Quick Answer: Amazon Referral Fee Ranges
Amazon charges a referral fee on every sale—a percentage that varies by product category. For 2026, referral fees range from 5% to 45%, with most categories charging 15%. The standard minimum fee is $0.30 per item (some categories have no minimum or higher minimums).
Calculate your Amazon FBA fees
See referral fees, fulfillment costs, and your net profit per unit.
Here's what you need to know:
- Lowest fees: Consumer Electronics (8%), Personal Computers (6%)
- Highest fee: Amazon Device Accessories (45%)
- Most common: 15% for Home, Toys, Sports, Pet Supplies, and 20+ other categories
- Tiered categories: Apparel, Jewelry, Watches, and Furniture have rates that change based on price
No changes to referral fee percentages for 2026—though FBA fulfillment fees increased approximately $0.08 per unit.
Complete Amazon Referral Fee Table (2026)
| Category | Referral Fee | Minimum Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% | $0.30 | Highest fee category |
| Jewelry | 20% (5% over $250) | $0.30 | Tiered by price |
| Gift Cards | 20% | None | |
| Clothing & Accessories | Tiered | $0.30 | 5%/10%/17% by price |
| Watches | 16% (3% over $1,500) | $0.30 | Tiered by price |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Toys & Games | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Pet Supplies | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Tools & Home Improvement | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Office Products | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Lawn & Garden | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Musical Instruments | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Luggage | 15% | $0.30 | |
| Industrial & Scientific | 12% | $0.30 | |
| Automotive | 12% | $0.30 | |
| Furniture | 15% (10% over $200) | $0.30 | Tiered by price |
| Large Appliances | 15% (8% over $300) | $0.30 | Tiered by price |
| Beauty | 8% (15% over $10) | $0.30 | Lower rate for budget items |
| Health & Personal Care | 8% (15% over $10) | $0.30 | Lower rate for budget items |
| Baby Products | 8% (15% over $10) | $0.30 | Lower rate for budget items |
| Grocery & Gourmet | 8% (15% over $15) | None | Lower rate for budget items |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% | $0.30 | Low fee category |
| Camera & Photo | 8% | $0.30 | |
| Cell Phone Devices | 8% | $0.30 | |
| Video Game Consoles | 8% | None | |
| Personal Computers | 6% | $0.30 | Lowest standard category |
| Books | 15% + $1.80 | None | Closing fee applies |
| DVDs | 15% + $1.80 | None | Closing fee applies |
| Music | 15% + $1.80 | None | Closing fee applies |
| Video Games | 15% + $1.80 | None | Closing fee applies |
| Software | 15% + $1.80 | None | Closing fee applies |
| Fine Art | 20% (15% over $100, 10% over $1,000, 5% over $5,000) | None | Tiered by price |
| Handmade | 15% | $1.00 | Higher minimum |
| Everything Else | 15% | $0.30 | Default category |
Tiered Pricing Explained
Several Amazon categories use tiered referral fees where the percentage changes based on the sale price. This rewards sellers of higher-priced items with lower effective rates.
Apparel Referral Fees (New 2024 Tiers)
Amazon restructured apparel fees to benefit lower-priced items:
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| $15 or less | 5% |
| $15.01 - $20 | 10% |
| Over $20 | 17% |
Example calculations:
- $12 t-shirt: 5% = $0.60 referral fee
- $18 dress: 10% = $1.80 referral fee
- $45 jacket: 17% = $7.65 referral fee
This tiered structure makes selling budget apparel more viable than before. A $10 shirt pays just $0.50 in referral fees versus $1.70 under the old flat 17% rate.
Jewelry Referral Fees
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $250 | 20% |
| Portion over $250 | 5% |
Example: A $400 necklace pays:
- 20% on first $250 = $50.00
- 5% on remaining $150 = $7.50
- Total: $57.50 (14.4% effective rate)
The tiered structure means expensive jewelry has a much lower effective rate than cheap pieces.
Watch Referral Fees
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,500 | 16% |
| Portion over $1,500 | 3% |
Example: A $2,000 watch pays:
- 16% on first $1,500 = $240.00
- 3% on remaining $500 = $15.00
- Total: $255.00 (12.75% effective rate)
For luxury watches, this can mean significant savings. A $5,000 watch has an effective rate of just 8.7%.
Large Appliances
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $300 | 15% |
| Portion over $300 | 8% |
Example: A $500 refrigerator pays:
- 15% on first $300 = $45.00
- 8% on remaining $200 = $16.00
- Total: $61.00 (12.2% effective rate)
Furniture
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $200 | 15% |
| Portion over $200 | 10% |
Example: A $350 desk pays:
- 15% on first $200 = $30.00
- 10% on remaining $150 = $15.00
- Total: $45.00 (12.9% effective rate)
Fine Art
Fine Art has the most aggressive tiering:
| Sale Price | Referral Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $100 | 20% |
| $100.01 - $1,000 | 15% |
| $1,000.01 - $5,000 | 10% |
| Over $5,000 | 5% |
Fine Art also has no minimum referral fee—the only category besides Books, Music, Video Games, and Grocery where this applies.
Media Items: The Closing Fee
Books, DVDs, Music, Video Games, and Software have a unique fee structure. In addition to the 15% referral fee, Amazon charges a $1.80 variable closing fee per item sold.
| Item | Sale Price | Referral (15%) | Closing Fee | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | $15.00 | $2.25 | $1.80 | $4.05 (27%) |
| DVD | $20.00 | $3.00 | $1.80 | $4.80 (24%) |
| Video Game | $60.00 | $9.00 | $1.80 | $10.80 (18%) |
The closing fee hits lower-priced media harder. A $5 used book loses 51% to fees ($0.75 + $1.80 = $2.55).
Calculate your Amazon FBA fees
See referral fees, fulfillment costs, and your net profit per unit.
How to Calculate Your Referral Fee
Basic Formula
Referral Fee = Sale Price x Category Rate
If the calculated fee is below the minimum ($0.30 for most categories), you pay the minimum instead.
Tiered Category Formula
For categories with tiered pricing:
Referral Fee = (Tier 1 Amount x Tier 1 Rate) + (Tier 2 Amount x Tier 2 Rate)
Complete Fee Estimation
To estimate your total Amazon fees including referral:
Total Fees = Referral Fee + FBA Fulfillment Fee + Storage Fees
For accurate estimates, use our Amazon FBA Calculator which accounts for all fee types.
Quick Reference Examples
| Category | Sale Price | Referral Fee | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home & Kitchen | $25.00 | $3.75 | 15.0% |
| Consumer Electronics | $50.00 | $4.00 | 8.0% |
| Personal Computers | $500.00 | $30.00 | 6.0% |
| Apparel (under $15) | $12.00 | $0.60 | 5.0% |
| Apparel (over $20) | $45.00 | $7.65 | 17.0% |
| Jewelry ($400) | $400.00 | $57.50 | 14.4% |
| Watches ($2,000) | $2,000.00 | $255.00 | 12.75% |
| Book | $20.00 | $4.80* | 24.0% |
*Includes $1.80 closing fee
Lowest Fee Categories for Sellers
If fee minimization is your priority, target these categories:
Best Fee Categories (Under 10%)
- Personal Computers: 6% flat rate
- Consumer Electronics: 8% flat rate
- Camera & Photo: 8% flat rate
- Cell Phone Devices: 8% flat rate
- Video Game Consoles: 8% flat rate
Categories with Low Effective Rates (Tiered)
- Watches over $1,500: 3% on portion above threshold
- Jewelry over $250: 5% on portion above threshold
- Fine Art over $5,000: 5% on portion above threshold
- Apparel under $15: 5% flat rate
Categories to Approach Carefully
- Amazon Device Accessories: 45% (avoid unless margins are exceptional)
- Gift Cards: 20% flat
- Jewelry under $250: 20% (but improves with price)
- Media (Books, DVDs): 15% + $1.80 closing fee
Minimum Referral Fees
Most categories have a $0.30 minimum referral fee per item. This matters for very low-priced items.
Standard Minimum ($0.30)
Applies to most categories including:
- Home & Kitchen
- Toys & Games
- Clothing & Accessories
- Electronics
- Sports & Outdoors
- And most others
Higher Minimum ($1.00)
- Handmade: $1.00 minimum supports artisan sellers
Watch Minimum ($2.00)
- Watches: $2.00 minimum (higher than standard)
No Minimum
- Books, DVDs, Music, Video Games, Software: No minimum (but $1.80 closing fee)
- Grocery & Gourmet: No minimum
- Fine Art: No minimum
- Gift Cards: No minimum
When Minimums Matter
The $0.30 minimum kicks in on items priced below $2-3 in most categories:
- $2 item at 15%: Calculated fee = $0.30 (exactly at minimum)
- $1 item at 15%: Calculated fee = $0.15, but you pay $0.30 (minimum)
For very low-priced items, the minimum fee significantly impacts margins.
2026 Fee Changes
Amazon announced no changes to referral fee percentages for 2026. The structure remains identical to 2025.
However, other fees did change:
What Changed for 2026
- FBA Fulfillment Fees: Increased approximately $0.08 per unit on average
- Inbound Placement Fees: New fee structure for split shipments
- Low-Inventory-Level Fee: New fee starting March 2026 for sellers with consistently low inventory
What Stayed the Same
- All referral fee percentages
- Minimum referral fees
- Category definitions
- Tiered pricing thresholds
- Closing fees for media items
For the complete breakdown of FBA and fulfillment fees, see our Amazon FBA Fees Explained guide.
Referral Fees vs. Total Amazon Fees
The referral fee is just one component of selling on Amazon. Here's how it fits into the total cost structure:
Fee Stack for FBA Sellers
| Fee Type | Typical Range | When Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Referral Fee | 6-45% | Every sale |
| FBA Fulfillment | $3-10/unit | Every FBA sale |
| Monthly Storage | $0.78-2.40/cu ft | Monthly |
| Professional Plan | $39.99/month | Monthly |
Example: Total Fees on a $30 Home & Kitchen Item
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Referral (15%) | $4.50 |
| FBA Fulfillment | $5.37 |
| Storage (est.) | $0.15 |
| Total | $10.02 |
| Percentage | 33.4% |
The referral fee accounts for about 45% of total fees in this example.
Fee Comparison: FBA vs. FBM
| Scenario | Referral | Fulfillment | Storage | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBA ($30 item) | $4.50 | $5.37 | $0.15 | $10.02 |
| FBM ($30 item) | $4.50 | $0 | $0 | $4.50 |
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) sellers only pay referral fees on Amazon, but handle their own shipping costs and lose Prime badge benefits.
How to Optimize for Lower Fees
1. Category Selection
When deciding what to sell, factor in category fees:
- Electronics sellers keep 92% (after referral)
- Clothing sellers keep 83-95% depending on price point
- Amazon Device Accessory sellers keep just 55%
2. Price Point Strategy
For tiered categories, consider pricing:
- Apparel: Price at $14.99 for 5% vs. $15.01 for 10%
- Jewelry: Premium items over $250 get 5% on the excess
- Furniture: Items over $200 get 10% on the excess
3. Product Bundling
Bundling increases average order value, which:
- Dilutes fixed fees (like closing fees on media)
- May hit lower-rate tiers in tiered categories
- Reduces per-unit fulfillment costs
4. Consider Handmade
Amazon Handmade charges 15% but has a $1.00 minimum instead of $0.30. For items priced $7+, this is the same effective rate as standard categories but with access to Handmade search filters and reduced competition.
FAQ
What is the Amazon referral fee for most categories?
Most Amazon categories charge 15% referral fee with a $0.30 minimum per item. This applies to Home & Kitchen, Toys & Games, Sports & Outdoors, Pet Supplies, Tools, Office Products, and many others. Exceptions include Electronics (8%), Apparel (5-17% tiered), and Jewelry (20%/5% tiered).
What is the lowest Amazon referral fee category?
Personal Computers has the lowest referral fee at 6%. Consumer Electronics, Camera, Cell Phones, and Video Game Consoles all charge 8%. For tiered categories, Apparel items under $15 pay just 5%, and portions of Jewelry sales over $250 pay only 5%.
What is the highest Amazon referral fee?
Amazon Device Accessories has the highest referral fee at 45%. This category includes cases, chargers, and accessories specifically for Amazon devices like Kindle, Fire tablets, and Echo. Jewelry under $250 (20%) and Gift Cards (20%) are the next highest.
Do Amazon referral fees include payment processing?
Yes. Unlike Etsy and eBay, Amazon's referral fee includes payment processing. You don't pay an additional 2.9% + $0.30 credit card fee on top of the referral fee. This makes Amazon's effective fee lower than the percentage suggests when compared to other platforms.
How do I find the referral fee for my specific product?
Look up your product's category in Amazon's fee schedule or use Amazon's Revenue Calculator in Seller Central. Categories are determined by the Browse Node (product type) you select when listing. If your product could fit multiple categories, check fees for each to find the most advantageous option.
Are Amazon referral fees negotiable?
No. Amazon's referral fees are non-negotiable and apply uniformly to all sellers. Unlike some B2B marketplaces, Amazon doesn't offer volume discounts on referral fees. The only way to reduce fees is to sell in lower-fee categories or hit price tiers that qualify for reduced rates.
What's the difference between referral fee and FBA fee?
The referral fee is Amazon's commission on every sale (6-45% depending on category)—you pay this whether you use FBA or ship orders yourself. FBA fees are additional charges for Amazon storing, packing, and shipping your products ($3-10+ per unit). FBM (merchant-fulfilled) sellers only pay referral fees on Amazon.
Do referral fees apply to shipping charges?
Yes. Amazon calculates the referral fee on the total sale price including any shipping charges. If you sell a $20 item with $5 shipping, the referral fee applies to $25. Most FBA sellers build shipping into the product price and offer "free shipping" to avoid customer confusion.
Next Steps
Understanding referral fees helps you price products profitably. But referral fees are just one piece of the puzzle.
Calculate your actual costs: Use our Amazon FBA Calculator to see total fees including fulfillment and storage.
Optimize your listings: Better listings mean higher conversion rates, spreading your fixed costs across more sales. Start with our Amazon Bullet Points Guide for product descriptions that convert.
Understand all FBA costs: For the complete breakdown of fulfillment, storage, and other FBA fees, read our Amazon FBA Fees Explained guide.
Calculate your Amazon FBA fees
See referral fees, fulfillment costs, and your net profit per unit.
Get guides like this in your inbox.
Practical seller guides — no fluff, no daily spam.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.