How Amazon seller fees work in 2026
Selling on Amazon means two main per-sale fees — and, for most sellers, a monthly plan on top:
- • Referral fee — a category commission, usually 15%, but 8% for electronics, computers and cameras, up to 20% for jewelry. There's a $0.30 minimum per item.
- • FBA fulfillment fee — if Amazon ships for you, roughly $3.50 to $10+ per unit by size and weight. Skip it with FBM (you ship).
- • Selling plan — $39.99/month (Professional) or $0.99/item (Individual), separate from the above.
Worked example: a $25 item, most categories, FBA small standard
- • Sale price: $25.00
- • Referral fee (15% of $25): $3.75
- • FBA fulfillment (small standard): $3.50
- • Total Amazon fees: $7.25 → you keep $17.75 (about a 29% effective rate, before the monthly plan)
FBA punishes small, cheap, heavy items. On a low-priced product the flat fulfillment fee can dwarf the referral percentage — which is why right-sizing packaging to drop a size tier is one of the biggest levers on Amazon margin.
Amazon referral fee by category
Unlike most marketplaces, Amazon's headline cut depends entirely on what you sell — the referral fee ranges from 8% to 20%+. Here's what you keep on a $50 item, before any FBA fee or the monthly plan:
| Category | Referral | Fee on $50 | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics, Computers, Grocery | 8% | $4.00 | $46.00 |
| Home, Beauty, Books, Toys, Sports | 15% | $7.50 | $42.50 |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% | $8.50 | $41.50 |
| Jewelry | 20% | $10.00 | $40.00 |
A $0.30 minimum referral fee applies, so very cheap items pay the floor instead of the percentage. Add FBA (~$3.50–$13/unit by size) and the $39.99/month Professional plan to get your true all-in cost.
Ways to keep more of each Amazon sale
- • Know your category rate. Electronics (8%) keeps almost twice as much per dollar as jewelry (20%) — it changes which products are worth listing.
- • Fulfill yourself (FBM) when you can. FBA adds roughly $3.50–$13 a unit plus storage; on small, cheap items that fee often dwarfs the referral.
- • Match your plan to volume. The $39.99/month Professional plan only beats the $0.99-per-item Individual plan past about 40 sales a month.
- • Mind the payout FX. Amazon pays in the marketplace's currency; converting it home can add 2–4% on top — route it through a mid-market service.
The cross-border payout most sellers underestimate
Amazon disburses your sales in the marketplace's currency. If you sell on Amazon US but bank elsewhere — or sell internationally — converting those disbursements can add a 2–4% exchange-rate markup, on top of every fee above. Many sellers route Amazon payouts through Payoneer or Wise to hold the currency and convert at the real rate. See the difference with the Payoneer and Wise calculators.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Amazon take per sale?
It depends on category and fulfillment. The referral fee is 8–15% for most categories (most are 15%, electronics and computers 8%, jewelry up to 20%), with a $0.30 minimum per item. If you use FBA, add a fulfillment fee of roughly $3.50–$10+ depending on size and weight. An FBA seller in a 15% category often pays 25–35% all-in on smaller, lower-priced items.
What is the Amazon referral fee?
It is Amazon’s commission on each sale — a percentage of the total price (item plus shipping), varying by category from about 6% to 45%. Most categories are 15%; electronics and computers are 8%. A $0.30 minimum referral fee applies per item.
What’s the difference between referral fees and FBA fees?
The referral fee is Amazon’s commission for selling on the marketplace, charged on every sale. FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) fees are separate and pay Amazon to store, pick, pack and ship your product. If you fulfill orders yourself (FBM) you avoid the FBA fee but handle shipping and storage.
Does this include the Amazon monthly seller fee?
No. The Professional selling plan costs $39.99/month, or the Individual plan charges $0.99 per item sold instead. This calculator shows the per-sale referral and FBA fees; add the plan fee separately based on your monthly volume.
How do I keep more of each Amazon sale?
Choose the right category and price tier (some, like jewelry, drop to a lower rate above a threshold), right-size and lighten your packaging to land in a cheaper FBA tier, and use a low-cost international payout. Amazon pays out in the marketplace’s currency, and converting it to your home currency can add a 2–4% markup on top of the seller fees.
Which Amazon categories have the highest and lowest referral fees?
The lowest are 8% — Electronics, Computers, Camera & Photo and Grocery — while most categories (Home, Beauty, Books, Toys, Sports) are 15%. Clothing & Accessories is 17% and Jewelry is the highest at 20%. There is a $0.30 minimum referral fee per item, so very cheap products pay the floor rather than the percentage. On a $50 item that is the difference between keeping $46 (electronics) and $40 (jewelry).
How much does Amazon FBA cost per unit?
FBA fulfillment fees depend on size and weight, not price. As a rough 2026 guide, a small standard unit (under 1 lb) runs about $3.50, large standard is roughly $4.75 to $9.50 as it gets heavier, and oversize is $13 or more — plus monthly storage. That is on top of the referral fee, which is why an FBA seller in a 15% category can pay 25–35% all-in on small, cheap items. Fulfilling orders yourself (FBM) avoids it.