Amazon FBA fees UK 2026: every cost explained
Before you launch on Amazon FBA, you need to understand exactly what you're going to pay. Amazon FBA fees can represent 30–50% of your selling price — so it's well worth knowing what to expect before you commit.
In this guide, I walk you through every type of fee with realistic price ranges in pounds sterling and a complete worked example. You can then check your own numbers with our free Amazon FBA calculator.
The 4 types of Amazon FBA fees — overview table
Amazon doesn't charge a single fee — it charges several. Here's an overview before we dig into each one in detail.
| Fee type | Indicative range (UK) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee | 8% to 15% of selling price | Per sale |
| FBA fulfilment fee | £2.50 to £12 per unit | Per unit shipped |
| Storage fee | Variable — higher Oct–Dec | Monthly |
| Optional fees | Variable (returns, labelling, subscription...) | As incurred |
Amazon referral fee (8% to 15%)
On every sale, Amazon deducts a referral fee that depends on your product category. This is generally the largest single cost. Here are the rates for the most common Amazon.co.uk categories:
| Category | Referral fee (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Electronics & Computers | 8% |
| Video Games & Consoles | 8% |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% |
| Beauty & Personal Care | 8–15% |
| Garden & DIY | 15% |
| Clothing & Accessories | 15% |
| Jewellery | 20% |
Good to know: some categories apply a minimum referral fee per item (often around £0.25–£0.30). For low-priced products, this minimum may represent more than the stated percentage. Always verify the latest rates on Amazon Seller Central for Amazon.co.uk.
FBA fulfilment fees (by weight and size)
FBA fulfilment fees cover the picking, packing and delivery of your product to the customer. They depend on the weight and dimensions of your parcel. Amazon uses whichever is greater between the actual weight and the dimensional weight (L × W × H ÷ 5,000).
| Size tier | Indicative weight | Indicative FBA fee (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Small envelope | Up to 80 g | ~£2.20 |
| Standard envelope | 80 g to 460 g | ~£2.50 to £3.00 |
| Small standard parcel | 460 g to 3 kg | ~£3.50 to £4.80 |
| Large standard parcel | 3 kg to 12 kg | ~£4.80 to £8.00 |
| Oversize | Over 12 kg or outside standard dims | ~£8.00 to £12.00+ |
Want to know the exact amount for your product?
Enter your product's weight and dimensions into our calculator — it automatically applies the correct UK rate schedule.
Calculate my FBA fees for freeAmazon FBA storage fees in the UK
While your stock is in Amazon's fulfilment centres, you pay monthly storage fees. The rate depends on the volume occupied and the time of year. Amazon charges per cubic foot in the UK (converted from the cubic metre-based European system).
Standard period (January to September)
Lower rates
Standard rates apply. This is the ideal period to build stock. Check Amazon Seller Central for exact £ per cubic foot figures.
Peak season (October to December)
Up to +72% higher
Peak rates during Christmas. Amazon significantly increases storage charges to manage warehouse pressure — plan your stock accordingly.
Aged inventory surcharge (formerly long-term storage fees)
If your stock remains in Amazon's UK fulfilment centres for more than 365 days, an aged inventory surcharge applies on top of the regular monthly fee. These charges can be very significant — effectively a penalty for slow-moving stock. Monitor your inventory age report in Seller Central regularly.
How to minimise your storage fees
- • Send sensible quantities — 1 to 2 months of stock at a time rather than a 6-month pile-up.
- • Monitor sell-through rate — remove or liquidate slow sellers before the 365-day mark.
- • Reduce packaging volume — compact packaging lowers both storage and fulfilment fees.
- • Plan for peak season — replenish before October to avoid paying peak rates on idle stock.
Optional fees you mustn't forget
On top of the three main fee categories, there are several additional costs that many beginners overlook in their margin calculations.
Professional subscription
£25/month ex-VAT
Essential once you exceed 35 sales per month. Gives you access to advanced reports, Buy Box eligibility and Amazon Ads. Without a Professional account, you pay £0.75 per sale on top of everything else.
Returns processing fee
Variable
Amazon handles the returns logistics but charges a returns processing fee for certain high-return categories (e.g. clothing). Return rates typically range from 2–5% for most categories, up to 20% for apparel.
Amazon labelling service
~£0.12–£0.25/unit
If you don't apply FNSKU barcode labels to your products yourself, Amazon can do it for a small per-unit charge. It's often cheaper to have your supplier apply them during production.
Disposal or removal of stock
~£0.08–£0.40/unit
If you want Amazon to destroy or return unsold stock to you, there's a per-unit charge. Having stock returned to you costs more than disposal. Factor this in when liquidating slow movers.
UK import duty & VAT
Variable
Post-Brexit, all goods imported from outside the UK (e.g. from China) are subject to UK customs duty and import VAT. These are recoverable if you're VAT-registered, but must be included in your cost calculations.
Amazon PPC advertising
Budget-dependent
Amazon Ads (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands) are not a fee per se, but your ad spend is a real cost that must go into your margin calculations. Typical ACoS (advertising cost of sale) targets are 15–30%.
Complete worked example: fee calculation for a £25 product
Let's look at a concrete example so you can see how all these fees stack up. A typical product in the Home & Kitchen category, 400 g, standard dimensions, sold on Amazon.co.uk.
Assumptions
Amazon fee breakdown
This is a simplified calculation and does not include PPC ad spend, returns or launch costs. With those included, your real margin will be lower. Use our full calculator to incorporate all cost lines.
Calculate the exact margin for your product in 30 seconds:
Open the Amazon FBA calculatorAmazon FBA UK vs EU: what's different post-Brexit?
Since Brexit, selling on Amazon.co.uk and selling on European Amazon marketplaces (Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, etc.) are treated as separate programmes. Here's what you need to know:
Separate seller accounts: you can have a UK seller account and a separate European seller account linked through Amazon's Unified Account programme.
Stock must be in the UK: to sell on Amazon.co.uk via FBA and get the Prime badge, your stock must physically be in an Amazon UK fulfilment centre (e.g. Coventry, Doncaster, Manchester).
Custom duty on imports: goods shipped from China or other non-UK countries are subject to UK import duty (typically 0–12% depending on the product code) and 20% import VAT.
VAT registration: you must register for UK VAT once your turnover exceeds £90,000. If selling into EU markets as well, separate EU VAT obligations apply (via OSS or individual country registration).
Pan-European FBA: the Pan-European FBA programme that allows stock to be distributed across EU warehouses now requires separate EU inventory. UK sellers who want to sell in both markets need to plan their logistics and VAT accordingly.
Bottom line: the UK market stands alone and has its own fee structure. For most beginners, starting with Amazon.co.uk exclusively is the right approach before expanding to EU marketplaces.
Frequently asked questions about Amazon FBA fees in the UK
How much does Amazon take from each FBA sale in the UK?
On average, Amazon takes between 30% and 50% of your selling price (inc. VAT) across all fees. This includes the referral fee (8–15%), FBA fulfilment fees (£2.50–£12 per unit), storage fees and the Professional subscription. The exact amount depends on your category and product. Our free calculator gives you a precise figure in 30 seconds.
What are the Amazon FBA storage fees in the UK?
Amazon FBA UK storage fees are charged per cubic foot and vary by season. Rates are lower during January to September and significantly higher during the October–December peak period. Beyond 365 days, an aged inventory surcharge applies. Always check the latest rates on Amazon Seller Central (amazon.co.uk seller portal).
Can you sell on Amazon FBA without a Professional account?
Yes, the Individual plan has no monthly subscription but Amazon charges £0.75 per sale on top of other fees. Once you exceed 35 sales per month, the Professional plan at £25/month ex-VAT is more cost-effective. The Professional plan also gives access to advanced reports and Amazon Ads — both essential for serious growth.
How can you reduce your Amazon FBA fees in the UK?
Four main levers to reduce your fees:
- •Optimise your packaging — smaller dimensions reduce both fulfilment and storage fees.
- •Manage your stock actively — avoid aged inventory surcharges by monitoring sell-through rate.
- •Choose the right categories — 8–15% referral fee is far better than 20%+.
- •Reduce returns — improve your listings and product quality to lower your return rate.
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Indicative rates for 2026 — Amazon fees change regularly. Always verify current rates on Amazon Seller Central (UK).