Overview

Amazon announced that its 2026 FBA fulfillment fees will rise by roughly $0.08 per unit, a modest lift that disproportionately squeezes low‑priced items. Because the increase adds to existing storage, inbound, and inventory penalties, sellers must re‑evaluate profitability on a SKU‑by‑SKU basis to keep margins intact.

Key Points

• Fee uplift — Standard‑size fulfillment fees climb an average of $0.08 per unit, with the exact amount varying by weight and size tier.
• Storage pressure — Monthly storage rates stay flat, but the aged‑inventory surcharge still activates after 181 days, penalizing slow‑moving stock.
• Margin threshold — Any SKU falling below a 10 % net margin after all costs should be flagged for repricing, repackaging, or removal.
• Packaging leverage — Reducing dimensions or weight can shift a product into a cheaper fee tier, saving several cents per unit.
• Ad efficiency — Optimizing bids by time of day and day of week can cut advertising spend without sacrificing sales.
• Fulfillment choice — Products under $15–$20 often lose more to FBA fees than they gain, making FBM or hybrid models more profitable.

What's Changing

1. Higher fulfillment fees — A 12‑ounce, standard‑size item that previously cost $2.50 per unit to fulfill will now cost about $2.58, eroding a 3 % margin on a $10 sale.
2. Steady storage fees with age surcharge — A pallet stored for six months continues to incur the regular $0.75 per cubic foot monthly fee, but once the inventory ages past 181 days, an extra $0.30 per cubic foot is added, turning a $5‑month storage cost of $45 into $63.
3. Unchanged referral rates — Category‑specific referral percentages remain the same, so the only new variable for sellers is the higher fulfillment charge.
4. Inbound placement fees remain — If a seller ships to multiple fulfillment centers instead of consolidating, the $0.30 per shipment fee still applies, adding $0.60 to a two‑center shipment.