FBA Capacity Manager: How to Request Additional Storage Limits and Offset Fees Through Performance Credits
Amazon's Capacity Manager lets FBA sellers request storage limit increases by bidding a reservation fee, which can be fully offset through performance credits earned on sales generated with the extra space.
Overview
Amazon's Capacity Manager is a tool that allows FBA sellers to request increases to their storage capacity limits when they anticipate higher demand for their products. By bidding a reservation fee that can be offset through sales-based performance credits, sellers can secure extra fulfillment center space for upcoming periods without any upfront payment.
Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know
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Requests are for future periods only — Capacity increase requests cannot be submitted for the current storage period. You can only request additional capacity for upcoming periods where Amazon has announced a confirmed or estimated limit.
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No upfront payment required — While you must specify a maximum reservation fee you're willing to pay, Amazon does not charge anything upfront. The fee is only assessed after the period concludes.
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Performance credits offset your fees — You earn $0.15 in performance credits for every dollar of sales generated using the additional capacity. Amazon designed this credit structure so that sellers who use the extra space productively can offset 100% of the reservation fee.
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Lowest granted fee applies to all — Among all sellers whose requests are approved in the same weekly review cycle, the lowest granted reservation fee becomes the rate everyone pays, even if you originally bid higher.
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Requests are granted objectively — Amazon evaluates requests purely based on the reservation fee amount, starting from the highest bid and working down until available capacity is allocated.
How the Request Process Works
To request additional capacity, sellers navigate to the Capacity Manager page within Seller Central. From there, you can create a request for any future period where Amazon has published a confirmed or estimated storage limit. Each request requires two pieces of information: the amount of additional capacity you need for a specific storage type and period, and the maximum reservation fee you're willing to pay for that space. The maximum amount you can request will vary depending on available capacity across Amazon's fulfillment network at that time. Once submitted, Amazon reviews requests on a regular cycle, typically every three to four days, and grants them as fulfillment center space becomes available.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
FBA sellers who hit storage limits can miss revenue opportunities during peak demand. Capacity Manager provides a path to secure additional space, and understanding the fee-offset mechanics helps sellers avoid unexpected costs while scaling inventory.
Key Takeaways
- You earn $0.15 in performance credits per dollar of sales generated with extra capacity, potentially offsetting 100% of the reservation fee
- All granted sellers in the same weekly cycle pay the lowest approved reservation fee, not their original bid
- Requests are evaluated purely by bid amount — higher reservation fees are granted first
- Additional capacity may be available up to one month before the requested period for early shipment preparation
Recommended Actions
- →Review your historical sell-through rates before submitting a capacity request to set a reservation fee you can realistically offset with performance credits
- →Submit capacity requests well in advance of peak seasons to secure space before fulfillment centers fill up
- →Monitor your performance credits during the granted period to ensure your sales are on track to cover the reservation fee
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