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← ylishi.toolsKey fact: FBA and FBM are not competing fee lines; they are competing cost structures. FBA converts storage, pick, pack and delivery into a predictable per-unit fee, while FBM keeps those costs variable and adds your own handling time and shipping. The free calculator prices the same product both ways so the cheaper method is a number rather than an opinion.
For more detailed analysis, check out our related tools: Amazon FBA fee calculator, FBA profit calculator, and Amazon PPC calculator.
Planning to switch models? Read our FBA vs FBM in-depth guide or estimate margins with the FBA profit calculator.
See the real cost comparison with a live calculator demo — FBA vs FBM side by side.
FBA charges a fulfillment fee of $3.50-$9.00 for standard-size items ($15+ oversize) plus storage, while FBM costs you your own shipping plus about $0.50 packing supplies. Both pay the same 15% referral fee. FBM is cheaper when your shipping cost beats the FBA fee by more than $0.50.
FBM wins on low-margin or oversized items where the FBA fulfillment fee eats the profit, and when you can ship cheaper than FBA's tier (e.g., lightweight items under 1 lb). Factor in that FBM typically converts 10-30% lower without the Prime badge.
Run the numbers per SKU: if your shipped cost per unit is lower than the FBA fulfillment fee minus $0.50, FBM nets more per unit — but multiply by the conversion difference. Most sellers keep FBA for fast-moving SKUs and use FBM for slow or oversized ones.
US rates by size tier: Small Standard $3.50 (up to 1 lb) then $4.50; Large Standard $5.50 (up to 2 lb), $7.50 (up to 5 lb), $9.00 above; Oversize starts at $15.00. Storage adds $0.10 per unit standard.
FBA net profit/unit = Price − COGS − (Price × 15% referral) − FBA fulfillment fee − storage. FBM net profit/unit = Price − COGS − (Price × 15%) − your shipping cost − $0.50 packing supplies.
Data source: Amazon US FBA fee schedule (2026 rates), matched to this calculator's engine on 2026-09-01. Verify current tiers in Seller Central before pricing decisions.
FBA vs FBM: Which Fulfillment Method Is Right for You? (Full Guide) · FBA vs FBM Cost Comparison 2026 (fee-by-fee breakdown)