Fee Categories
Amazon splits charges into four buckets:
- Referral fee – a percentage of the item price that varies by category.
- FBA fulfilment fee – pick, pack, and ship cost based on size tier and weight.
- Monthly storage – charged per cubic foot for inventory sitting in fulfilment centres.
- Optional service fees – prep, long-term storage, removals, and refund administration.
Quick Formula to Check Profit
- Add landed cost: product + inbound shipping.
- Subtract referral and fulfilment fees.
- Deduct storage based on expected days in stock.
- The remainder is net profit before ads and promos.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Storage jumps during peak season, and long-term storage kicks in on items older than one year. Small-and-light items recently moved to regular size tiers, raising per-unit fees. Budget a buffer so sudden changes do not flip a profitable SKU into negative territory.
SellerSonar Fee Helpers 🐠
- FBA Calculator – plug in weight, size, and price to see instant net margin with every fee line item.
- Product Monitoring – catch Buy Box price drops that can wipe your margin if fees stay fixed.
- Retail Issues Alerts – get notified if Amazon raises fulfilment or storage charges on your category so you can re-price before payouts shrink.
For current rates and worked examples, read our guide to Amazon seller fees.
Start your free SellerSonar trial and keep every fee line in check before profits disappear
Related Terms
- Referral Fee, the percentage Amazon takes on every sale
- FBA Fees Calculator, the way to model the deductions before you list
- Long-Term Storage Fee, the fee that punishes inventory that stops moving