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These overlooked Amazon fees can cost you hundreds per month. Learn what they are and how to avoid them.
Cost: $0.25 - $0.98 per unit
This fee covers Amazon's cost of distributing your inventory across their fulfillment network. It depends on how you split your shipment:
| Placement Option | Fee per Unit | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal Shipment Split | $0.25 - $0.98 | Ship to 1-2 locations (convenient but expensive) |
| Partial Split | $0.15 - $0.50 | Ship to 3-4 locations (balanced) |
| Full Split (Recommended) | $0.00 | Ship to all Amazon-recommended locations |
Cost: 20% of referral fee (capped at $5.00/unit)
Amazon charges a returns processing fee for certain categories. The fee equals 20% of the referral fee on the returned item.
| Category | Returns Processing Fee |
|---|---|
| Clothing & Accessories | 20% of referral fee (capped at $5) |
| Shoes | 20% of referral fee (capped at $5) |
| Watches | 20% of referral fee (capped at $5) |
| Jewelry | 20% of referral fee (capped at $5) |
| Most other categories | No fee |
Cost: 20% of refund amount (capped at $5.00)
When a customer returns an item and you issue a refund, Amazon charges you a Refund Administration Fee — even though you're giving the money back.
| Refund Amount | Admin Fee | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $2.00 | 20% |
| $25.00 | $5.00 | 20% |
| $50.00 | $5.00 (cap) | 10% |
| $100.00 | $5.00 (cap) | 5% |
Cost: $0.97 - $1.98 per unit
If you want Amazon to return or dispose of unsold inventory:
| Size Tier | Return Fee | Disposal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard-Size | $0.97/unit | $0.97/unit |
| Oversize | $1.98/unit | $1.98/unit |
Cost: $0.55 - $3.00 per unit
Amazon charges extra when your inventory arrives with issues that require their intervention:
| Issue | Fee per Unit |
|---|---|
| Missing or incorrect labels | $0.55 |
| Non-compliant packaging | $1.00 |
| Exceeding size/weight limits | $2.00 |
| Hazardous materials issues | $3.00 |
Cost: $1.50 - $5.00 per unit
Amazon charges a Low Inventory Fee when your daily supply of inventory drops below 28 days. This is designed to encourage sellers to maintain adequate stock levels.
| Daily Supply | Fee per Unit |
|---|---|
| 28+ days | $0.00 |
| 21-27 days | $1.50 |
| 14-20 days | $2.50 |
| 7-13 days | $3.50 |
| Under 7 days | $5.00 |
Cost: $0.005 per unit/month for >10,000 active SKUs
If you have more than 10,000 active SKUs in your account, Amazon charges a small per-SKU fee for each additional listing.
| Active SKUs | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 - 10,000 | $0.00 |
| 10,001+ | $0.005/SKU/month |
| Fee Type | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Inbound Placement (Full Split) | $0.00 |
| Returns Processing (8% return rate) | $13.60 |
| Refund Admin (8% return rate) | $40.00 |
| Removal (1% of inventory) | $12.13 |
| Unplanned Services (2% of shipments) | $2.75 |
| Low Inventory (if applicable) | $0.00 - $125.00 |
| Estimated Total: $68 - $193/month | |
On a $24.99 product with $5.00 profit margin (before hidden fees):
These "hidden" fees can turn a profitable product into a money-loser. Factor them into your pricing from day one.
Don't just estimate — calculate every fee including hidden costs. Our calculator includes all 7 hidden fees.
Open Profit Calculator →The 7 most commonly missed FBA fees are: (1) Inbound Placement Fee ($0.25-$0.98/unit), (2) Returns Processing Fee (20% of referral fee), (3) Refund Administration Fee (20% of refund amount, $5 cap), (4) Removal/Disposal Fee ($0.97-$1.98/unit), (5) Unplanned Services Fee ($0.55-$3.00/unit for labeling/packaging issues), (6) Low Inventory Fee ($1.50-$5.00/unit when daily supply drops below 28 days), and (7) High-Volume Listing Fee ($0.005/unit/month for >10,000 SKUs).
The inbound placement fee ranges from $0.25 to $0.98 per unit depending on the placement option you choose. Minimal shipment split (ship to fewer locations) costs $0.25-$0.98/unit. Full shipment split (ship to Amazon's recommended locations) costs $0.00/unit. The fee is waived if you ship to all recommended locations.
Amazon charges a Refund Administration Fee of 20% of the refund amount, capped at $5 per refund. On a $30 item with a $4.50 referral fee (15%), the refund admin fee is $0.90. Amazon keeps this fee even though you refunded the customer.
See our fee cards & rate comparison boards on Pinterest.