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Every referral fee rate explained — from 3% to 45% — with tiered pricing rules, minimum fees, and a free calculator to estimate your exact cost.
The referral fee is Amazon's sales commission — the percentage they take from every sale on their marketplace. Think of it as rent for selling in the world's largest store.
Here's every Amazon referral fee rate for 2026, organized by percentage:
| Category | Referral Fee Rate (2026) | Minimum Fee / Item |
|---|---|---|
| Computers | 8% | $0.30 |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% | $0.30 |
| Full-size Appliances | 8% | $0.30 |
| Video Game Consoles | 8% | — |
| Automotive & Powersports | 12% | $0.30 |
| Base Equipment Power Tools | 12% | $0.30 |
| Business, Industrial & Scientific | 12% | $0.30 |
| Category | Referral Fee Rate (2026) | Minimum Fee / Item |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacks, Handbags & Luggage | 15% | $0.30 |
| Everything Else | 15% | $0.30 |
| Eyewear | 15% | $0.30 |
| Footwear | 15% | $0.30 |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% | $0.30 |
| Lawn & Garden | 15% | $0.30 |
| Mattresses | 15% | $0.30 |
| Media (Books, DVD, Music, Software, Video) | 15% | — |
| Musical Instruments | 15% | $0.30 |
| Office Products | 15% | $0.30 |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% | $0.30 |
| Tools & Home Improvement | 15% | $0.30 |
| Toys & Games | 15% | $0.30 |
| Video Games & Game Accessories | 15% | — |
These categories do not use a single flat percentage — the rate depends on the total sales price. Charges on each band apply only to the portion of the price inside that band.
| Category | Referral Fee Rate (2026) | Minimum Fee / Item |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Products | 8% (≤$10) / 15% (>$10) | $0.30 |
| Beauty & Personal Care | 8% (≤$10) / 15% (>$10) | $0.30 |
| Clothing & Accessories | 5% (≤$15) / 10% ($15–20) / 17% (>$20) | $0.30 |
| Compact Appliances | 15% on first $300 / 8% above | $0.30 |
| Electronics Accessories | 15% on first $100 / 8% above | $0.30 |
| Fine Art | 20% / 15% / 10% / 5% (price tiers) | — |
| Furniture | 15% on first $200 / 10% above | $0.30 |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | 8% (≤$15) / 15% (>$15) | — |
| Jewelry | 20% on first $250 / 5% above | $0.30 |
| Lawn Mowers & Snow Throwers | 15% (≤$500) / 8% (>$500) | $0.30 |
| Pet Products | 15% (Rx pet food 22%) | $0.30 |
| Watches | 16% on first $1,500 / 3% above | $0.30 |
| Category | Referral Fee Rate (2026) | Minimum Fee / Item |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% | $0.30 |
| Gift Cards | 20% | — |
| Seller-Fulfilled Services | 20% | $0.30 |
| Tires | 10% | $0.30 |
Some categories have tiered referral fees that change based on the sale price. Here's how they work:
| Total Sales Price | Referral Fee Rate | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 or less | 8% | — |
| Over $15.00 | 15% | — |
Example: $12 of coffee beans → 8% = $0.96. The same item at $30 → 15% = $4.50. Crossing the $15 line steps the rate up on the whole price, not just the excess.
| Total Sales Price | Referral Fee Rate | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 or less | 8% | $0.30 |
| Over $10.00 | 15% | $0.30 |
Example: A $9 lip balm → 8% = $0.72. A $14 serum → 15% = $2.10.
| Total Sales Price | Referral Fee Rate | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 or less | 5% | $0.30 |
| $15.01 – $20.00 | 10% | $0.30 |
| Over $20.00 | 17% | $0.30 |
Example: A $12 tee → 5% = $0.60. A $29.99 dress → 17% = $5.10.
For the categories below, each rate applies only to the portion of the total sales price that falls inside that band. This is the key distinction from the step-up rules above.
| Category | Rate by Price Band |
|---|---|
| Electronics Accessories | 15% on the first $100.00, then 8% above $100.00 |
| Compact Appliances | 15% on the first $300.00, then 8% above $300.00 |
| Furniture | 15% on the first $200.00, then 10% above $200.00 |
| Jewelry | 20% on the first $250.00, then 5% above $250.00 |
| Watches | 16% on the first $1,500.00, then 3% above $1,500.00 |
| Fine Art | 20% up to $100, 15% to $1,000, 10% to $5,000, 5% above $5,000 |
| Lawn Mowers & Snow Throwers | 15% up to $500.00, then 8% above $500.00 |
Worked example — Watches: a $7,000 watch is charged $1,500 × 16% + $5,500 × 3% = $240.00 + $165.00 = $405.00. The rate does not drop to 3% on the whole amount; only the portion above $1,500 gets 3%.
Most categories have a $0.30 minimum referral fee per item. This means:
Media categories (books, DVDs, music, software and video) are charged a flat 15% referral fee with no minimum fee. Amazon's current referral fee schedule lists "—" for the minimum on these categories. There is no separate variable closing fee added on top in the 2026 schedule — if you see a line item for one, check Seller Central, because the historic $1.80 media closing fee is not part of the rate card above.
Let's calculate the actual referral fees for common products:
| Product | Category | Price | Rate Applied | Referral Fee | Effective % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone case | Electronics Accessories | $14.99 | 15% on first $100 / 8% above | $2.25 | 15.0% |
| Wireless earbuds | Consumer Electronics | $29.99 | 8% | $2.40 | 8.0% |
| Kitchen gadget | Home & Kitchen | $24.99 | 15% | $3.75 | 15.0% |
| Yoga mat | Sports & Outdoors | $19.99 | 15% | $3.00 | 15.0% |
| Women's dress | Clothing & Accessories | $39.99 | 5% (≤$15) / 10% ($15–20) / 17% (>$20) | $6.80 | 17.0% |
| Necklace | Jewelry | $49.99 | 20% on first $250 / 5% above | $10.00 | 20.0% |
| Hardcover novel | Media (Books, DVD, Music, Software, Video) | $12.99 | 15% | $1.95 | 15.0% |
| Auto part | Automotive & Powersports | $34.99 | 12% | $4.20 | 12.0% |
| Power tool | Tools & Home Improvement | $79.99 | 15% | $12.00 | 15.0% |
| Kindle case | Amazon Device Accessories | $19.99 | 45% | $9.00 | 45.0% |
| $7,000 watch | Watches | $7000 | 16% on first $1,500 / 3% above | $405.00 | 5.8% |
On a $29.99 wireless earbuds (Consumer Electronics, 8%):
On a $39.99 women's dress (Clothing & Accessories, 17%):
The dress costs more than twice as much in Amazon fees — not because of fulfillment, but because of the referral fee rate. Category choice is the #1 lever for reducing Amazon fees. Note that the same $29.99 item classified as an electronics accessory rather than consumer electronics would pay 15% ($4.50), not 8%.
If your product fits multiple categories, choose the one with the lower referral fee. A multi-purpose tool might qualify for "Tools & Home Improvement" (15%) rather than "Base Equipment Power Tools" (12%), or a bundled item might sit in "Everything Else" (15%) instead of a specialist category. Rate differences of 3–7 points are common, so read the fee category definitions before you commit to a listing.
The $0.30 minimum fee punishes cheap items. Bundling 3 units of a $3 item into a $9 pack reduces the effective minimum fee from 10% to 3.3%.
Amazon charges $0.60 per coupon redemption. If you offer a $1 coupon on a $15 item, the customer saves $1 but you pay $1.60 total ($1 discount + $0.60 fee). Sometimes it's cheaper to just lower the price.
Private label products in less competitive categories often have more pricing power. A higher price with the same referral fee rate means more absolute profit.
Before setting your price, calculate backwards:
Use our free calculator to estimate your exact referral fee:
Enter your product category and price to see referral fees, fulfillment fees, and total profit — all in one place.
Open Fee Estimator →The ylishi.tools Fee Estimator covers all 23 Amazon categories with 2026 rates, including tiered pricing rules and the $0.30 minimum fee.
For a complete profit calculation (not just fees), use the ylishi.tools Profit Calculator — enter your price and product cost to see net profit, margin, ROI, and break-even price instantly.
The Amazon referral fee is a percentage-based commission Amazon charges on every sale. It ranges from 3% to 45% depending on your product category, with most categories at 15%. The fee is calculated on the total sale price (including shipping) and is deducted automatically when the order ships.
The minimum referral fee is $0.30 per item in most categories. This means even if your product sells for $1.00 with a 15% referral fee ($0.15), Amazon still charges $0.30 as the minimum.
It depends which electronics category the item falls in. Computers, consumer electronics, full-size appliances and video game consoles are charged 8% — $8.00 on a $100 item. But electronics accessories (cases, cables, chargers) are charged 15% on the first $100 and 8% above that, so a $100 accessory pays $15.00. Always check which side of that line your product lands on.
Yes. The referral fee applies to ALL Amazon sales regardless of fulfillment method. Whether you use FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) or FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant), Amazon takes the same referral fee commission.
Amazon Device Accessories has the highest referral fee at 45% of the sale price. This includes accessories for Kindle, Echo, Fire TV, and other Amazon devices. The next highest are Gift Cards and Seller-Fulfilled Services at 20%. The lowest is 3% on the portion of a watch above $1,500, with 8% for computers and consumer electronics.
See our fee cards & rate comparison boards on Pinterest.