What is the Amazon referral fee?
The referral fee is the commission Amazon takes on every sale — a percentage of the total sale price (item price plus shipping and gift wrap). Most categories charge 15%, but some charge 8%, 10%, 12% or 17%, some use tiers by price, and there is a minimum fee (usually $0.30) per item. Media items also pay a $1.80 closing fee.
How to use the calculator
- Choose your category.
- Enter the selling price.
- See the referral fee, the effective percentage and — importantly — the fee in every other category at the same price.
Tiered vs whole-price fees
Categories use two different rules. In tiered categories (for example some electronics accessories), one rate applies to the part of the price up to a threshold and a lower rate to the rest. In whole-price categories (for example beauty and grocery), the rate is chosen by the price and then applied to the entire price. That creates price cliffs: a beauty product at $10.00 pays 8%, but at $10.01 it pays 15% on the whole price. The calculator warns you when you are near a cliff.
Common referral fees (US)
| Category | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Most categories | 15% |
| Beauty, grocery, health (low price) | 8% at or under $10–$15, then 15% |
| Consumer electronics | 8% |
| Amazon device accessories | 45% |
| Books, music, video | 15% + $1.80 closing fee |
Always confirm your category in Seller Central — the calculator shows the full 2026 table.
Add FBA fees with the Amazon FBA fee calculator, and see your full profit with the Amazon profit calculator.
How Amazon referral fees work
The referral fee is Amazon’s commission on every sale, charged as a percentage of the total price the buyer pays (item price plus any shipping and gift wrap). Most categories charge 15% with a $0.30 minimum per item, but there are three kinds of rules:
| Rule | How it works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | One percentage on the whole price | Home & Kitchen, Toys, Sports: 15% • Consumer Electronics, Computers: 8% |
| Price threshold | The whole price pays a lower rate below a limit | Beauty, Baby: 8% up to $10, 15% above • Grocery: 8% up to $15 |
| Tiered (portion) | Different rates for parts of the price | Jewelry: 20% up to $250, 5% on the rest • Furniture: 15% up to $200, 10% above |
Worked examples
- A $19.99 kitchen gadget: 15% = $3.00.
- A $9.99 lip balm (Beauty, under $10): 8% = $0.80. The same item at $10.99 pays 15% = $1.65 — a price $1 higher costs you $0.85 more in fees.
- A $300 necklace: 20% of $250 + 5% of $50 = $52.50.
- A $1.50 item in a 15% category: 15% would be $0.23, so the $0.30 minimum applies.
Books, music and video also pay a $1.80 closing fee per sale on top of the referral fee — the calculator adds it automatically.
Tips
- Pick the right category. The category in Seller Central decides the rate, not the product name.
- Watch threshold prices. In Beauty, Baby and Grocery, pricing just under the limit can save more than it costs.
- Remember FBA is separate. Referral fees apply to every sale, FBA or not. See the total with the FBA fee calculator.