Overview

Amazon charges a special handling fee on certain products that require extra care during the fulfillment process. This fee primarily targets televisions with screen sizes of 42 inches or larger, though other products may also be subject to the charge based on weight and fragility considerations. Sellers who deal in large electronics should understand how this fee works to accurately forecast their FBA costs.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Primary trigger is screen size — Televisions with screens measuring 42 inches or larger diagonally will automatically incur the special handling fee. The measurement is taken as the diagonal distance between opposing corners of the screen, which is the standard industry method for sizing displays.

• Weight and fragility also matter — Even televisions below the 42-inch threshold may trigger the special handling fee if they are particularly heavy or fragile. Amazon evaluates these factors to determine whether a product requires additional handling precautions during storage and shipping.

• The fee is in addition to standard FBA fees — The special handling fee is layered on top of regular fulfillment fees, referral fees, and any other applicable charges. Sellers must account for this extra cost when calculating their margins on large television products.

• Fee visibility through reports — Sellers can check whether the special handling fee applies to their specific products by reviewing the appropriate fee reports within Seller Central. This allows for proactive cost planning before listing or sending inventory.

How the Fee Is Determined

Amazon calculates screen size using the diagonal measurement method, which measures the distance from one corner of the display to the opposite corner. This is the same method used universally by television manufacturers and retailers to classify screen sizes. When a television meets or exceeds the 42-inch diagonal threshold, the special handling fee is automatically applied to that product's fulfillment cost structure. However, the assessment is not purely dimensional — Amazon also considers the overall weight of the product and its fragility characteristics, which means some televisions that fall below the size cutoff could still be flagged for the surcharge.