ads. Established brands with private-label pricing power can hold 25% or more, while resellers and wholesalers typically operate closer to 10% to 15%.
How do I calculate profit per unit on Amazon?
Profit per unit on Amazon equals sale price minus referral fee, FBA fulfilment fee, per-unit COGS, allocated ad spend, and a refund reserve. A quick formula: Profit/unit = Price - (Referral% x Price) - FBA fee - COGS - (Ad spend / units sold) - (Refund rate x Price).