Amazon FBA Reimbursement Calculator
Estimate how much Amazon owes you for lost and damaged FBA inventory — and how much you're leaving on the table.
Typical: 0.5–2%
Typical: 0.3–1%
% of eligible claims you actually file & win
Leave blank to auto-estimate at ~75% of selling price
How Amazon FBA Reimbursements Work
Amazon's FBA warehouses handle millions of units daily. Inevitably, some inventory gets lost during inbound receiving, damaged by warehouse staff, destroyed by customers returning in unsellable condition, or lost in transit to the buyer. When this happens, Amazon is supposed to reimburse you — but they don't always do it automatically.
Reimbursements typically cover the item's selling price minus Amazon's fees, or they may reimburse based on a "comparable" product price in the marketplace. The exact amount varies, but ~75% of the selling price is a common benchmark.
Types of FBA Reimbursement Claims
- Lost inventory — units that Amazon's system shows as received but are no longer in stock
- Damaged inventory — units damaged by Amazon's warehouse staff during handling or storage
- Customer return not received — buyer was refunded but never returned the item
- Wrong reimbursement amount — Amazon reimbursed less than the correct value
- Inbound shipment discrepancies — you shipped 500 units but Amazon only received 480
How to Maximize Your Reimbursements
- Audit your inventory reports monthly — download the Inventory Adjustments report from Seller Central
- File claims within Amazon's window (typically 18 months for most claim types)
- Cross-reference returns with actual received inventory to catch "phantom returns"
- Track inbound shipments carefully — always count your cartons and use Amazon's partnered carriers for better tracking
- Consider reimbursement audit services (GETIDA, Refund Genie, etc.) if volume justifies the cost
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of FBA inventory is typically lost or damaged?
Most sellers report 1–3% of total inventory being affected by losses or damage over a year. High-volume sellers with fragile products may see higher rates. This makes proactive reimbursement filing essential for maintaining margins.
Does Amazon automatically reimburse for lost inventory?
Sometimes. Amazon auto-reimburses for some known issues, but many cases require manual claims. Studies suggest sellers who actively audit and file claims recover 30–60% more than those who rely on auto-reimbursements alone.
How long do I have to file a reimbursement claim?
Amazon's reimbursement policy allows claims within 18 months for most issue types. However, filing promptly (within 30–60 days of the discrepancy) is recommended as documentation may be harder to obtain later.
Are reimbursement audit services worth it?
For sellers doing 500+ units/month, services like GETIDA or Seller Investigators typically pay for themselves. They charge a percentage of recovered funds (usually 25%) and often find claims sellers miss. For smaller sellers, manual monthly audits are usually sufficient.
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