Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) gives sellers access to Prime customers and Amazon's logistics network — but the fee structure is one of the most complex of any selling platform. This guide breaks down every fee so you know your real profit before you list.
Quick answer: Amazon FBA fees combine a referral fee (8–20% of sale price depending on category) with a fulfillment fee (flat rate based on size/weight, starting at $3.22) plus monthly storage fees.
1. Amazon FBA Fee Overview
There are three core fee types every FBA seller pays:
Referral fee: A percentage of the sale price, varying by product category
FBA fulfillment fee: A flat per-unit fee based on package size and weight
Storage fee: A monthly charge based on the cubic feet your inventory occupies in Amazon's warehouses
2. Referral Fees by Category
Category
Referral Fee
On $30 Sale
Computers
6%
$1.80
Consumer Electronics
8%
$2.40
Home & Kitchen
12%
$3.60
Most categories
15%
$4.50
Clothing & Accessories
17%
$5.10
Jewelry
20%
$6.00
A minimum referral fee of $0.30 applies regardless of category if the percentage-based fee falls below that amount.
3. FBA Fulfillment Fees
Size Tier
Weight
Fulfillment Fee
Small standard
≤4 oz
$3.22
Standard
4–8 oz
$3.86
Standard
8–16 oz
$4.75
Standard
16–32 oz
$6.21
Large standard (oversize)
32 oz+
$8.54+
4. Storage Fees
Period
Standard Size
Oversize
January – September
$0.87/cu ft
$0.56/cu ft
October – December (peak)
$2.40/cu ft
$1.40/cu ft
⚠️ Long-term storage fee: Inventory stored over 365 days incurs an additional surcharge of up to $6.90/cu ft, on top of regular storage fees. Manage your inventory levels to avoid this.
5. Other Fees to Know
Professional selling plan: $39.99/month (required for FBA)
Removal/disposal fees: $0.50–$0.60 per unit if you need to remove inventory
Returns processing fee: Applies to certain categories like apparel
Advertising (PPC): Optional but often necessary — typically 10–20% of sales for competitive categories
6. Calculating Your Real Profit Margin
Use this formula to find your true profit per unit:
📐 Formula
Profit = Sale Price − Referral Fee − FBA Fee − Storage Fee − Product Cost − Shipping to Amazon
Choose your category carefully: Electronics (8%) vs general merchandise (15%) — list accurately but in the lowest applicable category
Optimize packaging size: Reducing package dimensions can drop you into a cheaper fulfillment tier
Avoid long-term storage: Use Amazon's inventory tools to sell through stock before the 365-day threshold
Bundle products: Selling multi-packs reduces the per-unit impact of fixed fulfillment fees
Consider FBM for slow movers: Fulfillment by Merchant avoids FBA fees entirely for low-velocity items
8. Amazon vs Other Platforms
Platform
Fee on $100 Sale
You Keep
Shopify (own store)
$2.30
$97.70
Etsy
$10.12
$89.88
eBay
$13.55
$86.45
Amazon FBA (electronics)
~$16.86
~$83.14
Amazon FBA (most categories)
~$19.06
~$80.94
Amazon's fees are higher than most marketplaces, but Prime eligibility often drives significantly higher conversion rates — for many sellers, the trade-off is worth it.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Amazon take from a $30 sale?
For a typical 8oz item in the "Most categories" tier (15% referral): $30 × 15% = $4.50 referral fee, plus $3.86 FBA fulfillment fee, plus ~$0.76 monthly storage = approximately $9.12 in total Amazon fees, leaving $20.88 before your product cost.
Is FBA worth it compared to FBM?
FBA provides Prime badge eligibility, which significantly boosts conversion rates and search ranking. For most products with reasonable margins, the increased sales volume outweighs the higher fees compared to FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant).
Do referral fees apply to shipping charges?
Yes — Amazon's referral fee percentage applies to the total sale price including any shipping you charge the customer, not just the item price.
What happens if my inventory doesn't sell?
You continue paying monthly storage fees, which increase sharply after 365 days (long-term storage surcharge). Many sellers set up automated removal or liquidation for slow-moving stock to avoid this.
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CalcFees Editorial Team
Fee data verified against Amazon Seller Central · Last updated June 2026