How do I avoid FBA storage limits?
FBA storage limits are set by IPI score. Keep IPI above 400 by clearing stranded inventory weekly, running removals or liquidations on units aged 180+ days, and keeping your top 20 SKUs consistently in stock. Restock-limited accounts often gain 30% to 60% more capacity within 30 days after a targeted cleanup.
What triggers a limit
IPI below 400 for two consecutive weekly evaluations. Amazon then caps storage by unit count and storage type (standard, oversize, apparel, footwear).
The three-week cleanup
Week 1: fix every stranded ASIN (Manage Inventory > Fix Stranded Inventory). Week 2: submit removals on units aged 270+ days. Week 3: price down units aged 90 to 180 days by 10% to 15% to force sell-through.
Ongoing habits
Weekly stranded-inventory check. Monthly review of units aged 90+ days. Restock alerts on top 20 SKUs. Cap inbound PO sizes so you never send in more than 90 days of stock at once.
Frequently asked questions
Do storage limits reset?
They recalculate weekly with the IPI update. A cleanup can lift limits within 2 to 4 weeks.
Are limits the same for standard and oversize?
No. Amazon issues separate limits per storage type.
Can I appeal a storage limit?
There is no formal appeal. Raising IPI is the only path.
How does Nova help?
Nova tracks inventory age, days of cover, and stranded units per SKU so you know which units to remove or reprice before Amazon caps you.
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Nova surfaces this metric per SKU in near real time so you can act before your next monthly close catches it.
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How is the Amazon IPI score calculated?
Amazon's Inventory Performance Index (IPI) is a rolling score from 0 to 1000 built from four inputs: excess inventory percentage, sell-through rate, stranded inventory percentage, and in-stock rate on FBA. Scores above 400 keep storage limits open; scores below 400 trigger restock limits and higher storage costs.
How do I fix stranded Amazon inventory?
Stranded inventory is FBA units that cannot be sold because the listing is suppressed, inactive, or missing key attributes. Fix it in Seller Central under Manage Inventory > Fix Stranded Inventory. Most stranded ASINs resolve within 24 hours after relisting, updating a required attribute, or removing a policy block.
What triggers Amazon's aged inventory surcharge?
Amazon's aged inventory surcharge applies on top of monthly storage fees for units aged 271+ days in FBA. Rates start around $1.50 per cubic foot and climb sharply at 365 days. The fastest way to avoid it is a removal order or a targeted price cut before day 270.
What is days of cover and how do I calculate it?
Days of cover = current on-hand inventory / average daily units sold. If you have 600 units on hand and sell 20/day, you have 30 days of cover. Most sellers target 45 to 75 days of cover for FBA SKUs: enough to survive a demand spike or a shipping delay, not so much that IPI or storage fees suffer.
What triggers Amazon long-term storage fees?
Amazon charges aged inventory surcharges on units stored in a fulfilment centre for more than 181 days. The fee is tiered: 181 to 210 days adds $0.50/cu ft, 211 to 240 days $1.00, 241 to 270 days $1.50, 271 to 330 days $3.90, 331 to 365 days $5.90, and 365+ days $10.90 on top of monthly storage.