How much does Amazon FBA cost per unit?
Amazon FBA fulfilment fees range from about $3.06 for a small standard unit under 4 oz to $10+ for large standard, and $30 to $180 for oversize. Add referral fee (usually 15%), monthly storage ($0.87 to $2.40 per cubic foot), and inbound placement fees. A typical standard-size item costs $5 to $8 all in per unit shipped.
Jul 26, 2026 · 3 min read
The three FBA cost buckets
FBA has three billable buckets: fulfilment (per-unit pick/pack/ship), storage (monthly and long-term), and optional services (labelling, prep, returns processing). Fulfilment fees dominate most SKUs, but storage fees dominate slow movers.
Fulfilment fee bands (US, standard-size)
Amazon updates these each January. As of 2026 the US bands are approximately:
- Small standard, up to 4 oz: about $3.06
- Small standard, 4 to 8 oz: about $3.15
- Small standard, 8 to 12 oz: about $3.24
- Large standard, up to 4 oz: about $3.86
- Large standard, 12 oz to 1 lb: about $4.75
- Large standard, 2 to 3 lb: about $6.31
- Large bulky (oversize): starts around $9.61 and rises with weight
Costs FBA sellers forget
Inbound placement fees (charged when you ship to a single receiving centre), low-inventory-level fees (when weeks of cover fall below the threshold), and aged inventory surcharges quietly add $0.30 to $1.50 per unit on affected SKUs. Nova exposes each of these as a separate P&L line so the true cost per unit is visible.
Frequently asked questions
How is Amazon's monthly storage fee calculated?
Amazon measures the average daily cubic feet you occupy and multiplies by the current rate. Rates are higher October to December ($2.40/cu ft for standard) than January to September ($0.87/cu ft).
What is the low-inventory-level fee?
Amazon charges an extra $0.32 to $1.11 per unit when your weeks of cover drop below the target, on top of the normal FBA fee. It only applies to standard-size items with sustained sales history.
Does FBA include returns processing?
Yes for most categories at no extra fee. Apparel, shoes, watches, jewellery, and luggage carry a returns processing fee equal to the outbound FBA fee.
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What is Amazon's referral fee and how is it calculated?
Amazon's referral fee is a percentage of the total sale price (item + shipping + gift wrap) charged on every unit sold. Most categories are 15%, with a $0.30 per-item minimum. Amazon Devices sit at 45%, jewellery at 20% above $250, and consumer electronics at 8%. The fee applies to both FBA and FBM sellers.
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).