Amazon Seller Fees Explained 2026: Every Fee in One Place
Referral fees, FBA fulfillment, storage, inbound placement, returns, advertising, and 10 more. The complete reference guide to every Amazon seller fee with current rates.
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ChatGPTAmazon charges sellers 15+ different fees. Some are obvious (referral fees, FBA fulfillment). Others are buried in your settlement reports (inbound placement, aged inventory surcharge, returns processing). This guide catalogs every fee type with current 2026 rates so you know exactly where your money goes. What consistently shows up in the brands that grow contribution margin: the metric set below.
TL;DR - Key Takeaways
- •Amazon's referral fee is 8-15% of selling price depending on category. Most categories pay 15%.
- •FBA fulfillment fees range from $3.22 for small standard items to $10+ for large/heavy products.
- •Storage fees spike 2-3x during Q4 (October through December). Long-term storage adds $6.90/cubic foot for inventory older than 365 days.
- •Inbound placement fees ($0.21-$1.58 per unit) are a newer cost that many sellers overlook in their margin calculations.
- •A typical $25 product keeps only $7-$10 in profit after all Amazon fees, COGS, and advertising.
What changed in 2026
Amazon's 2026 fee stack added several new line items that materially shift seller economics. If you last benchmarked your fees in 2025, your true cost per unit is now higher than your spreadsheet shows. Four changes matter most:
- FBA fee increase (Jan 2026): Base fulfillment fees rose across most size tiers. Details in our FBA fee increase 2026 brief.
- FBA fuel surcharge (April 2026): A new per-unit surcharge applied to fulfillment fees. See the fuel surcharge breakdown.
- Low Inventory Level Fee (active 2026): Charged when historical days of supply drops below threshold. See the LIL fee guide.
- Inbound placement and AWD increases: both went up in 2026. Read the inbound placement update and the AWD fee changes.
Stacked together, these changes are squeezing thin-margin SKUs out of profitability. Our coverage of the April 2026 triple cost squeeze Walks through the combined impact.
How Much Does Amazon Charge Sellers?
Featured Snippet: Amazon Seller Fee Overview
Amazon charges sellers a combination of referral fees (8-15% per sale), fulfillment fees ($3.22-$10+ per unit for FBA), storage fees ($0.87-$2.40/cubic foot monthly), and a Professional account subscription ($39.99/month). Total fees typically consume 30-45% of a product's selling price. Additional costs include advertising (PPC), returns processing, and inbound placement fees. To see exactly what these add up to on one of your ASINs, use our free Amazon FBA profit & fee calculator.
Typical Fee Burden
30-45%
Of selling price goes to Amazon fees
Fee Types
15+
Different fee categories for FBA sellers
Q4 Storage Premium
2-3x
Higher monthly storage fees Oct-Dec
Complete Amazon Fee Reference Table
This table covers every fee type Amazon charges sellers in 2026. Bookmark this page. You'll reference it often.
| Fee Type | Rate / Range | When Charged | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral Fee | 8-15% of selling price | Every sale | All sellers |
| FBA Fulfillment Fee | $3.22-$10.48+ per unit | Every FBA order | FBA sellers |
| Monthly Storage Fee | $0.87-$2.40/cubic foot | Monthly (15th of month) | FBA sellers |
| Inbound Placement Fee | $0.21-$1.58 per unit | When inventory is received | FBA sellers |
| Aged Inventory Surcharge | $0.50-$6.90/cubic foot | Monthly (271+ days old) | FBA sellers |
| Returns Processing Fee | $2.12-$7.90 per return | Per returned unit (select categories) | FBA sellers |
| Professional Subscription | $39.99/month | Monthly | Professional accounts |
| Per-Item Fee | $0.99 per sale | Every sale | Individual accounts only |
| Closing Fee | $1.80 per unit | Every sale | Media categories only (books, DVDs, etc.) |
| Removal/Disposal Fee | $0.97-$5.05 per unit | Per unit removed or disposed | FBA sellers |
| FBA Liquidation Fee | Referral fee + processing fee | Per liquidated unit | FBA sellers using Liquidation program |
| Advertising (PPC) | $0.30-$5.00+ per click | Per click on ads | Advertisers (optional) |
| Amazon DSP | $10K+ minimum spend | Per campaign | DSP advertisers (optional) |
| Subscribe & Save Fee | 5-10% discount funded by seller | Per S&S order | Sellers enrolled in S&S |
| Low Inventory Level Fee | $0.32-$0.97 per unit | Per unit (low stock products) | FBA sellers below 28 days stock |
Pro Tip: Hidden Fees Add Up
Most sellers calculate referral + FBA fulfillment and call it a day. They miss inbound placement fees, storage, returns processing, and the low inventory level fee. These "hidden" costs can add $1-$3 per unit to your true cost. Use Nova's P&L dashboard to automatically capture every fee type Amazon charges you.
Referral Fees by Category
The referral fee is Amazon's commission on every sale. It varies by product category. Here are the most common categories and their 2026 rates:
| Category | Referral Fee | Minimum Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Most Categories (Default) | 15% | $0.30 |
| Electronics | 8% | $0.30 |
| Computers | 8% | $0.30 |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% | $0.30 |
| Grocery & Gourmet | 8-15% | $0.30 |
| Health & Personal Care | 8-15% | $0.30 |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% | $0.30 |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% | $0.30 |
| Beauty | 8-15% | $0.30 |
| Toys & Games | 15% | $0.30 |
| Jewelry | 20% | $0.30 |
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% | $0.30 |
For the complete, up-to-date list, check Amazon's official referral fee schedule. Some categories have tiered rates that change based on the item's selling price. For example, Grocery charges 8% on items under $15 and 15% on items over $15.
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FBA Fulfillment Fees
FBA fees are based on your product's size tier and weight. Amazon classifies products into size tiers: Small Standard, Large Standard, Small Oversize, Medium Oversize, Large Oversize, and Special Oversize. The classification depends on the longest side, median side, shortest side, and unit weight.
| Size Tier | Weight Range | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Standard (2-6 oz) | Up to 6 oz | $3.22 |
| Small Standard (6-12 oz) | 6-12 oz | $3.40 |
| Large Standard (4-8 oz) | Up to 8 oz | $3.86 |
| Large Standard (8 oz - 1 lb) | 8 oz - 1 lb | $4.08 |
| Large Standard (1-2 lb) | 1-2 lb | $5.16 |
| Large Standard (2-3 lb) | 2-3 lb | $5.88 |
| Small Oversize | Up to 70 lb | $9.73 + $0.42/lb above 1st lb |
| Medium Oversize | Up to 150 lb | $19.05 + $0.42/lb above 1st lb |
| Large Oversize | Up to 150 lb | $89.98 + $0.83/lb above 90 lb |
These fees are per unit sold. For multi-pack listings, the fee is based on the total package dimensions and weight, not the individual items inside. If you're deciding between FBA and FBM, use our FBA vs FBM comparison to run the numbers for your specific products.
Storage Fees
Amazon charges monthly storage fees based on the cubic footage your inventory occupies. Rates are higher during Q4 (peak season) and increase significantly for aged inventory.
| Period | Standard Size | Oversize |
|---|---|---|
| January - September | $0.87/cubic foot | $0.56/cubic foot |
| October - December (Q4) | $2.40/cubic foot | $1.40/cubic foot |
Aged Inventory Surcharge (Long-Term Storage)
Amazon penalizes slow-moving inventory with escalating surcharges:
- 271-365 days: $0.50/cubic foot (on top of monthly storage)
- 365+ days: $6.90/cubic foot or $0.15/unit, whichever is greater
Aged Inventory Can Destroy Margins
A product sitting in FBA for over 12 months gets hit with $6.90/cubic foot MONTHLY on top of regular storage. For a standard-size product, that's roughly $1-$3 per unit per month in just storage costs. If the product sells for $15, you could be paying more in storage than you earn in profit. Track your Days of Inventory and remove or liquidate before the 271-day mark.
For a deeper dive on storage fee optimization strategies, read our FBA Storage Fees guide and our IPI Score guide (your Inventory Performance Index directly affects your storage limits and costs).
Inbound Placement Fees
This is one of the newer fees that catches many sellers off guard. When you send inventory to FBA, Amazon distributes it across multiple fulfillment centers for faster delivery. The inbound placement fee covers this distribution cost.
The fee varies based on your product's size/weight and how many destinations you're willing to ship to:
- Minimal shipment splits (Amazon distributes): $0.21-$1.58 per unit
- Partial splits (you ship to fewer locations): Discounted rates
- Amazon Optimized Splits (you ship to all assigned FCs): $0 fee
For most sellers, the pragmatic choice is to accept the fee and let Amazon distribute. Shipping to multiple FCs yourself adds logistical complexity that often costs more than the fee. For a detailed analysis of the 2026 fee changes, read our 2026 FBA Fee Changes guide.
Advertising Fees (PPC)
Advertising isn't technically a "fee" since it's optional, but it's effectively required for most sellers. Without PPC, new products get zero visibility. Even established products need advertising to defend organic positions.
| Ad Type | Typical CPC | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsored Products | $0.50-$2.50 | Direct product sales, all sellers |
| Sponsored Brands | $0.75-$3.00 | Brand awareness, Brand Registry required |
| Sponsored Display | $0.30-$1.50 | Retargeting, audience targeting |
| Amazon DSP | CPM model, $10K+ minimum | Programmatic display, large brands |
Most sellers spend 10-25% of revenue on advertising. The key metric to watch is TACoS (Total Advertising Cost of Sales), which measures ad spend as a percentage of total revenue (not just ad-attributed revenue). A healthy TACoS for established products is 8-15%. For more on PPC optimization, read our TACoS guide and advanced PPC strategies. Track your ad spend efficiency with Nova's PPC analytics dashboard.
Other Fees You Should Know
Returns Processing Fee
Amazon charges a returns processing fee for products in categories with high return rates (apparel, shoes, watches, luggage, jewelry, and others). The fee ranges from $2.12 to $7.90 per returned unit depending on size. For categories not on the list, Amazon absorbs the return shipping cost but may still charge you for restocking.
Track your return rates carefully. A product with a 15% return rate in apparel could lose $1-$2 per unit in returns processing alone. Nova's analytics can help you identify products with problematic return rates before they erode your margins. Read our return rate analytics guide for strategies.
Removal and Disposal Fees
When you need to get inventory out of FBA (slow sellers, damaged goods, seasonal clearance), Amazon charges removal fees ($0.97-$5.05 per unit) or disposal fees ($0.97-$5.05 per unit). These fees are based on size and weight.
FBA Liquidation
Amazon's Liquidation program lets you recover some value from excess inventory instead of paying removal/disposal fees. Amazon sells your inventory at a discount through bulk liquidation channels. You'll receive a portion of the recovery value minus fees. It's usually better than disposal but worse than selling at a discount on your own listing.
Low Inventory Level Fee
Introduced in 2024, this fee applies when your FBA inventory falls below 28 days of supply (based on historical sales velocity). The fee ranges from $0.32-$0.97 per unit, depending on size tier. It's designed to incentivize sellers to keep adequate stock levels. Track your restock limits and days of inventory to avoid triggering this fee.
Example: What a $25 Product Actually Earns
Let's trace a real example. You sell a standard-size product (12 oz) in the Home & Kitchen category for $24.99. Here's the fee waterfall:
| Line Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling Price | $24.99 |
| Referral Fee (15%) | -$3.75 |
| FBA Fulfillment Fee | -$4.08 |
| Monthly Storage (avg) | -$0.15 |
| Inbound Placement Fee | -$0.27 |
| COGS (product cost) | -$5.00 |
| Inbound Shipping to FBA | -$0.75 |
| PPC Spend (avg per unit) | -$2.50 |
| Net Profit Per Unit | $8.49 |
| Profit Margin | 34% |
This Is a Healthy Margin
34% net profit after all fees and advertising is solid. Many sellers operate at 15-25% margins. If your margin is below 15%, you need to either reduce COGS, optimize PPC, or increase your selling price. Use Nova's P&L dashboard to see this breakdown for every product automatically.
This example doesn't include returns (which would reduce margin further). With a 5% return rate in this category, your effective margin drops to about 31%. For a more detailed breakdown of per-unit economics, read our variable costs per unit guide.
How to Track Every Fee With Nova
Amazon's settlement reports are dense. They contain dozens of transaction types, and the fee labels don't always match what you'd expect. Many sellers track only the obvious fees (referral, FBA fulfillment) and miss 10-15% of their actual costs.
Nova automatically ingests your settlement reports and categorizes every fee type. You can see:
- True profit per product: Every fee allocated to the SKU that incurred it. Not averaged across your catalog.
- Fee trends over time: See how storage, returns, and advertising costs change month-over-month.
- Category-level fee analysis: Compare fee burden across different product categories in your portfolio.
- Custom breakdowns: Slice your fee data by marketplace, brand, product line, or any custom tag. Use custom analytics to build the views you need.
For strategies on reducing your fee burden, read our How to Reduce Amazon FBA Fees Guide. And for understanding year-over-year fee changes, check our 2026 FBA Fee Changes Breakdown.
Did You Know?
According to industry seller surveys, 32% of Amazon sellers don't track their exact profit margins. They know their revenue but can't tell you their net profit per product. This leads to scaling unprofitable products and missing optimization opportunities worth thousands per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources and References
- Amazon: Selling on Amazon Fee Schedule
- Amazon Seller Central: FBA Fulfillment Fees
- Marketplace Pulse: Amazon Seller Data & Trends
- Statista: Third-Party Seller Share of Amazon Platform
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