Selling on Amazon involves multiple overlapping fee layers. Many new sellers focus only on the referral fee and are surprised when fulfillment costs eat half their margin. Here's every fee you need to account for.
The Two Seller Plans
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Per-Item Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $0 | $0.99 per sale | Fewer than 40 sales/month |
| Professional | $39.99/month | $0 | 40+ sales/month, ads, Buy Box |
The break-even point is 40 sales/month — at that volume the Professional plan pays for itself.
Referral Fees by Category
Amazon charges a referral fee on every sale — a percentage of the total sale price including shipping.
| Category | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Electronics | 8% |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Books | 15% |
| Health & Personal Care | 8% |
| Toys & Games | 15% |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% |
| Beauty | 8% |
Rates shown are typical 2026 rates. Always verify on Amazon's current fee schedule as categories can have tiered rates.
FBA Fulfillment Fees
If you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon picks, packs, and ships for you — but charges per-unit fulfillment fees based on size and weight.
| Size Tier | Weight | Fulfillment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small Standard | ≤ 4 oz | $3.06 |
| Large Standard | ≤ 1 lb | $3.68 |
| Large Standard | 1–2 lb | $4.99 |
| Large Standard | 2–3 lb | $5.59 |
| Large Bulky | ≤ 30 lb | $9.61+ |
FBA also charges monthly storage fees ($0.78–$2.40/cubic ft for standard, higher Oct–Dec).
Full Cost Example: $30 Product
- Sale price: $30.00
- Referral fee (15% — Home & Kitchen): −$4.50
- FBA fulfillment fee (Large Standard, 1 lb): −$3.68
- Professional plan (amortized, 100 sales/mo): −$0.40
- Net after Amazon fees: $21.42
This is before your COGS, shipping to FBA warehouse, and advertising costs.
FBA vs FBM: Which Costs Less?
Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) avoids FBA fees but you handle shipping yourself. FBM makes sense when your product is large/heavy (FBA fees spike) or you have fast, cheap fulfillment. FBA is generally better for small, lightweight items where the Prime badge boosts conversion rates enough to offset fees.
Calculate your Amazon fees