When entrepreneurs first discover selling on Amazon, one of the big questions they ask is, “What are the fees for selling on Amazon?”. After all, you want to make sure that you’re going to profit from selling on the world’s largest e-commerce site.
This article will walk you through each type of Amazon seller fee below and show you how to estimate the fees you’ll pay for each product you sell on Amazon.
“Individual or Professional Selling Plans?”
The first thing you need to do when you sign up as an Amazon seller, you’ll have to choose between Individual and Professional selling plans. Both have their pros and cons. If you’re an established ecommerce seller moving to Amazon, the Professional Seller account is your best pick. The Individual Seller account is very limited in comparison and requires more hands-on management.
However, if you’re new and just starting out to sell products on Amazon, you can get started with no up-font cost at all using an Individual Seller account. That way you don’t pay a dime out of pocket, and you’ll only charged fees when your products sell.
| Individual Selling Plan | Professional Selling Plan |
|---|---|
| Do not pay a monthly fee | Pay a monthly fee of $39.99 |
| Pay a flat per sale fee of $0.99 in addition to referral fees | No flat per sale fee |
| Are limited to 40 units sold per month | Unlimited |
| Missing features such as sponsored ads, additional product categories, and other tools/options | Have full access to tools like platform advertising, bulk features, promotions and more |
| Ideal if you’re a new seller on Amazon | Ideal if you’re plan to establish and grow an Amazon business |
FBA vs FBM fees
Amazon FBA is a fulfillment service offered by Amazon to sellers, in which product stock is sent to Amazon warehouses or fulfillment centers and is then picked, packed, and shipped to buyers using Amazon employees and logistics. This includes returns and all kinds of customer service. Furthermore, making use of FBA makes one’s product eligible for Amazon Prime.
Under the FBA model, you’re responsible for:
- Referral fees – typically a percentage of the item’s total sales
- FBA fulfillment fees – typically based on weight and size
- Monthly storage fees – typically based on volume (cubic feet) and the duration of storage in an Amazon fulfillment center.
FBM, on the other hand, is a term that implies that the merchant is fully responsible for storing, packing, and shipping their product, as well as all kinds of customer service. This is usually handled through the so-called Merchant Fulfilled Network.
Under the FBM model, you’re responsible for:
- Referral fees – typically a percentage of the item’s total sales
- Shipping costs – Amazon credits you shipping costs based on a set amount or an amount you can set yourself.
If you’re unsure which model fits you best, we have a separate article written on when to choose FBA or FBM.
Referral (Commission) Fees
All sellers on Amazon pay a referral fee for every item that sells on the marketplace. The two things that determine your referral fee are your product category and selling price. This fee is based on your total sales price, which includes shipping charges if any. Make sure to keep this seller fee in mind when determining your sales price.
Most sellers pay about 15% referral fee on average. But these fees can range from 6% to 45%, depending on which categories your products fall under.
Categories with Fixed Referral Fees
| Category | Referral fee percentage | Referral fee minimum> |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Printed Products | 12% | $0.30 |
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% | $0.30 |
| Automotive & Powersports | 12%, except 10% for tires and wheel products | $0.30 |
| Baby Products (excluding Baby Apparel) | 8% for products with a total sales price of $10.00 or less, and 15% for products with a total sales price greater than $10.00 | $0.30 |
| Beauty | 8% for products with a total sales price of $10.00 or less, and 15% for products with a total sales price greater than $10.00 | $0.30 |
| Books | 15% + $1.80 closing fee | – |
| Camera & Photo 1 | 8% | $0.30 |
| Cell Phone Device * | 8% | $0.30 |
| Clothing & Accessories (excluding Shoes, Handbags, & Sunglasses) | 17% | $0.30 |
| Collectibles – Books | 15% | – |
| Collectibles – Coins | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $250 (with a minimum referral fee of $1.00) 10% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $250 up to $1,000 6% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,000 | $0.30 |
| Collectibles – Entertainment or Sports | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $100 10% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $100 up to $1,000 6% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,000 | – |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% | $0.30 |
| Electronics Accessories | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $100.00, and 8% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $100.00 | $0.30 |
| Fine Art | 20% for the portion of Sales Proceeds up to $100 (with a minimum Referral Fee of $1.00); 15% for any portion of Sales Proceeds greater than $100 up to $1,000; 10% for any portion of Sales Proceeds greater than $1,000 up to $5,000; and 5% for any portion of Sales Proceeds greater than $5,000 | – |
| Furniture & Décor | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $200.00, and 10% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $200.00 Note: Mattresses will be charged 15% regardless of price point. | $0.30 |
| Gift Cards | 20% | – |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | 8% for products with a total sales price of $15.00 or less, and 15% for products with a total sales price greater than $15.00 | – |
| Health & Personal Care (including Personal Care Appliances) | 8% for products with a total sales price of $10.00 or less, and 15% for items with a total sales price greater than $10.00 | $0.30 |
| Home & Garden (including Pet Supplies) | 15% | $0.30 |
| Industrial & Scientific (including Food Service and Janitorial & Sanitation) | 12% | $0.30 |
| Jewelry | 20% for the portion of the total sales price up to $250.00, and 5% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $250.00 | $0.30 |
| Kitchen | 15% | $0.30 |
| Luggage & Travel Accessories | 15% | $0.30 |
| Major Appliances | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $300.00, and 8% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $300.00 | $0.30 |
| Music | 15% + $1.80 closing fee | – |
| Musical Instruments | 15% | $0.30 |
| Office Products | 15% | $0.30 |
| Outdoors | 15% | $0.30 |
| Personal Computers | 6% | $0.30 |
| Shoes, Handbags, & Sunglasses | 18% for products with a total sales price of $75.00 or less 15% for products with a total sales price above $75.00 | $0.30 |
| Software & Computer/Video Games | 15% + $1.80 closing fee | – |
| Sports (excluding Sports Collectibles) | 15% | $0.30 |
| Tools & Home Improvement | 15%, except 12% for base equipment power tools | $0.30 |
| Toys & Games ² | 15% | $0.30 |
| Unlocked Cell Phones | 8% | $0.30 |
| Video & DVD | 15% + $1.80 closing fee | – |
| Video Game Consoles | 8% + $1.80 closing fee | $0.30 |
| Warranties, Protection Plans, and Service Contracts | 51% | – |
| Watches | 16% for the portion of the total sales price up to $1,500.00 3% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,500.00 | $0.30 |
| Everything else ³ | 15% | $0.30 |
¹ “Shipping Cost Per Sale” value will be $0 for users who select Fulfillment By Amazon.
² Return value will be $0 for users who select Fulfillment by seller.
³ The Everything Else category is available to sellers for products that do not clearly fit within existing categories. Do not list items in the Everything Else category that appropriately fall within another category.
* Approval is required to sell in these categories, to protect the customer experience and allow them to shop with confidence on Amazon.
Feesthat Amazon FBA Sellers Pay
FBA Fulfillment Fees (Non-Apparel)
| Size tier | Max dimension | Shipping weight1 | Packaging | Fulfillment fee per unit2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBA Small and Light | 16″ x 9″ x 4″ | 4 oz. or less | 0.7 oz. | $1.97 |
| 4+ oz. to < 10 oz. | 0.7 oz. | $2.39 | ||
| Small standard | 15″ x 12″ x 0.75″ | 10 oz. or less | 4 oz. | $2.50 |
| 10+ to 16 oz. | 4 oz. | $2.63 | ||
| Large standard | 18” x 14” x 8” | 10 oz. or less | 4 oz. | $3.31 |
| 10+ to 16 oz. | 4 oz. | $3.48 | ||
| 1 to 2 lb | 4 oz. | $4.90 | ||
| 2 to 3 lb | 4 oz. | $5.42 | ||
| 3 to 21 lb | 4 oz. | $5.42 + $0.38/lb above first 3 lb | ||
| Small oversize | 60″ x 30″ | 71 lb or less | 1 lb | $8.26 + $0.38/lb above first 2 lb |
| Medium oversize | 108” (longest side) | 151 lb or less | 1 lb | $11.37 + $0.39/lb above first 2 lb |
| Large oversize | 108” (longest side) | 151 lb or less | 1 lb | $75.78 + $0.79/lb above first 90 lb |
| Special oversize | >108” (longest side) | N/A | 1 lb | $137.32 + $0.91/lb above first 90 lb |
¹ Shipping weight is calculated by adding the packaging weight to the unit weight
² Add $0.11 per unit for items with lithium batteries
FBA Fulfillment Fees (Apparel)
| Size tier | Max dimension | Shipping weight1 | Packaging | Fulfillment fee per unit2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard | 15″ x 12″ x 0.75″ | 10 oz. or less | 4 oz. | $2.92 |
| 10+ to 16 oz. | 4 oz. | $3.11 | ||
| Large standard | 18” x 14” x 8” | 10 oz. or less | 4 oz. | $3.70 |
| 10+ to 16 oz. | 4 oz. | $3.81 | ||
| 1 to 2 lb | 4 oz. | $5.36 | ||
| 2 to 3 lb | 4 oz. | $5.95 | ||
| 3 to 21 lb | 4 oz. | $5.95 + $0.38/lb above first 3 lb | ||
| Small oversize | 60″ x 30″ | 71 lb or less | 1 lb | $5.42 |
| Medium oversize | 108” (longest side) | 151 lb or less | 1 lb | $5.42 + $0.38/lb above first 3 lb |
| Large oversize | 108” (longest side) | 151 lb or less | 1 lb | $8.26 + $0.38/lb above first 2 lb |
| Special oversize | >108” (longest side) | N/A | 1 lb | $11.37 + $0.39/lb above first 2 lb |
¹ Shipping weight is calculated by adding the packaging weight to the unit weight
² Add $0.11 per unit for items with lithium batteries
FBA Storage Fees
The inventory storage fee is based on the daily average volume for the space your goods occupy in an Amazon fulfillment center. The volume measurement is based on unit size, it’s the size when the goods are properly packaged and ready to ship.
| Month | Standard size | Oversize |
|---|---|---|
| January – September | $0.75 per cubic foot | $0.48 per cubic foot |
| September – January | $2.40 per cubic foot | $1.20 per cubic foot |
* Storage fees are based on the daily average volume (measured in cubic feet) for the space your inventory occupies in Amazon fulfillment centers.
Fees that Amazon FBM Sellers Pay
FBM sellers have fixed credits for shipping media (books, music, videos, DVDs).
| Shipping method | Books | Music | Videos | DVDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Standard * | $3.99 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Domestic Expedited ** | $6.99 | $6.19 | $6.19 | $6.19 |
| Domestic Two Day *** | $14.95 | $14.95 | $14.95 | $14.95 |
| International Standard | up to 1 lb. – $16.95 over 1 lb. – $24.95 | $14.95 | $14.95 | $14.95 |
| International Expedited | $46.50 | $46.50 | $46.50 | $46.50 |
* Includes APO, FPO, and U.S. Protectorate addresses.
**Two-Day Shipping is available to eligible sellers only. Learn more about Premium Shipping options.
***Refers to the weight of the item, excluding the seller’s packaging.
For all other product categories, FBM sellers either set their own shipping fees or adhere to the following:
| Shipping method | Video Games | Software & Computer Games | All other categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Standard * | $3.99 | $3.99 | $4.49 + $0.50/lb*** |
| Domestic Expedited ** | $6.99 | $6.99 | $6.49 + $0.99/lb*** |
| Domestic Two Day *** | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| International Standard | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| International Expedited | Not available | Not available | Not available |
* Includes APO, FPO, and U.S. Protectorate addresses.
**Two-Day Shipping is available to eligible sellers only. Learn more about Premium Shipping options.
***Refers to the weight of the item, excluding the seller’s packaging.
Fees that Amazon FBM Sellers Pay
Should you refund a customer for an item for which you have already been paid, Amazon will refund you your referral fee minus 20% of the referral fee or $5.00 (whichever is less).
High-Volume Listing Fee
A High Volume listing fee applies to sellers with several thousands of SKUs. Should you have multiple active listings with no selling activity for over 12 months, Amazon charges you $0.005 per listing for the cost of maintaining a catalog entry. This only applies after the first 100,000 listings/ASINs.
High-Volume Listing Fee
Amazon will charge you $5 per rental textbook listing.
Bottom Line
That was a lot of numbers. We know. That’s why it’s important to study your market very carefully and conduct product research long before you even start selling. Make sure that whatever you’re going to jump into is profitable. The difference between profit and loss can be slim on every item you sell on Amazon, so it’s vital that you understand the fees and costs that incur. With this knowledge in mind, you’ll be able to find profitable products and enjoy success in this huge, ever-growing marketplace.
