Selling on Amazon involves multiple layers of fees that can significantly impact your margins. The primary fee is the referral fee, a percentage of the total sale price that varies by product category. Most categories charge 15%, but Electronics is only 8%, Personal Computers 6%, and Jewelry starts at 20%. Some categories like Clothing use a tiered structure where the rate changes at different price thresholds (5% under $15, 10% from $15-$20, 17% above $20).
Beyond the referral fee, FBA sellers pay fulfillment fees ranging from $3.06 for small lightweight items to $6.28+ for larger products, plus a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge effective April 2026. Media categories (Books, DVDs, Music, Video Games, Software) also incur a $1.80 closing fee per item. Monthly storage fees apply to inventory stored in Amazon warehouses.
Understanding these fees before listing products is critical. This calculator accounts for all Amazon seller fees including referral fees, FBA fulfillment costs, closing fees, storage fees, and subscription costs, giving you an accurate picture of your per-item profit and monthly projections.
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) means Amazon stores, picks, packs, and ships your products. You get the coveted Prime badge, stronger Buy Box positioning, and Amazon handles customer service and returns. The tradeoff is higher per-unit costs: fulfillment fees ($3-$7+), storage fees, and the fuel surcharge. FBA is ideal for lightweight, fast-selling products where the Prime badge drives significantly more sales.
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) means you handle all shipping and customer service yourself. You save on FBA fees but lose the Prime badge advantage and must manage logistics. FBM can be more profitable for heavy, slow-moving, or oversized items where FBA fees would eat into margins. Many successful sellers use a hybrid approach: FBA for top sellers and FBM for long-tail or oversized inventory.
Amazon's referral fees vary dramatically by category. Home & Kitchen, Toys, Sports, Pet Supplies and most other common categories charge a flat 15%. Consumer Electronics is significantly lower at 8%, making it attractive for margins despite intense competition. Personal Computers has the lowest rate at just 6%.
On the higher end, Amazon Device Accessories commands a steep 45% referral fee. Jewelry charges 20% on the first $250 and 5% above that. Clothing uses a favorable tiered structure: just 5% on the first $15, 10% from $15-$20, and 17% above $20 — meaning a $30 t-shirt only pays about $3.45 in referral fees (11.5% effective rate). Use our eBay Fee Calculator and Etsy Fee Calculator to compare these rates across marketplaces.
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