How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Amazon in 2025
Keren Dinkin, Copywriter
9 min read -
Updated:With over 9.7 million global sellers, Amazon continues to be the undisputed leader in the e-commerce realm. As a seller on this mega marketplace, you have access to millions of customers.
There is one caveat, though.
Amazon seller fees.
If you’re considering selling on Amazon in 2025, understanding the platform’s fee structure is crucial to remain profitable. Amazon’s fee system can also be quite complex — encompassing subscription fees, referral fees, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) charges, and more.
Here’s an in-depth guide to help you understand the cost of selling on Amazon in 2025, including all key fees and updates.
Understanding Amazon’s Fee Structure
Amazon charges fees under several categories. Your total cost to sell on Amazon will vary depending on your selling plan, product category, and fulfillment strategy.
Let’s look at each of these fees in more detail.
1. Selling Plan Fees
As an Amazon seller, you can pick from two different plans.
Individual Plan: $0.99 Per Item Sold
The individual plan is tailored for sellers listing fewer than 40 items per month. It’s a cost-effective choice if you’re just starting out and want to test the platform or when you have a small inventory of really niche products.
With no upfront subscription fee, you only pay for what you sell.
Features and Limitations
- You can access basic seller tools, including listing creation and customer messaging.
- You have no access to advanced features such as bulk uploads, detailed sales reports, or any of Amazon’s advertising tools.
- The individual plan is perfect for small-scale operations, seasonal sellers, or hobbyists.
Professional Plan: $39.99 Per Month
If you are an established seller who requires advanced tools to manage your business, then this is the plan for you.
Instead of a per-item fee, sellers pay a flat monthly subscription. This is more economical when you are selling more than 40 items per month.
Features and Benefits
- You have access to bulk listing tools. These help you save time when you’re uploading a large number of products.
- You can generate sales and inventory reports, which give you insights into your performance and help you keep a tab on stock levels.
- You are eligible for the Amazon Buy Box — a feature that helps you increase your product visibility and gives you a chance to win more sales.
- You have access to Amazon advertising, including features that can help you drive traffic, such as Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and more.
- You can also participate in premium programs like Amazon Vine and Lightning Deals.
2. Referral Fees
Every time you make a sale, Amazon charges a referral fee. This fee is a percentage of the item’s total price (including shipping and gift wrapping). Referral fees vary by category, such as:
- Standard rate: Around 15% for most categories, such as home goods, footwear, and furniture.
- Lower rate: For some low-cost items, referral fees are reduced. For example, products priced under $10 in select categories (such as apparel and baby items) typically incur an 8% referral fee.
- Higher rate: Items such as fine art have higher rates. Referral fees are 20% for the portion of sales proceeds of up to $100. Amazon device accessories are charged a referral fee of 45%.
Certain categories have a minimum referral fee (usually $0.30 per item). If the calculated percentage fee is lower than this amount, the minimum fee applies.
You can check out referral fee rates for your product category here on Amazon Seller Central.
3. Closing Fees
For items in media categories (e.g., books, DVDs, video games), Amazon charges an additional closing fee of $1.80 per item. If you are selling in these categories, you should account for this extra cost in your pricing strategy.
4. Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) Fees
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is Amazon’s flagship fulfillment program. It allows you to store inventory in Amazon warehouses. Amazon also picks, packs, and ships orders and handles returns and customer service for you.
While this program gives you unparalleled convenience and access to Prime customers, understanding the fee structure is crucial to optimizing your cost to sell on Amazon, as well as maintaining profitability for your business.
FBA fees are divided into several categories:
Fulfillment Fees
Fulfillment fees are charged per unit for picking, packing, and shipping your products. These fees depend on your product’s size, weight, and category, ensuring you only pay for the space and effort your items require.
These fees cover everything from picking your item off the shelf to getting it into your customer’s hands—quickly and reliably.
Suggestion: Sellers can additionally use Amazon’s revenue calculator tool to determine their product’s estimated fulfillment and other fees.
Monthly Inventory Storage Fees
Monthly inventory storage fees apply to the space your inventory occupies in Amazon’s warehouses. These fees are calculated based on your inventory’s daily average volume (in cubic feet), and packaging is also taken into account.
Fees for standard items start at:
- January–September: $0.78 per cubic foot
- October–December (holiday season): $2.40 per cubic foot
If you sell larger or bulkier products, these fees can add up quickly, especially during the holiday season when rates go up. Keeping your inventory moving efficiently is crucial for keeping down your cost to sell on Amazon.
For a comprehensive overview of inventory storage fees, you can check out Amazon Seller Central.
Aged Inventory Surcharge
If you have inventory sitting around for too long, expect to pay a fee for it. Amazon charges an aged inventory surcharge for items stored in their fulfillment centers for 181 days or more. This surcharge is added to your monthly storage fees and is calculated using an inventory snapshot taken on the 15th of each month.
This fee is Amazon’s way of nudging you to stay on top of your inventory. We recommend regular reviews, promotional sales, or even removing slow-moving stock to keep your cost to sell on Amazon down.
FBA Disposal Order Fees
Sometimes, you may need to clear out inventory. This could be due to having unsellable stock or items taking up too much space.
Amazon gives you two options in such a situation:
- Disposal Orders: You pay a per-item fee for Amazon to dispose of your inventory
- Removal Orders: Amazon charges a per-unit removal fee if you prefer to take back your inventory
While these services give you a degree of flexibility, they do come with a cost. It’s best to plan ahead in order to avoid excess stock.
5. Fulfillment By Merchant Fees (FBM)
Fulfillment by Merchant refers to the process where you opt to manage your own inventory, shipping, and customer service. While FBM offers greater control over your operations and potentially keeps your cost to sell on Amazon down when compared to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), it does come with its own set of costs:
You will face:
- Costs for packaging materials
- Shipping fees (varies by courier and shipping method)
- Customer service management costs
Understanding these fees is crucial if you want to maintain profitability while working under FBM.
6. High-Volume Listing Fees
If your Amazon catalog includes active, non-media listings that haven’t sold in the past 12 months, you might face a high-volume listing fee. This monthly charge, set at $0.005 per eligible listing, is designed to offset the costs of cataloging and encourage sellers to focus on items with stronger sales potential.
The good news is that Amazon does waive this fee for your first 100,000 listings.
This fee is a reminder to regularly review your inventory, retire stagnant products, and keep your offerings fresh and relevant. This approach will not only save you money but also create a more appealing storefront for your customers.
7. Refund Administration Fees
When Amazon refunds a customer for an order you’ve already been paid for, it reimburses the referral fee you initially paid. However, a refund administration fee is deducted from the reimbursed amount. This fee is the lesser of $5.00 or 20% of the original referral fee.
The fee is meant to cover Amazon’s administrative costs for processing the refund.
For example, let’s say you sell an item for $10.00 in a category with a 15% referral fee:
- The referral fee you paid was $1.50 ($10.00 x 15%)
- If you issue a full refund, the refund administration fee is $0.30 ($1.50 x 20%).
Since $0.30 is less than $5.00, that’s the amount Amazon keeps as the refund administration fee.
Understanding the refund administration fee is key to managing your margins effectively, especially if you sell in high-return categories like apparel or electronics. While the fee is relatively small, frequent refunds can add up, so ensure you:
- Clearly describe your products to minimize misunderstandings and potential returns;
- Review your return policy to balance customer satisfaction with your bottom line.
Amazon Tools: Added Cost to Sell on Amazon
Selling on Amazon isn’t just about listing your products—it’s about standing out in a competitive marketplace. That’s where Amazon’s optional tools come in. These offer you tried and tested ways to boost visibility, gain reviews, and streamline operations.
While these services come at an extra cost, they can be game-changers for your business when used strategically.
Amazon Ads
Pay-per-click or PPC campaigns are a great way to grab your customers’ attention. With costs starting as low as $0.10 per click, you can run targeted ads to get your products in front of the right shoppers.
Whether it’s Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, or Sponsored Display Ads, these campaigns let you compete for visibility based on keywords and competition. The key is to track your ad performance and refine your strategy to maximize return on investment.
Amazon Vine
If you are struggling to get those crucial first reviews, Amazon Vine can help. The program allows you to send items to top-rated Amazon reviewers in exchange for detailed, unbiased feedback.
These early reviews can significantly impact your product’s visibility and trustworthiness, especially when you’re launching something new. While it’s an investment ($200 for 11-30 products), it’s one that can pay off by kickstarting sales momentum.
2025 Fee Updates: How They Impact Your Cost to Sell on Amazon
In 2025, Amazon has decided to freeze most of its fees. This reflects the marketplace’s effort to address seller concerns from 2024. The fee freeze also provides predictability, allowing sellers to focus on scaling their businesses without worrying about unexpected cost increases.
Some key highlights to take note of include:
- Lower Fees for Bulky Items: Starting January 15, 2025, inbound placement service fees for large bulky-size products will drop by an average of $0.58 per unit for minimal shipment splits.
- Fee Waivers for New Products: From December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, sellers participating in the FBA New Selection Program can enjoy waived inbound placement fees for up to 100 units of new parent ASINs.
- Enhanced Incentives for New Selection: Amazon is boosting the New Seller Incentives and FBA New Selection programs with greater discounts and perks for targeted product categories. These include everyday essentials and high-demand items with limited variety. The refreshed discounts will roll out on January 15, 2025.
- Fee Stability: No changes to U.S. referral or FBA fee types and rates beyond these updates.
Top Tips to Optimize Your Cost to Sell on Amazon
Selling on Amazon can be a lucrative venture, but it’s important to manage your costs effectively to maintain profitability.
Here are some key strategies to help you optimize your selling expenses:
Choose the Right Selling Plan
Not all sellers are the same, so it’s crucial to choose the plan that aligns with your sales volume and business goals.
Leverage New Seller Incentives
Amazon offers various incentives, such as credits and discounts, to help offset your initial startup costs. Keep an eye out for promotional programs and incentives for new sellers, especially in categories like FBA.
Optimize Your Inventory Management
Managing your inventory effectively can save you money in the long run. Remember to keep a lean inventory and track your turnover rates. Additionally, regularly review your stock and move products that aren’t selling as quickly.
Explore Alternative Fulfillment Options
While FBA is a great option for many sellers, it may not always be the best choice for all products. If certain items don’t fit well with FBA due to size, cost, or other factors, you should consider Seller-Fulfilled Prime or partnering with third-party logistics (3PL) providers.
Monitor Your Fees Regularly
Amazon’s fee structure is complex, but fortunately, the platform offers tools to help you stay on top of your costs. Use Amazon’s Fee Preview Tool to get a breakdown of the fees you are likely to incur for each listing and understand your overall expenses. Regularly monitoring your fees ensures you’re not caught off guard and can make informed decisions about pricing and profitability.
As an Amazon seller, understanding every aspect of the cost to sell on Amazon is essential for maintaining profitability and growing your business in 2025. From choosing the right selling plan to optimizing your inventory and exploring alternative fulfillment options, the key to success lies in being proactive and strategic with your costs.
Ready to take your Amazon business to the next level? Visit Sellerise to discover powerful tools and insights that can help you optimize your sales and boost your bottom line.
