Amazon FBA Fees 2026: Every Fee Explained (With Real Examples)
Selling on Amazon with Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) means Amazon stores your stock, packs every order, ships it and handles returns. It is convenient, but it is not cheap, and in 2026 the fee rules changed again. This guide explains every fee in plain English and shows real numbers, so you know your costs before you send a single box.
What changed in 2026
- January 15, 2026: new US fulfillment fees. The fee now depends on three things: the size tier, the shipping weight and the selling price band (under $10, $10–$50, over $50).
- April 17, 2026: a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge is added on top of the FBA fulfillment fee (only the fulfillment fee, not referral or storage fees).
- October to December: monthly storage fees for standard-size items roughly triple during the holiday peak.
The fees every FBA seller pays
| Fee | What it is | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee | Amazon’s commission — usually 15% of the sale price (minimum $0.30 in most categories) | Every sale (FBA or not) |
| FBA fulfillment fee | Pick, pack and ship one unit — by size tier, shipping weight and price band | Every unit sold |
| Fuel & logistics surcharge | 3.5% of the fulfillment fee | Every unit sold (since April 17, 2026) |
| Monthly storage fee | Per cubic foot of space your stock uses in Amazon warehouses | Every month |
| Aged inventory surcharge | Extra storage charge for stock older than 181 days | Monthly, on old stock |
| Other fees | Inbound placement, low-inventory-level fee, returns processing (in high-return categories) | Only in some situations |
1. Referral fee
The referral fee is a percentage of the total price the customer pays. In most categories — Home & Kitchen, Toys, Sports, Beauty over $10, Office Products and more — it is 15%. A few categories are lower: Consumer Electronics and Computers are 8%, and Beauty, Baby and Grocery items under a price limit pay 8%. Books also pay a $1.80 closing fee. You can look up any category with our Amazon referral fee calculator.
2. FBA fulfillment fee
This is the big one. Amazon puts your product into a size tier based on its packed dimensions and weight:
- Small standard: up to 15 × 12 × 0.75 inches and up to 16 oz (phone cases, socks, small accessories).
- Large standard: up to 18 × 14 × 8 inches and up to 20 lb (most household products).
- Bulky and extra-large: anything bigger or heavier.
For large standard and bulky items Amazon charges on the shipping weight: the greater of the real weight and the dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139). A light but bulky box can therefore cost more than a small heavy one.
Real 2026 examples
These fees come from the 2026 US rate card (non-peak), the same data our FBA fee calculator uses:
| Product (packed) | Price | Size tier | FBA fee | + 3.5% surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone case, 6 × 3 × 0.5 in, 4 oz | $8 | Small standard | $2.49 | $0.09 |
| Same phone case | $15 | Small standard | $3.42 | $0.12 |
| Water bottle, 10 × 4 × 4 in, 1.1 lb | $25 | Large standard | $5.04 | $0.18 |
| Kitchen scale, 9 × 7 × 2 in, 1.5 lb | $60 | Large standard | $5.68 | $0.20 |
| Yoga mat, 24 × 6 × 6 in, 3 lb | $35 | Small bulky | $9.83 | $0.34 |
Notice the phone case: the same product costs $0.93 more to fulfil when it sells for $15 instead of $8. In 2026 your price band matters, not only size and weight.
3. Monthly storage fees
| Item size | January – September | October – December |
|---|---|---|
| Standard size | $0.78 per cubic foot | $2.40 per cubic foot |
| Oversize | $0.56 per cubic foot | $1.40 per cubic foot |
To find cubic feet, multiply the packed length × width × height in inches and divide by 1,728. The water bottle above is 160 cubic inches = 0.093 cubic feet, so it costs about $0.07 a month to store from January to September, and about $0.22 a month from October to December. Stock that sits longer than 181 days also pays an aged inventory surcharge, so only send what you can sell in a few months.
Worked example: what Amazon keeps from a $25 sale
| Sale price | $25.00 |
| Referral fee (15%) | −$3.75 |
| FBA fulfillment fee | −$5.04 |
| Fuel & logistics surcharge (3.5%) | −$0.18 |
| Storage (one month, non-peak) | −$0.07 |
| Amazon fees in total | −$9.04 (36% of the price) |
| What is left for product cost, shipping to Amazon, ads and profit | $15.96 |
To see your real profit after product cost, inbound shipping and ads, use the Amazon profit calculator — or read our guide on how to calculate Amazon profit margin.
7 ways to pay less in FBA fees
- Shrink the packaging. One inch less on one side can drop your product into a cheaper tier or lower dimensional weight.
- Check the price bands. An item at $9.99 pays a lower fulfillment fee than the same item at $10.49.
- Bundle small items. One fulfillment fee for a 2-pack is cheaper than two fees for two single sales.
- Send less stock before October. Peak storage is about three times the normal rate.
- Clear old stock before 181 days to avoid the aged inventory surcharge.
- Measure honestly. If Amazon re-measures your item bigger, you pay the higher fee on every order.
- Compare with FBM (fulfilling yourself) for very bulky or slow-selling products.
Quick check before you list
Enter your product’s size, weight and price in our free Amazon FBA fee calculator. It finds the size tier, applies the 2026 price band and the 3.5% surcharge, and shows peak and non-peak storage — all in your browser, no sign-up.
Fees in this article are for the US Amazon marketplace in 2026 and are for planning only. Amazon can change its rate card at any time — always confirm in Seller Central before you make pricing decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Amazon FBA cost per item in 2026?
For a small, light item (for example a 4 oz phone case) the US fulfillment fee is about $2.49 if it sells under $10 and about $3.42 if it sells for $10–$50, plus the 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge. On top of that you pay the referral fee (15% in most categories) and monthly storage.
Did Amazon FBA fees go up in 2026?
Yes. New fulfillment fees started on January 15, 2026, with prices that also depend on the item’s selling price (under $10, $10–$50 and over $50). From April 17, 2026 a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge is added to FBA fulfillment fees in the US.
How is the FBA shipping weight calculated?
For standard-size items heavier than small standard, Amazon uses the greater of the unit weight and the dimensional weight. Dimensional weight = length × width × height (inches) ÷ 139.
What is the Amazon referral fee?
It is Amazon’s commission on each sale, a percentage of the total sale price. It is 15% for most categories, with a $0.30 minimum per item in most categories. Some categories are lower (for example 8% for consumer electronics).
