April 6, 2026 · 7 min read
Fees verified October 20, 2026
Amazon is the biggest marketplace in the world — but its fee structure is also the most complex. Between referral fees, FBA fulfillment fees, storage fees, and closing fees, it's easy to lose track of what you're actually paying. Here's the complete breakdown for 2026.
Unlike most platforms that charge a single percentage, Amazon stacks multiple fees on every sale:
The referral fee is the big one — it's Amazon's cut for giving you access to their massive buyer base. Rates vary significantly by category:
Most categories: 15%
Electronics: 8%
Automotive: 12%
Apparel (tiered):
$0–$15 → 5%
$15–$20 → 10%
$20+ → 17%
Jewelry (tiered):
$0–$250 → 20%
$250+ → 5% on amount above $250
Minimum referral fee: $0.30 per item (most categories)
The $0.30 minimum means even very cheap items in most categories will cost you at least $0.30 in referral fees.
If you sell books, music, DVDs, or video, Amazon adds an extra $1.80 closing fee per sale. This is on top of the referral fee and any FBA fees. It's a significant hit on low-priced media — a $5 used book loses $1.80 right off the top before the 15% referral fee even kicks in.
Amazon offers two selling plans:
If you're selling more than 40 items a month, the Professional plan saves you money. At 100 sales/month, you're saving $59.01 vs the Individual plan.
Example 1: $25 Book (Professional plan)
Sale price: $25.00
Referral fee (15%): $3.75
FBA fulfillment fee (Large standard, 4 oz or less + 3.5% surcharge): $3.86
Closing fee (media): $1.80
Total Amazon FBA fees: $9.41
Your payout: $25.00 − $9.41 = $15.59
Effective fee rate: 37.6%
Example 2: $100 Electronics Item
Sale price: $100.00
Referral fee (8%): $8.00
FBA fulfillment fee (Large standard, 4 oz or less + 3.5% surcharge): $3.86
Total Amazon FBA fees: $11.86
Your payout: $100.00 − $11.86 = $88.14
Effective fee rate: 11.9%
Example 3: $50 Apparel Item
Sale price: $50.00
Referral fee (17%): $8.50
FBA fulfillment fee (Large standard, 4 oz or less + 3.5% surcharge): $3.86
Total Amazon FBA fees: $12.36
Your payout: $50.00 − $12.36 = $37.64
Effective fee rate: 24.7%
These examples use the large standard FBA fulfillment fee ($3.73 plus Amazon's 3.5% surcharge = $3.86); real fulfillment fees vary by item size and weight, and monthly storage fees are extra. FeePilot's calculator includes the referral fee, the FBA fulfillment fee ($3.86 large standard, $7.81 small bulky, surcharge included) and the media closing fee — the same numbers you see above.
Amazon's referral fees are generally higher than most peer-to-peer platforms:
The trade-off: Amazon has by far the largest buyer base. The higher fees buy you access to hundreds of millions of active shoppers, Prime shipping trust, and the Buy Box algorithm.
Use FeePilot to calculate your exact Amazon fees by category — then compare across all 20 platforms to see where you'll net the most profit.
Disclaimer: FeePilot is not affiliated with Amazon. This article is based on publicly available fee information; FeePilot last verified Amazon's fees on October 20, 2026. Always consult Amazon's official pricing page for the latest rates.
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