Amazon’s long-term storage fee — officially renamed the Aged Inventory Surcharge — is a monthly penalty applied to FBA units that have been sitting in a fulfillment center for more than 181 days. It stacks on top of the standard monthly storage fee and escalates with age.
How the Aged Inventory Surcharge Works
- Amazon runs an inventory-age assessment on the 15th of every month.
- Any unit stored for 181 or more days is charged the surcharge in addition to the base monthly storage fee.
- The surcharge rate escalates: 181-210 days is the lowest tier, 271-365 days is higher, and 365+ days is the highest.
- Fees are debited from the next disbursement and appear on the Storage Fees report.
- Units removed, disposed of, or sold before the 15th assessment date avoid that month’s charge.
Aged Inventory Surcharge Rate Structure
| Storage Age | Approximate Rate (per cubic foot) |
|---|---|
| 181-210 days | $0.50 |
| 211-240 days | $0.60 |
| 241-270 days | $0.85 |
| 271-300 days | $1.40 |
| 301-330 days | $1.90 |
| 331-365 days | $2.40 |
| 365+ days | $6.90 |
Rates change with Amazon’s periodic fee updates — confirm current amounts in Seller Central’s FBA inventory storage fees help page.
Why It Matters for Sellers
The Aged Inventory Surcharge can turn a slow-moving SKU from breakeven into a loss overnight — especially at the 365+ tier where fees exceed most product wholesale costs. Sellers who monitor sell-through rates and act on aging inventory (price promotions, Outlet listings, or removal orders) before day 181 avoid the surcharge entirely.
How SellerSonar Helps
- Retail Issues Alerts surface stranded and slow-moving units before they cross the 181-day line.
- The FBA Calculator models the true landed cost of a SKU including storage assumptions.
Start your free SellerSonar trial today.
Related Terms
- Stranded Inventory — units in an FC that no active listing can sell, prime candidates for aging fees
- IPI (Inventory Performance Index) — score that reflects how well you avoid aged and excess inventory
- Amazon FBA — the program the surcharge applies to