Comprehensive guide to Amazon Seller fees in 2025: Maximize your profits

Referral fees

Referral fees are Amazon’s primary source of revenue calculated as a percentage of your product’s selling price, including the item price and shipping cost, but excluding taxes collected through Amazon’s tax services.

The percentage varies by category, ranging from 6% to 45%, with most categories falling between 8-15%. 

Additionally, a minimum referral fee of $0.30 per item ensures that even low-priced items contribute to Amazon’s earnings.

Closing fee

In addition to Amazon referral fees, sellers in specific categories must pay a variable closing fee. This primarily affects media items. A flat fee, typically ranging from $1.35 to $1.80 per item, is applied to each media item sold to cover order processing and handling.

Specific products subject to these fees include:

• Books: Physical copies of novels, textbooks, and other printed literature.
• DVDs and Blu-rays: Movies, TV shows, and other video content on discs.
• Music: CDs, vinyl records, and other physical music formats.
• Software: Physical copies of computer software and video game discs.
• Video Games: Video game consoles and PC game discs/cartridges.

Optimize your listings and highlight the value of your products to justify the price increase due to the closing fee. For instance, emphasize special editions or bundled offers in your product descriptions.

Individual seller fees

Individual sellers who sell less than 40 items per month are charged $0.99 per item sold. This fee is ideal for casual or most sellers with limited inventory who aren’t ready to commit to a monthly subscription.

Professional seller fees

Professional sellers pay a $39.99 monthly subscription fee. This plan is most suitable for high-volume sellers, being cost-effective for those who move over 40 items monthly. 

A professional selling plan gives access to advanced selling tools, promotional features, and bulk listing capabilities.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fees

FBA allows sellers to store their products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers, where Amazon handles storage, pick-and-pack, shipping, and customer service. The fees for FBA inventory management include:

• FBA Fulfillment fees: These vary based on the product’s size and weight. For example, standard size items can range from $2.50 to $5.50 per unit, while oversize items incur higher fees.
• Monthly FBA Storage fees: Charged based on the volume of inventory stored in Amazon’s warehouses. Rates increase during the October-December holiday season, ranging from $0.75 to $2.40 per cubic foot.
• Amazon FBA Low Inventory Level fee: Amazon allegedly created this fee in December 2023 to address the inefficiencies caused by low inventory turnover. This fee has generated controversy among sellers and underwent changes during Q1 and Q2 2024, varying according to the items’ size, shipping weight, and days unsold:  

Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) fees

FBM allows sellers to handle their own storage, packaging, shipping, and customer service. While there is no specific Amazon fulfillment fee, sellers must cover shipping costs, which can be significant depending on the size and weight of the items, the chosen carrier, and the service level. You’ll still pay Amazon closing fees.

Here are some factors to consider:

• Calculate shipping costs: Use carrier calculators (e.g., USPS, UPS, FedEx) to estimate shipping fees for each product. Consider factors like weight, dimensions, destination, and delivery speed.
• Negotiate carrier rates: If you ship in large volumes, negotiate better rates with carriers. Many offer discounts for businesses that ship regularly.
• Choose cost-effective packaging: Use lightweight, durable packaging to minimize shipping fees while protecting the product. Optimize package size to avoid dimensional weight pricing.
• Automate shipping: Utilize shipping software to find the best rates, print labels, and streamline your fulfillment process. Tools like ShipStation or Shippo can save time and reduce errors.
• Offer multiple shipping options: Provide customers with a range of shipping options (standard, expedited, free shipping over a certain amount) to balance cost and customer satisfaction.

Seller-Fulfilled Prime (SFP) fees

SFP enables sellers to offer Prime shipping benefits while fulfilling orders from their own warehouse. To participate, Amazon sellers must be approved and meet strict performance requirements. The costs involved include:

• Shipping expenses: Sellers are responsible for the shipping costs, which must align with Amazon Prime’s delivery speed.
• Service fees: These additional charges cover maintaining Prime standards, including handling customer service and returns.

High-Volume Listing fee

Sellers with catalogs exceeding 100,000 ASINs (product listings) monthly incur high-volume listing fees. This amounts to $0.005 per active non-media ASIN per month, which can add up for extensive inventories.

Amazon Currency Converter for Sellers (ACCS) fees

How much does it cost to sell on Amazon globally? For international sellers who receive payments in non-local currencies, Amazon applies ACCS fees. These fees cover the currency conversion expense and typically range from 0.75% to 1.5% of the converted amount.

ACCS applies to 44 payout currencies on 19 Amazon stores. Observe the following to minimize the impact of currency conversion costs on your profits:

• Understand conversion rates: Regularly monitor Amazon’s exchange rates compared to market rates. Knowing the difference can help you predict the exact fees.
• Evaluate frequency of conversions: Streamline your payments to reduce the number of conversions. Instead of converting small amounts frequently, opt for fewer, more significant transactions to minimize fees.
• Compare alternatives: Consider using third-party currency conversion services that might offer better rates. Services like Payoneer or TransferWise can sometimes provide more favorable exchange rates with lower fees.
• Local bank accounts: If possible, set up a local bank account in your selling region. This can reduce the need for frequent currency conversions and minimize associated fees.

Textbook Rental fees

Renting textbooks through Amazon incurs specific fees. These include rental book service fees and potentially additional charges for late returns or damaged books. 

To manage costs effectively, it’s important to know all the fees involved in this process. Understanding these fees ensures you can price your rentals competitively while covering all associated expenses.

Refund Administration fees

When a customer returns an item, Amazon refunds the referral fee percentage but keeps a portion as the applicable refund administration fee. This fee is less than 20% of the applicable referral fee or $5.00.

To manage these fees effectively:

1. Monitor return rates: Track and resolve common issues to minimize returns.
2. Enhance listings: Provide accurate descriptions and images to meet customer expectations.
3. Improve quality control: Ensure high product quality to minimize defects.
4. Offer excellent customer service: Address customer concerns proactively to prevent returns.
5. Review return policies: Communicate clear return policies to manage expectations.
6. Consider return costs: Factor potential return costs into your pricing strategy.

Media and Special Category fees

Certain categories, such as apparel, footwear, media, jewelry, watches, and fine art, have unique fee structures. These fees often include a higher referral fee or additional charges to cover the specialized handling and verification processes.

Here are some tips to deal with these fees: 

• Understand category-specific fees: Familiarize yourself with the fee structure for your product category. 
• Streamline handling: For categories requiring special handling, such as jewelry and fine art, invest in proper packaging and shipping solutions to minimize damage and returns.
• Verify authenticity: For items like watches and fine art, ensure authenticity and compliance with Amazon’s guidelines. Proper documentation and certification can prevent issues and additional fees.

Lithium Batteries fee

A per-unit fee applies to products containing lithium batteries due to the complexities of safely shipping and handling these items. These fees vary based on the product’s size and battery specifications.

Observe the following:

• Understand regulations: Familiarize yourself with shipping regulations for lithium batteries. Compliance with regulations from carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx is crucial to avoid penalties.
• Classify batteries correctly: Determine whether your product contains lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries. Fees and shipping requirements can vary significantly between these types.
• Package safely: Invest in compliant packaging that meets safety standards for lithium batteries. This includes using materials that prevent movement and protect against short circuits.
• Label accurately: Ensure all packages containing lithium batteries are properly labeled with the required hazard warnings. Incorrect labeling can lead to delays and additional fees.
• Use certified suppliers: Source batteries from reputable suppliers with certification and documentation. Proper certification can help streamline the shipping process and reduce complications.
• Consider alternative fulfillment methods: For international shipments, explore Amazon’s FBA Export service, which simplifies complex shipping requirements and lightens your workload.