The Ultimate FBA Fee Calculator - Are you Losing Money?

TL;DR

• Amazon’s FBA fees include fulfillment, storage, returns, and referral fees, which impact profits.

• Overpaying on FBA fees due to incorrect dimensions or weight classifications is common.

• An FBA fee calculator helps estimate true costs, preventing losses and pricing mistakes.

• Using a calculator helps identify high-cost products and optimize pricing strategies.

• Testing different pricing, size, and storage scenarios helps improve profitability.

• Refunzo automates fee tracking and recovers overpaid FBA charges to maximize your profits.

Selling on Amazon through FBA seems simple—send your inventory, let Amazon handle fulfillment, and watch the sales roll in. But there’s a catch: Amazon’s FBA fees can quietly eat into your profits if you’re not careful.

Many sellers don’t realize they’re overpaying in fulfillment, storage, and hidden fees, leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year. The worst part? Amazon won’t tell you if you’re being overcharged—it’s up to you to figure it out.

An FBA fee calculator can help. By accurately estimating your costs, you can see exactly how much of your revenue Amazon is taking—and whether you’re actually making money or just breaking even.

So, are you unknowingly losing profits to high FBA fees? Let’s break down how to calculate your true costs and find out.

What are the different types of Amazon FBA fees?

Amazon FBA might seem like a hands-off way to sell, but every service comes with a cost. If you don’t keep track of the various FBA fees, they can quietly eat into your profits, leaving you with far less than expected.

Understanding each type of FBA fee is key to knowing where your money is going—and how to reduce unnecessary expenses. Let’s break them down:

1. Fulfillment fees (charged per unit sold)

This is the biggest and most unavoidable FBA fee. Amazon charges sellers per unit based on size and weight to cover:

• Picking and packing orders

• Shipping to customers

• Customer service and returns

Example:

• A small standard-size item (weighing under 6 oz) might have a fulfillment fee of $3.22 per unit.

• A large standard-size item (weighing 1-2 lbs) could cost $5.40 per unit.

• Oversized items cost even more, sometimes exceeding $10 per unit.

Why it matters: If your product falls into a larger or heavier category, your fulfillment fees increase, cutting into your margins.

2. Monthly storage fees

Amazon charges for every unit sitting in their warehouse, whether it sells or not. These fees increase sharply during peak holiday seasons.

Rates:

• January – September: ~$0.87 per cubic foot for standard-size items.

• October – December: ~$2.40 per cubic foot (nearly 3x higher).

Why it matters: If your inventory isn’t moving, storage fees will stack up, making it harder to stay profitable.

3. Long-term storage fees (charged after 181+ days)

If your products sit in Amazon’s warehouse for more than 181 days, Amazon charges extra long-term storage fees on top of monthly fees.

Rate: $6.90 per cubic foot OR $0.15 per unit (whichever is higher).

Why it matters: Products that don’t sell quickly become expensive to store. If you don’t remove or sell them, you’ll lose money fast.

4. Returns processing fees (if Amazon handles your returns)

If a customer returns an item, Amazon doesn’t refund your fulfillment fees. Instead, they charge extra for processing the return.

Cost: Usually equal to your fulfillment fee, meaning you pay twice for returned items.

Why it matters: Products with high return rates (like apparel, accessories, and electronics) can become very costly to sell through FBA.

5. Unplanned service fees (for mistakes in labeling, prep, or packaging)

Amazon has strict packaging and labeling requirements. If your products arrive incorrectly prepped, Amazon fixes them—but charges you for it.

Common fees:

• $0.30 per unit for Amazon to apply FNSKU labels.

• $0.50+ per unit for repackaging, polybagging, bubble wrapping, or taping.

Why it matters: If you don’t follow Amazon’s prep guidelines, you’ll pay extra for every unit, cutting into your profits.

6. Removal and disposal fees (for unsellable inventory)

If you decide to remove slow-moving or stranded inventory, Amazon charges a removal fee per unit to ship items back to you or dispose of them.

Rates:

• $0.97 – $2.83 per unit for standard-size items.

• $2.00 – $14.00 per unit for oversized items.

Why it matters: If a product isn’t selling, removing it costs money—but keeping it in storage also costs money.

7. Referral fees (Amazon’s cut of every sale)

Amazon takes a percentage of every sale, known as the referral fee. This is separate from FBA fees and varies by category.

Rates:

• Most categories: 15% per sale.

• Some categories: 8-45% per sale (e.g., Electronics = 8%, Jewelry = 20%).

Why it matters: If you don’t factor this into your pricing, your margins might be much lower than expected.

8. Aged inventory surcharge (NEW in 2024)

Amazon introduced an aged inventory surcharge for products older than 271 days.

Rates: $1.50 per cubic foot (on top of long-term storage fees).

Why it matters: If your stock sits too long, you’ll be charged even more, making it crucial to manage inventory wisely.

What is an FBA fee calculator and how does it help?

Amazon’s FBA fees can be complicated and unpredictable, making it difficult for sellers to know their true profit margins. If you’re not tracking these costs properly, you could be selling products at a loss without even realizing it.

An FBA fee calculator is a tool that helps sellers estimate Amazon’s fulfillment costs, storage fees, and total expenses for each product—allowing them to make informed pricing decisions and maximize profitability.

How an FBA fee calculator works

An FBA fee calculator takes into account all the different Amazon charges and gives you a clear breakdown of your real costs. It typically requires the following inputs:

• Product dimensions & weight – To calculate fulfillment and storage fees.

• Selling price – To estimate referral fees and net profit.

• Category – Referral fees vary by product type.

• Shipping costs (if applicable) – For inbound shipping to FBA warehouses.

Once you enter these details, the calculator shows:

• Amazon’s total FBA fees per unit.

• Your estimated profit per sale.

• Your profit margin as a percentage.

This allows you to adjust your pricing strategy before listing a product, ensuring you’re making a profit rather than barely breaking even.

How an FBA fee calculator helps sellers

1. Prevents pricing mistakes

Many sellers price their products too low without realizing how much Amazon takes in fees. A fee calculator ensures you set a price that leaves room for profit.

2. Helps identify overpriced FBA fees

If Amazon misclassifies your product’s size or weight, your FBA fees will be higher than they should be. A calculator helps you spot discrepancies and file a claim for corrections.

3. Reduces losses from unexpected costs

Sellers often forget about storage fees, removal fees, or return costs, which impact their overall margins. A calculator accounts for all these hidden charges upfront.

4. Allows better inventory planning

By estimating storage fees over time, sellers can plan stock levels wisely to avoid long-term storage penalties.

5. Saves time on manual calculations

Instead of digging through Amazon’s fee structure, an FBA fee calculator automates the math, giving you instant insights into your product’s profitability.

Where can you find an FBA fee calculator?

Amazon provides a built-in FBA Revenue Calculator, which can be accessed in Seller Central. However, third-party tools often offer more detailed breakdowns, advanced analytics, and bulk calculations.

Some recommended FBA fee calculators include:

• Amazon’s FBA Calculator (free but basic).

• Profitability calculators in seller tools like Helium 10, Jungle Scout, and AMZScout.

• Refunzo’s fee tracking and Amazon FBA reimbursement tool, which also helps recover overpaid FBA fees.
  
  

How to use an FBA fee calculator to estimate costs

Knowing your true costs is crucial to ensuring your Amazon business stays profitable. An FBA fee calculator helps you break down all expenses associated with selling on Amazon, so you can price your products correctly, avoid unnecessary fees, and maximize profits.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use an FBA fee calculator to estimate costs and prevent profit loss.

Step 1: Choose an FBA fee calculator

There are multiple FBA calculators available, but the two most common types are:

• Amazon’s FBA Revenue Calculator – A free tool provided by Amazon.

• Third-party FBA calculators (Helium 10, Jungle Scout, AMZScout) – Offer more advanced features.

Where to find Amazon’s FBA calculator?

Go to Amazon Seller Central > FBA Revenue Calculator, or search for Amazon FBA calculator online.

Step 2: Enter basic product details

To get an accurate estimate, you need to provide key information about your product:

• ASIN or product name – If your product is already on Amazon, simply enter its ASIN.

• Product category – Different categories have different referral fees.

• Product dimensions & weight – This determines fulfillment and storage fees.

Tip: If your product isn’t listed yet, manually enter estimated dimensions and weight based on your supplier’s data.

Step 3: Input selling price and cost details

Now, enter the financial details that affect your profit margin:

• Selling price – How much do you plan to charge customers per unit?

• Product cost – The amount you pay per unit to your supplier or manufacturer.

• Shipping to Amazon (Inbound costs) – The cost of sending products to Amazon’s warehouse.

Tip: If using a third-party prep service or shipping from overseas, factor in additional costs.

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Once you enter the details, the calculator will generate a breakdown of fees per unit, including:

• Fulfillment fee – Amazon’s cost for picking, packing, and shipping the item.

• Storage fee – The estimated monthly cost of keeping the item in Amazon’s warehouse.

• Referral fee – Amazon’s percentage cut of each sale (usually 15%).

• Total FBA fees per unit – The combined cost of all Amazon charges.

Tip: Compare FBA fees against FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) costs to see which option is more profitable.

Step 5: Analyze estimated profit and margins

The FBA fee calculator will now show:

• Net profit per unit – The amount left after deducting all Amazon fees.

• Profit margin (%) – How much profit you make compared to your selling price.

• Break-even price – The minimum price you must sell at to avoid losing money.

Tip: If your margin is too low, adjust pricing, negotiate lower supplier costs, or reduce FBA fees to increase profits.

Step 6: Test different pricing and cost scenarios

One of the best features of an FBA calculator is that you can adjust different variables to see how they impact your profits. Try:

• Raising or lowering the selling price – See how it affects your margins.

• Changing product dimensions – Test different package sizes to check fulfillment cost differences.

• Reducing storage time – Estimate long-term storage fees if inventory sits for months.

Tip: This helps prevent pricing mistakes before listing your product.

Step 7: Use the data to make smarter business decisions

Once you’ve calculated your costs, use the insights to:

• Set a profitable selling price that covers all Amazon fees.

• Identify high-cost products that may need fee adjustments.

• Optimize storage and fulfillment strategies to avoid unnecessary expenses.

• File claims if Amazon is overcharging you on fulfillment fees (e.g., incorrect dimensions).

Tip: Sellers using Refunzo can automate fee tracking and get refunds for overcharges, ensuring maximum profitability.

How can Refunzo help?

Amazon’s FBA fees can be tricky, and many sellers unknowingly overpay due to incorrect dimensions, weight miscalculations, or hidden charges. Refunzo helps sellers track, audit, and recover overpaid FBA fees automatically, ensuring that you’re not losing money due to Amazon’s errors. By continuously monitoring your account, Amazon FBA reimbursement services like Refunzo detect fee discrepancies, lost inventory, and missed reimbursements, then file claims on your behalf—saving you time and maximizing your profits. Instead of manually checking every charge, let Refunzo handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business.