FBA Cost Calculator - Calculate Amazon FBA Fees & Costs
Seller Bookkeeping

FBA Cost Calculator

Calculate all Amazon FBA fees: fulfillment, storage, referral, and more

Understanding FBA Costs

FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) handles storage, picking, packing, and shipping for you. However, it comes with multiple fees that significantly impact profitability.

FBA Fees Include:

1. Fulfillment Fee: Based on product size & weight ($2.50-$100+)

2. Referral Fee: 15% of sale price (varies by category, 8-45%)

3. Monthly Storage Fee: Per cubic foot ($0.87/cubic foot)

4. Long-Term Storage Fee: Items stored 365+ days ($6.90/cubic foot or $0.15/unit)

Total FBA Impact: Most products lose 25-40% of revenue to these fees combined.

FBA Cost Calculator 2025

Calculate all fees for your Amazon FBA product

What customers pay on Amazon
Shipping weight in pounds
Size tier determines fulfillment fee
What you paid for the product
For storage fee calculation
Sale Price: $0.00
Referral Fee (15%): $0.00
Fulfillment Fee: $0.00
Est. Monthly Storage: $0.00
Total FBA Fees (per unit): $0.00
- COGS: $0.00
Net Profit (per unit): $0.00

Monthly at projected volume: $0.00

Real FBA Cost Examples

Example 1: Light Standard Product (PROFITABLE)

  • Sale Price: $25.00
  • Weight: 0.5 lbs (Small Standard)
  • Fulfillment Fee: ~$2.50
  • Referral Fee (15%): $3.75
  • COGS: $8.00
Total Fees = $6.25 + Storage ≈ $6.50
Net Profit = $25 - $6.50 - $8 = $10.50/unit (42% margin) ✓ GOOD

Example 2: Heavy Standard Product (MARGINAL)

  • Sale Price: $30.00
  • Weight: 3 lbs (Standard)
  • Fulfillment Fee: ~$6.04
  • Referral Fee (15%): $4.50
  • COGS: $12.00
Total Fees = $10.54 + Storage ≈ $10.75
Net Profit = $30 - $10.75 - $12 = $7.25/unit (24% margin) ⚠ RISKY

Example 3: Oversized Product (UNPROFITABLE)

  • Sale Price: $50.00
  • Weight: 15 lbs (Large Bulky)
  • Fulfillment Fee: ~$18.00
  • Referral Fee (15%): $7.50
  • COGS: $20.00
Total Fees = $25.50 + Storage ≈ $25.80
Net Profit = $50 - $25.80 - $20 = $4.20/unit (8% margin) ✗ BARELY VIABLE

Critical FBA Cost Insights

  • Weight kills profitability: Every extra pound can add $2-5 in fulfillment fees. Light products are 10x more profitable on FBA.
  • Oversized = bankruptcy: Bulky items face 3-4x higher fulfillment fees. Only sell if margin is 40%+ gross.
  • Storage fees compound: Slow-moving inventory costs $0.87-$6.90 per cubic foot per month. Kill dead SKUs immediately.
  • FBA vs FBM tradeoff: FBA adds ~15-25% cost but drives 3-5x more sales for most categories. Model both before deciding.

FBA Fee Facts & Stats

15%

Average referral fee (varies by category 8-45%)

$2.50

Minimum fulfillment fee (small items)

20 LBS

Max standard size (above = bulky tier)

$0.87

Monthly storage fee per cubic foot

$6.90

Long-term storage (365+ days)

25-40%

Total revenue lost to all FBA fees

FBA Cost FAQ

How are FBA fulfillment fees calculated?

FBA fulfillment fees are based on item size tier and weight: Small Standard (under 1 lb) = ~$2.50. Standard (1-20 lbs) = $2.50-$6.50 depending on weight. Large/Bulky (20-70 lbs) = $10-$20+. Extra-Large (70+ lbs) = $20-$100+. The exact fee depends on exact weight and dimensions. Use Amazon's FBA calculator for precise estimates.

What is Amazon's referral fee?

Amazon referral fee is a percentage of your sale price. Most categories are 15% (Electronics 8%, Collectibles 20%, Jewelry 20%, etc.). This is 15% whether you use FBA or FBM. Some categories charge up to 45%. Check your specific category for exact rates. This fee is mandatory and non-negotiable.

How do monthly storage fees work?

Amazon charges $0.87 per cubic foot per month for standard-size inventory stored Jan-Sept. Oct-Dec rates increase to $1.23 per cubic foot (holiday season). Long-term storage fee: $6.90 per cubic foot (or $0.15 per unit, whichever is greater) for items stored 365+ days. Fast-moving inventory minimizes these costs. Slow SKUs destroy profitability through storage fees.

Should I sell on FBA or FBM?

FBA (25-40% fees) but drives 3-5x higher sales for most categories due to Prime eligibility. FBM (lower fees, ~10-15%) but slower sales and you handle fulfillment. Sweet spot: Use FBA for fast-selling light products (high velocity = low storage impact). Use FBM for slow-moving or heavy items. Many sellers use both: FBA for bestsellers, FBM for niche products.

What's included in FBA fulfillment fee?

The fulfillment fee includes: receiving inventory, quality checks, storage, picking, packing, shipping to customer, and customer support. You pay one fee that covers everything from Amazon receiving your product until it reaches the customer. Customer returns are also handled by Amazon (though they deduct refunds from your account). It's all-inclusive except for storage fees (charged separately).

How can I reduce FBA costs?

1. Sell lighter products (weight = most expensive fee). 2. Optimize inventory turnover (avoid storage fees). 3. Use Products with Simplified Packaging (SIPP) for $0.04-$1.32 discount. 4. Raise prices in low-season to maintain margins. 5. Use FBM for slow sellers. 6. Negotiate supplier discounts to offset fees. 7. Choose high-velocity categories. 8. Remove dead SKUs before long-term storage kicks in.

Can I avoid long-term storage fees?

Not if inventory sits 365+ days. You can: 1. Sell items before 365 days (best option). 2. Remove inventory from FBA before the date and sell via FBM or other channels. 3. Run promotional campaigns (coupons, discounts) to clear slow stock. 4. Change pricing to stimulate demand. 5. Accept that old inventory will incur $6.90/cubic foot charges. Plan ahead: calculate exact 365-day deadline for each shipment and act before charges hit.

Do apparel have higher FBA fees?

Yes, apparel have slightly higher fulfillment fees than non-apparel due to Amazon's extra handling/folding. A standard-size apparel item might be $3.27-$5.90 vs non-apparel $2.50-$6.50 depending on weight. Referral fees are often similar (15%) but some apparel categories are 20%. The difference is modest but compounds across high-volume sellers.