Overview

When Amazon sellers need to pull inventory out of Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) warehouses, they incur removal order fees for every unit that gets returned to them or disposed of. These per-unit charges vary based on the size and weight of each product, and they apply whether sellers choose to have items shipped back or permanently destroyed. Understanding these fees is essential for making smart inventory management decisions and avoiding unnecessary costs.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Fees are charged per unit — Every item included in a removal order incurs an individual fee, regardless of whether it is being returned to the seller or disposed of by Amazon.
• Size tier matters — Products classified as standard-size pay lower removal fees than those in oversize categories. Items in special oversize tiers face the highest charges.
• Weight affects cost — Within each size tier, heavier items cost more to remove. Fees increase at defined weight thresholds, with additional surcharges applied for items that exceed certain weight limits.
• Return and disposal fees are the same — Amazon charges identical removal fees whether inventory is shipped back to the seller or destroyed at the fulfillment center.
• Processing times vary — Removal orders can take up to 90 days to process during peak periods, though most are completed within 10 to 14 business days.
• Liquidation is an alternative — Sellers may also choose the FBA Liquidations program as an alternative to standard removal, which can recover partial value from unsold inventory.

How Removal Fees Are Calculated

Amazon determines removal fees based on a product's size tier and shipping weight. For standard-size items, the base removal fee starts at around $0.97 per unit for items weighing up to half a pound, and scales upward as weight increases. Items in the one-to-two-pound range typically incur fees of roughly $1.40 to $1.80 per unit. Oversize items carry significantly higher removal fees, often starting above $3.00 per unit and increasing substantially for items classified as special oversize. Amazon periodically adjusts these fee schedules, so sellers should check the current rate card in Seller Central before placing large removal orders. The shipping weight used for fee calculation includes packaging materials, which means the billable weight may be slightly higher than the product weight alone.