What Are the New FBA Fees in 2026?
Quick Answer
Amazon rolled out significant FBA fee changes effective January 2026 that affect nearly every seller. Key changes: inbound placement fees increased for oversized items, long-tenure storage now starts at 181 days (was 271), the low-inventory-level fee expanded to more categories, Amazon’s US-based prep-and-labeling service ended for most accounts, and several smaller referral fee adjustments per category.
Net impact on a typical seller: 8-12% more per unit in total FBA fees versus 2025. For sellers moving bulk quarterly shipments, the impact is larger — storage cost compounds faster under the new 181-day threshold. Smaller, more frequent shipments often beat bulk in 2026.
This guide covers every 2026 change, the per-unit impact, and how sellers are adapting.
All 2026 FBA Fee Changes at a Glance
| Fee | 2025 | 2026 | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inbound placement fee | $0.21-$1.06 per item | $0.25-$1.75 per item (oversized doubled) | Up 15-65% |
| Long-tenure storage | Starts day 271 | Starts day 181 | Up to 2x earlier |
| Low-inventory-level fee | Limited categories | Expanded to most categories | New exposure |
| Amazon prep service | $0.55/unit | Ended for most accounts | Seller pays externally |
| Standard size fulfillment | Flat + weight | Flat + weight (modest increases) | +3-5% |
| Oversize fulfillment | $9.39-$158+ | $10.15-$172+ | +5-8% |
| Returns processing (apparel) | Included | Separate fee | New cost for apparel |
| Referral fees (most cats) | Unchanged | Unchanged | — |
1. Inbound Placement Fees — The Biggest Change
The inbound placement fee is what you pay Amazon to route your inventory to multiple fulfillment centers across the country. It’s been around since late 2024, but 2026 made it materially more expensive for oversized items.
How it works
When you create an FBA shipment plan, Amazon offers three placement options:
- Amazon-optimized placement — highest fee, Amazon decides which FCs, inventory spreads wide for fast delivery
- Partial placement (minimal split) — moderate fee, your inventory goes to 4-6 FCs
- Single-center placement — no placement fee, you ship to one FC but Amazon moves inventory internally
2026 changes
- Standard-size items: minor increases (~5-10%)
- Oversized items: fees roughly doubled. A 48-inch item that was $1.06/unit in 2025 is now $1.75-$2.15/unit in 2026
- Low-volume items got an additional surcharge
How to minimize it
- Pick single-center placement for slow-moving SKUs
- Use Amazon-optimized only for top performers where the delivery speed premium converts to sales
- For oversized items, consider whether FBA still makes sense vs MFN (Merchant Fulfilled Network)
2. Long-Tenure Storage Fee Change
Amazon charges long-tenure storage for inventory sitting in FCs too long.
What changed
- 2025: long-tenure fees kicked in at day 271, escalated at day 365+
- 2026: long-tenure fees now start at day 181, with a new escalation tier at day 330
Impact
Slow-moving SKUs now hit storage penalties 90 days earlier. For a seasonal product that sells out in 200 days, you now pay ~19 days of long-tenure fees — previously zero.
Typical long-tenure rates:
– Day 181-330: $0.50-$1.75 per cubic foot per month (tier depending on product size)
– Day 330+: $2.40-$6.90 per cubic foot per month
How to minimize it
- Audit inventory aging monthly — use Amazon’s Inventory Age report
- Create removal orders before day 181 for slow-movers
- Run Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) or external 3PL for slower-moving inventory
3. Low-Inventory-Level Fee Expansion
This fee penalizes sellers whose inventory levels are too low (creating stockouts). Previously limited to select categories, 2026 expanded it to most standard-size apparel, home goods, toys, and consumer electronics.
How it works
If your SKU’s inventory cover is less than 30 days of projected demand, Amazon charges $0.30-$0.90 per unit on every unit shipped in that low-inventory window.
The irony
Sellers fighting long-tenure storage by shipping less inventory now risk the low-inventory-level fee instead. Amazon wants you to keep inventory at the “Goldilocks” level — not too much, not too little.
How to avoid it
Track the Inventory Performance Index (IPI) in Seller Central. Keep IPI above 450 and maintain 30+ days cover on all SKUs where possible. For new launches, the fee doesn’t apply until the SKU has been live for 60+ days.
4. Amazon Prep Service Ended
Amazon ended its US-based FBA prep and labeling service for most seller accounts in January 2026. Before: Amazon charged $0.55/unit to apply FNSKU labels and do basic prep. After: you need a third-party prep center, freight forwarder, or your own ops to prep inventory before it reaches an FC.
Practical impact
- Most sellers now pay less for prep (third parties charge $0.15-$0.40/unit for labeling vs Amazon’s $0.55)
- But operational complexity went up — you need a prep relationship
- Freight forwarders that do prep in-house as part of freight quotes are the cleanest answer
See our full FBA prep cost guide and labeling fee breakdown.
5. Fulfillment Fee Adjustments
Standard fulfillment fees rose 3-5% across the board. Oversize categories rose 5-8%. Exact fees depend on dimensional weight and size tier.
Examples (US FBA fulfillment fee, standard size):
| Size tier | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard (≤6oz) | $3.27 | $3.40 | +4% |
| Large standard (≤12oz) | $4.17 | $4.35 | +4% |
| Large standard (1-2 lb) | $5.24 | $5.45 | +4% |
| Large standard (2-3 lb) | $5.97 | $6.23 | +4% |
| Large oversize (0-10 lb) | $10.15 | $10.85 | +7% |
| Large oversize (10-20 lb) | $13.40 | $14.35 | +7% |
Total Impact on a Typical Seller
Here’s what the 2026 fee changes do to a representative FBA seller’s per-unit economics:
Before (2025 rates)
For a standard-size item sold at $24.99, imported from China at $5/unit landed:
| Line item | 2025 cost |
|---|---|
| Product cost + freight + duty | $5.00 |
| FBA prep (Amazon service) | $0.55 |
| Inbound placement | $0.40 |
| Fulfillment | $5.24 |
| Referral fee (15%) | $3.75 |
| Storage (1 month avg) | $0.50 |
| Total cost | $15.44 |
| Net profit | $9.55 |
After (2026 rates)
Same product, same price:
| Line item | 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Product cost + freight + duty | $5.10 (tariff bump) |
| Prep (third-party) | $0.35 (savings vs Amazon) |
| Inbound placement | $0.48 (+20%) |
| Fulfillment | $5.45 (+4%) |
| Referral fee (15%) | $3.75 |
| Storage (1 month avg) | $0.52 (+4%) |
| Low-inventory risk | $0.15 (blended) |
| Total cost | $15.80 |
| Net profit | $9.19 |
Margin compression: roughly 4% of revenue, or $0.36/unit on this item. For high-volume sellers, that compounds fast.
How Sellers Are Adapting
1. Smaller, more frequent shipments
Quarterly bulk shipping to FBA gets expensive under the 181-day storage rule. Monthly replenishment from a nearby warehouse or freight forwarder avoids the worst of it.
2. AWD (Amazon Warehousing and Distribution)
Amazon’s newer service stores inventory at cheaper rates than FBA and automatically feeds FBA as needed. Useful for slow-mover overflow, but has its own fees and handling rules.
3. External 3PLs for buffer inventory
Non-Amazon 3PLs (Easyship, ShipBob, ShipMonk) hold bulk inventory cheaper than FBA, ship into FBA monthly.
4. Raising prices
Many sellers pushed prices up 3-5% in Q1 2026 to absorb the fee compression. Competitive analysis: if your competitors also raised prices, net effect on conversion is usually minimal.
5. Cutting SKUs
Low-margin SKUs that survived in 2025 don’t survive 2026 fee changes. Many sellers cut their SKU portfolio by 15-25% in Q1 2026 to focus on winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any FBA fee reductions in 2026?
Yes — a few. Amazon reduced fees for sellers in the Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) program, and small sellers with <$10K/month revenue got a modest referral fee discount in select categories. Most sellers don’t qualify for these reductions.
Why is Amazon raising FBA fees in 2026?
Amazon cites rising fulfillment costs (labor + facility), expansion of same-day/next-day delivery coverage, and the need to incentivize sellers toward AWD. Skeptical view: Amazon has been pushing margin across seller services for the past 3 years; this fits the pattern.
Can I still use Amazon’s prep service?
For most accounts: no. Select legacy accounts and specific program participants still have access. Check Seller Central → Services to see your eligibility.
How do I calculate my actual FBA fees for a specific product?
Use Amazon’s Revenue Calculator in Seller Central or Helium 10’s Profit Calculator. Both were updated for 2026 rates in February 2026.
What’s the best strategy for 2026 FBA?
For most sellers: move to monthly replenishment (vs quarterly bulk), prep through a freight forwarder (not a separate prep center), cut SKUs with <20% margin, and actively monitor Inventory Performance Index. See our full FBA freight forwarder service for how to structure freight around the new fee reality.
Does this affect non-US FBA marketplaces?
Amazon announced parallel changes for UK, EU, and Canadian FBA, with slightly different rates. Japan and Australia had smaller adjustments. The US is the largest impact.
Need help adapting your freight strategy to 2026 FBA fees?
WWS Cargo structures shipments to avoid the worst of the new fee environment — monthly replenishment, bundled prep, direct-to-FC drayage.
Get a 2026-optimized freight quote →
Fee information verified against Amazon Seller Central documentation current as of Q2 2026. Actual fees may vary by product category, size tier, and seller-specific programs.