How Amazon FBA Fees Affect Your Bottom Line
Amazon operates the largest e-commerce marketplace in North America, offering third-party sellers massive organic customer reach. However, selling through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) requires careful margin planning due to layered fee structures.
Every FBA sale incurs two primary Amazon deductions:
- Referral Fee: A category-specific commission (typically 15% for most goods, 8% for electronics) taken from the gross selling price.
- FBA Fulfillment Fee: A flat rate per unit covering warehousing, picking, packing, shipping, and return customer service.
Standard Amazon FBA Fulfillment Fee Size Tiers (2026)
| FBA Size Tier | Max Dimensions | Fulfillment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small Standard (6 oz or less) | 15" x 12" x 0.75" | $3.22 per unit |
| Small Standard (6+ to 12 oz) | 15" x 12" x 0.75" | $3.40 per unit |
| Large Standard (under 1 lb) | 18" x 14" x 8" | $3.86 per unit |
| Large Standard (1 to 2 lbs) | 18" x 14" x 8" | $4.75 per unit |
| Large Standard (2 to 3 lbs) | 18" x 14" x 8" | $5.40 per unit |
| Small Oversize (under 70 lbs) | 60" max length | $9.73 + $0.42/lb above 1 lb |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Amazon Referral Fees and how are they calculated?
Amazon charges a referral fee on each item sold, ranging from 8% to 15% depending on the category. For example, consumer electronics have an 8% referral fee, while apparel and home goods carry a 15% referral fee.
How are FBA Fulfillment Pick & Pack fees determined?
FBA fulfillment fees are based on the unit weight and dimensional shipping weight tier (small standard, large standard, small oversize, large oversize). Standard small items start at $3.22 per unit plus weight handling.
What is the difference between Amazon FBA and FBM?
With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon stores, picks, packs, ships, and handles customer service for your products. With Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), the seller stores and ships items directly to buyers, avoiding FBA fulfillment fees but paying their own postage.
How do monthly Amazon inventory storage fees work?
Amazon charges monthly inventory storage fees based on the daily average cubic volume occupied by your inventory in fulfillment centers, with higher rates charged during Q4 holiday peak season (October to December).