Overview

In 2021 Amazon kept its layered fee model, mixing fixed subscriptions, percentage‑based referral charges, and variable fulfillment and storage costs. Sellers who understand each component can price their listings accurately and avoid surprise deductions that erode profit margins.

Key Points

• Referral fee spectrum — Most product categories are charged 15 % of the total sale price, while electronics are billed at 8 % and media items such as books, music, and DVDs can attract up to 45 % plus a $0.30 minimum.
• Professional plan economics — The $39.99 monthly subscription replaces the $0.99 per‑item fee of the Individual plan and becomes cheaper once a seller averages about 40 sales per month.
• FBA pick‑pack pricing — For a standard‑size, 1‑lb SKU, Amazon’s fulfillment fee breaks down to $2.50 for picking and packing plus a $0.30 weight‑handling surcharge; oversized units can push the per‑unit cost above $5.
• Seasonal storage rates — From January through September, Amazon charges $0.75 per cubic foot for standard‑size inventory; the rate spikes to $2.40 per cubic foot during the October‑December holiday window.
• Long‑term storage surcharge — Inventory that sits for more than 365 days incurs a $6.90 per cubic foot fee or $0.15 per unit, whichever amount is higher, prompting sellers to move or liquidate slow‑moving stock.
• Removal and disposal costs — Requesting Amazon to pull a standard‑size unit from its warehouses costs $0.50 per item, while opting for disposal is $0.15 per unit, quickly adding up for large overstock piles.

How Amazon Fees Work

1. Product listing creation — The seller adds a new SKU, selects the appropriate category, and Amazon applies the category‑specific referral rate. For example, a novel falls under the “Books, Music, Video & DVD” group and triggers a 45 % referral fee, whereas a kitchen gadget is subject to the standard 15 % rate.
2. Referral fee calculation — Amazon computes the fee on the item price plus any shipping or gift‑wrap charges. A $25 kitchen gadget shipped with $5 of postage results in a referral charge of 15 % × ($25 + $5) = $4.50.