The Two Fees Behind Every FBA Sale
Every FBA sale is hit by two main Amazon charges: a referral fee (a percentage of the sale price) and an FBA fulfillment fee (a flat amount based on size and weight). Together they typically consume 25–40% of your selling price before you've paid for the product itself.
Referral Fees by Category
Referral percentages vary by category. These are the common 2026 rates — always confirm the current schedule in Seller Central, since Amazon adjusts them periodically:
| Category | Typical Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Most categories | 15% |
| Consumer electronics | 8% |
| Clothing & accessories | 17% |
| Jewelry | 20% |
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% |
Most categories also carry a minimum referral fee (commonly around $0.30), which matters most on low-priced items.
What the Fulfillment Fee Covers (and What It Doesn't)
The FBA fulfillment fee covers picking, packing, shipping to the customer, and customer service and returns handling. It scales with the product's size tier and weight, so shaving even a fraction off your packaging dimensions can move you into a cheaper tier.
It does not include monthly inventory storage fees (charged per cubic foot, higher in Q4) or long-term storage fees on items held over 365 days. Budget for those separately when you forecast profitability.