FBA Guide
Every 2026 FBA fee change in one place: fulfillment rates, storage costs, inbound placement fees. Side-by-side comparison with 2025 rates so you see exactly what changed.
Oct 20, 2025 · 19 min read · 3,992 words
Updated November 6, 2026
In Q4 2026, the FBA fee stack is the most layered it has ever been. The January rate changes are live across every U.S. fulfillment center, a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge sits on top of every fulfilment fee, and the low-inventory-level fee is now judged on each variation separately. If you priced your catalog against 2025 assumptions, you are leaking margin on every unit shipped this quarter.
This guide breaks down every active FBA fee category, dated against Amazon's own pages, with the dates each change took effect. Track every fee line per SKU inside Nova's FBA analytics.
What changed in Amazon FBA fees in 2026?
Non-peak fulfilment fees rose on 15 January, by $0.08 per unit on average for standard-size products priced $10 to $50. A 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge joined FBA fulfilment fees in the US and Canada on 17 April, and Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment on 2 May, with no published end date. The low-inventory-level fee is now measured per seller FNSKU rather than per parent ASIN, with the 28-day threshold unchanged. Holiday peak fulfilment fees run from 15 October 2026 to 14 January 2027 (Amazon Seller Central, 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes, checked 16 September 2026).
FBA fulfilment fees rise by $0.19 per unit on average from 15 January 2027, and the 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge stays. From 1 February 2027, the storage utilization surcharge ends, aged inventory moves to one age-based storage rate, and the low-inventory-level fee only applies below 28 days of supply. The 2026 rates below apply until then. Details in our article on the 2027 changes.
Four documented changes, each read from Amazon's own pages on 16 September 2026:
Amazon charges FBA fees in several categories. Here is what is active across your account today:
Charged per unit when Amazon picks, packs, and ships your order. Based on product size tier and weight.
Charged monthly for space your inventory occupies in Amazon fulfillment centers. Rates increase during Q4.
Charged when Amazon distributes your shipment across multiple fulfillment centers. Still avoidable in 2026 via the Partnered Carrier Program or AWD.
Charged per unit shipped when a product's historical days of supply is below 28 days in both the last 30 and the last 90 days, measured per seller FNSKU since January 2026.
FBA fees are ON TOP of Amazon's referral fees (8-15% of sale price depending on category) and variable closing fees (if applicable). For complete cost calculation, see our Amazon FBA Calculator.
Fulfillment fees are charged every time Amazon ships a unit to a customer. Fees depend on size tier and weight of your product.
Amazon's published increase for 15 January 2026 was $0.08 per unit on average for standard-size products priced $10 to $50, $0.05 for those under $10 and $0.31 for those above $50, with the 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge added on top from 17 April and excluded from the rate cards below (Amazon Seller Central, 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes, checked 16 September 2026). That is the published rate. Here is what sellers actually paid.
Amazon categorizes products into size tiers based on dimensions and shipping weight. Rates below exclude the 3.5% surcharge (Amazon Seller Central, 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes, checked 16 September 2026):
Max 15" x 12" x 0.75", up to 12 oz
$3.06
$3.22
Max 18" x 14" x 8", up to 20 lbs
$3.86
$4.08
$4.28
$4.65
$5.50
$6.10
$6.39
$6.75
+ $0.16 per half-pound above 3 lbs (up to 20 lbs)
Max 59" longest side, 130" perimeter, 50 lbs
$9.73 + $0.42/lb above 2 lbs
Example: 30 lb item = $9.73 + ($0.42 × 28) = $21.49
Over 50 lbs up to 70 lbs
$25.21 + $0.42/lb above 51 lbs
Example: 65 lb item = $25.21 + ($0.42 × 14) = $31.09
Over 70 lbs or over 108" longest side
$137.32 + $0.79/lb above 90 lbs
Example: 120 lb item = $137.32 + ($0.79 × 30) = $161.02
Example calculation: Large Standard-Size product (2.3 lbs) with complete fee breakdown and profit margin analysis
See your Amazon performance in Nova.
Try for freeAmazon's October 15, 2025 announcement included several fee adjustments for 2026. Here's the complete side-by-side comparison and what it means for your business.
| Fee Category | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Small Standard (4 oz or less) Fulfillment fee | $3.06 | $3.18 | +$0.12 (+4%) |
Large Standard (2-2.5 lbs) Most common tier | $6.39 | $6.63 | +$0.24 (+3.8%) |
Large Bulky (Base fee) 21-50 lbs | $9.73 + $0.42/lb | $10.15 + $0.43/lb | +$0.42 (+4.3%) |
Fuel and logistics-related surcharge Applied to fulfilment fees, not referral fees | None | 3.5% | From 17 April 2026 |
Low-inventory-level fee How days of supply are measured | Parent ASIN, below 28 days | Seller FNSKU, below 28 days | Each variation judged on its own stock |
Fulfilment rates read from Amazon Seller Central, 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes, checked 16 September 2026. Published rate cards exclude the 3.5% surcharge.
Fulfilment fees rose, then the surcharge landed
The January rate rise and the 3.5% surcharge from 17 April both sit on every unit Amazon ships. On a $6.39 fulfilment fee the surcharge alone is about $0.22 per unit.
Products under $10 rose least
Amazon holds a discount on standard-size products priced below $10, now $0.86 per unit on average against products at $10 or higher.
FNSKU measurement cuts both ways
A single fast variation no longer drags a whole parent ASIN into the low-inventory-level fee, but a weak variation can no longer hide behind healthy siblings.
Storage fees are charged monthly based on the volume (cubic feet) your products occupy in Amazon fulfillment centers. Rates vary by time of year and how long inventory has been stored.
Base rate (off-peak)
Amazon Seller Central, Monthly inventory storage fees, checked 16 September 2026.
Q4 peak season base rate
Amazon Seller Central, Monthly inventory storage fees, checked 16 September 2026.
Sellers whose storage utilisation ratio passes 22 weeks, and who shipped their first unit to a US fulfilment centre more than 365 days ago, pay a storage utilisation surcharge on top of the base rate, charged on inventory aged above 30 days. It runs from $0.44 per cubic foot at 22 to 28 weeks up to $1.88 at 52 weeks and over for standard size (Amazon Seller Central, Monthly inventory storage fees, checked 16 September 2026).
Units that sit in fulfilment centres past 180 days pay an aged inventory surcharge each month, on top of the monthly storage fee, and the rate escalates with every age band. Amazon's rate card for the surcharge sits behind a Seller Central sign-in, so no band rate is quoted here. Read it in your own account, where it applies to your size tiers (Amazon Seller Central, Aged inventory surcharge, checked 16 September 2026, sign-in required).
The operating rule does not need the rate card: units approaching 180 days are the ones to discount, bundle or remove, because every band after that is more expensive than the one before it.
Storage cost escalation: How aged inventory fees accumulate and destroy profitability for slow-moving items
Amazon introduced inbound placement fees in 2024 and they remain a standing cost line in 2026: a charge for distributing your shipment across multiple fulfillment centers to optimize delivery speed. Of every line in the fee stack, this is the one growing fastest in relative terms.
When you create a shipment plan, Amazon may split your inventory across 2-8 fulfillment centers nationwide. This incurs a per-unit placement fee based on size tier (Amazon Seller Central, FBA inbound placement service fee, checked 16 September 2026):
Up to 12 oz
$0.27/unit
Up to 20 lbs
$0.40/unit
21-50 lbs
$1.28/unit
51-70 lbs
$1.58/unit
Amazon offers discounted UPS rates through their Partnered Carrier Program. When you use PCP, Amazon may waive or reduce placement fees. This is the #1 way most sellers avoid these fees entirely.
AWD is Amazon's upstream bulk storage service. Ship large quantities to one AWD location, then Amazon automatically replenishes FBA fulfillment centers from there with no placement fees. Best for high-volume sellers (1,000+ units/month).
In Seller Central shipment creation, select the "Minimal shipment splits" option. This may result in shipping to 1-2 fulfillment centers instead of many, reducing placement fees. However, you may pay slightly higher inbound shipping costs.
Sending 1,000 units of a large standard-size item to FBA without using PCP: $0.40 × 1,000 = $400 in placement fees. Over a year with 12 shipments, that's $4,800 in avoidable costs. Always use Amazon's Partnered Carrier Program when possible.
See your Amazon performance in Nova.
Try for freeAmazon introduced low-inventory-level fees in 2024 to push sellers to hold adequate stock on fast-moving products. The threshold is 28 days of supply, and it did not change in 2026. What changed on 15 January 2026 is the level it is measured at: Amazon now calculates historical days of supply per seller FNSKU instead of per parent ASIN, so every variation is judged on its own stock (Amazon Seller Central, Low-inventory-level fee, checked 16 September 2026).
Both windows have to be below 28 days
The fee applies only when the last 30 days and the last 90 days of historical days of supply are both under 28. Keep either window above 28 and the fee does not trigger.
Measured per seller FNSKU since 15 January 2026
A parent listing with a dozen variations is now a dozen separate fee exposures. A healthy parent no longer protects a thin child.
Charged on every unit shipped while under the threshold
The rate depends on size tier, shipping weight and how far under 28 days you are, and it is added to the FBA fulfilment fee for each shipped unit.
Track sales velocity and forecast future demand. For a product selling 150 units/month, you need 150 units in FBA to avoid fees (30-day supply). Build in buffer for lead time.
Use Nova's Inventory Management to track stock levels and days of inventory based on your specific sales velocity and lead times.
Don't wait until you're at 28 days of stock. Restock when you hit 45-60 days, accounting for manufacturing lead time (15-30 days) + shipping to Amazon (7-14 days). Better to pay slightly more storage than get hit with low-inventory fees on every sale.
Amazon sends notifications when you're approaching low-inventory status. Act immediately - don't wait. Consider air freight for emergency restocks if land/sea shipment won't arrive in time.
Your bestselling product sells 200 units/month. You run out of stock and it takes 21 days to restock. During those 21 days, you sell 140 units.
Plus, you likely lost Buy Box during the stockout, causing additional sales loss. Maintain healthy inventory levels - it's always cheaper than the alternative.
Charged when a customer returns an item in certain categories (apparel, watches, jewelry, shoes, handbags). Fee equals the fulfillment fee (e.g., $3.22 for small standard item). You don't get the original fulfillment fee back.
When you request Amazon to return your inventory to you: $0.60-$1.40 per unit depending on size. Disposal fees (if you want Amazon to destroy inventory): $0.30-$0.90 per unit. Often cheaper to dispose than return oversized items.
Charged when you don't properly prep items (missing labels, incorrect packaging, etc.): $0.40-$1.80 per unit. Amazon has to fix your mistakes. Always follow FBA prep requirements to avoid these penalties.
If you opt for Amazon to label your products instead of doing it yourself: $0.30 per unit. Saves time but adds up on high volumes. Consider buying your own label printer if shipping 500+ units/month.
Fees per unit rose for more than three quarters of sellers, and most of them put the difference on the price. Six in ten raised their average selling price, by 2.7% at the median. Look only at fees as a share of sales and the year looks flat, median change minus 0.06 points, but that is prices rising alongside fees, not fees standing still. The sellers who matter here are the quarter whose fees rose and whose price did not. For them the increase came out of margin, unit by unit, with nothing in the fee share to show it.
Now that you understand the complete fee structure, here are actionable strategies to minimize costs:
Reducing product weight or dimensions by even small amounts can drop you into a lower fee tier. A product at 1.6 lbs pays more than one at 1.5 lbs.
Potential savings: $0.50-$2.00 per unit on fulfillment fees
Always ship to Amazon using their Partnered Carrier (UPS). You get:
Potential savings: $0.40/unit on placement fees + shipping discount
Strike the balance between stockouts (low-inventory fees) and overstocking (storage fees):
Use Nova's Inventory Management for inventory tracking and profitability analysis.
The cheap January to September storage window ($0.78/cu ft standard) closes on October 1. Anything you do not want carried at peak rates has to move before then:
Pre-peak move: Use the lower-cost window to position Q4 inventory and remove slow-movers, then lock the catalog before October.
Not every product needs FBA. Selectively use FBM for:
Learn more in our FBA vs FBM Complete Guide.
Amazon makes mistakes - lost inventory, damaged items, incorrect fees. You're entitled to reimbursement:
Average seller recovers $1,500-$3,000/year. Read our Complete Reimbursement Guide.
Bundling multiple small items into one SKU can reduce per-unit fulfillment costs:
Test bundled variations with higher price points. Often increases AOV and reduces fulfillment cost percentage.
Three quarters into the new fee schedule, here is the four-step audit to run before the Q4 surcharges land:
Step 1. Re-baseline
Pull SKU-level fee totals for 2026 to date and compare to the same months of 2025. Quantify the actual hit per unit.
Step 2. Reorder logic
Confirm restock triggers run per variation, not per parent ASIN, and keep each one above the 28-day floor.
Step 3. Pricing
Re-test the 0.8-1.5% price moves you modeled in Q4 2025. If you held prices flat, your margin curve has drifted.
Step 4. Q4 staging
Clear aged inventory now while Jan-Sep storage is cheap. Position Q4 hero SKUs before October rates return.
See your Amazon performance in Nova.
Try for freeUnderstanding FBA fees is one thing - tracking them continuously across all your products is another. Nova Analytics automatically calculates your true profit after accounting for:
FBA fees will consume 20-40% of your revenue depending on product type. The difference between profitable and unprofitable products often comes down to understanding and optimizing these costs. Use Nova's Amazon FBA Calculator to model your exact costs before launching new products, and P&L Dashboard to track ongoing profitability across your catalog.
Every Amazon rate on this page was read from an Amazon page on 16 September 2026. Where a rate sits behind a Seller Central sign-in, no number is quoted.
See your Amazon performance in Nova.
Try for freeWhat changed when the January rates went live, and how to operate against the new schedule
