How much does Amazon FBA really cost? The honest answer: it depends on the business model you choose. Retail arbitrage can be tested with a few thousand, while private label needs far more start-up capital. In this guide you will find all Amazon FBA costs for 2026: Amazon's fees, the hidden costs, the costs outside Amazon, the start-up capital for each business model, alternatives to FBA and a complete worked example for sellers in the UK.
How much does Amazon FBA cost? The quick answer
The total cost of Amazon FBA is made up of fixed and variable costs:
- Fixed monthly costs: £25 (excl. VAT) for the Professional selling plan on Amazon.co.uk, or €39 in the EU stores, plus tools and accounting
- Variable costs per sale: a referral fee of usually 7 to 15% of the selling price plus an FBA fulfilment fee based on size and weight, and storage fees for your stock
- To get started: roughly €1,000 to €25,000 in start-up capital depending on the business model, mostly for stock
- Rule of thumb: Amazon fees and VAT together often take 30 to 40% of the selling price. That is normal with Fulfilment by Amazon and belongs in every calculation.
Amazon FBA fees at a glance
FBA fees fall into three groups: the selling plan for your seller account, the referral fees per item and the fees for Fulfilment by Amazon. You will find all current rates in Seller Central and on Amazon's pricing page.
| Fee | Amount (UK) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Professional selling plan | £25 per month (excl. VAT) | monthly, regardless of sales |
| Individual plan | £0.75 per item sold | only for occasional sellers |
| Referral fee | usually 15%, lower in some categories such as electronics, with a minimum fee per item | per sale, on the price incl. VAT |
| FBA fulfilment fee | based on size and weight | per unit sold |
| Storage fees | per cubic foot per month, higher from October to December | monthly for your stock |
Selling plan: Individual or Professional?
The Individual plan has no monthly fee but costs £0.75 per item sold. From around 34 sales a month, the Professional plan is cheaper. For a real FBA business you need it anyway, because only the Professional plan gives you reports, advertising and access to many categories. Our Seller Central guide explains how to set up your account.
Referral fees by category
The referral fee is a percentage of the selling price including VAT. In most categories it is 15%, in some, such as electronics, noticeably lower. A minimum referral fee applies per item. You will find the exact rates per category in Seller Central. Check the category before you buy, because it directly affects your margins.
FBA fulfilment fees by size and weight
The FBA fulfilment fee covers picking, packing, delivery and customer service. Amazon sorts items into size tiers, from small envelopes and standard parcels to oversize items. Within each tier the fee rises with weight. Amazon adjusts these fees regularly, most recently for 2026. Small, light products are therefore much cheaper to fulfil than bulky ones.
Low-priced items automatically qualify for reduced Low-Price FBA rates. Our Amazon FBA calculator guide shows how to work out the fees per unit exactly.
Storage fees and inventory
You pay monthly storage fees for the space your stock uses in Amazon's fulfilment centres. The rate varies by season and is much higher in the peak period from October to December. For stock that sits in the warehouse for a long time, Amazon also charges an aged inventory surcharge. Slow-moving stock can therefore eat your profit quickly.
Hidden Amazon FBA costs
Many beginners only calculate referral and fulfilment fees. These costs regularly catch them out:
- Aged inventory: stock that sits for months costs a surcharge. Turn your inventory quickly.
- Returns: Amazon keeps a refund administration fee, and returned items are not always sellable again. Plan extra costs for high return rates.
- Removal and disposal: getting stock back from Amazon or having it disposed of costs a fee per unit.
- Advertising: Sponsored Products ads are optional, but almost always needed for private label.
- VAT: UK VAT is 20%. UK-established businesses must register once taxable turnover passes £90,000, while sellers based outside the UK must register from their first sale. If you also store stock in the EU, you may need VAT registrations there too. More in our comparison Pan-EU vs EFN.
- Business set-up and compliance: as a sole trader you register for Self Assessment with HMRC for free. A limited company costs £50 to register online at Companies House. If you sell electrical items, check your WEEE obligations, and larger businesses also fall under packaging EPR. Our WEEE guide explains the details.
- Accounting: once you have regular orders, an accountant is worth it, often £50 to £150 a month.
Costs outside Amazon
- Stock: the biggest block. You need enough capital for several products and reorders.
- Prep materials and shipping to Amazon: labels, poly bags and boxes, plus delivery to the fulfilment centres. If you are short on time, use a prep centre.
- Tools: without data you buy blind. ProfitGo costs €19.95 (Manual Essential) or €29.95 (Manual Expert) a month. ProfitPath starts at €199 a month according to the pricing page. Keepa costs €29 a month. You can try every ProfitPath product free for 14 days.
- Reserves: plan capital for reorders, price drops and unsellable stock.
Start-up capital: how much does Amazon FBA cost by business model?
The most important question at the start is not "How high are the fees?" but "How much capital do I need?". The answer depends on the business model. The figures below are guide values for getting started, excluding running costs. They are in euros, UK sellers can convert them at roughly 85p per euro.
Retail arbitrage: €1,000 to €2,000
With retail arbitrage you buy discounted products in shops and resell them on Amazon. With the ProfitGo app you scan barcodes in store and instantly see fees, profit and whether you are allowed to sell the product. This budget is enough to learn and make your first sales: the £25 selling plan, stock for your first 10 to 20 products, ProfitGo from €19.95 a month and a small budget for prep materials.
Online arbitrage: €5,000 to €10,000
With online arbitrage you buy products from online shops that sell for more on Amazon. It scales better, because you can check thousands of products per hour. ProfitPath recommends start-up capital of at least €5,000 to €10,000 for this model. That gives you room to test products, build momentum and reinvest profits. ProfitPath scans more than 1,000 shops for profitable deals automatically. More in our online arbitrage guide.
Wholesale: €5,000 to €15,000
With wholesale you buy in bulk directly from distributors and brands. Unit prices are better, but minimum order quantities tie up more capital. With the Wholesale Scanner (€79 or €99 net a month) you check whole price lists in minutes. More in our guide to wholesale on Amazon.
Private label: €10,000 to €25,000
With private label you sell your own brand. The potential is high, but so are start-up capital and risk. Typical cost items:
- Product development and samples: testing samples from several manufacturers
- First production run: the biggest item, depending on minimum order quantity and unit price
- Trademark: a UK trade mark at the UK IPO costs £170 online for one class, plus £50 for each extra class. For the EU marketplaces, an EU trade mark at the EUIPO costs €850 for one class. A registered or pending trademark is required for Amazon Brand Registry.
- Barcodes: your own GTINs from GS1 UK, with an annual fee. More on Amazon barcodes.
- Photos, listing and A+ Content that convert
- Launch: Sponsored Products ads and first reviews through Amazon Vine, which is free for 1 to 2 units and costs more for larger enrolments
- Certification and compliance: depending on the product, for example UKCA or CE marking, test reports or import duties
Arbitrage and wholesale avoid these product costs, because you sell existing branded products. In return you share the listing with other sellers.
Worked example: what is left from one sale?
A simplified example for an arbitrage product on Amazon.co.uk. The FBA fee is an example value, ProfitGo or our FBA calculator shows the exact figure.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling price incl. VAT | £24.99 |
| VAT (20%) | £4.17 |
| Referral fee (15%) | £3.75 |
| FBA fulfilment fee (example) | £3.50 |
| Storage fees (share) | £0.10 |
| Buy price excl. VAT | £10.00 |
| Prep and shipping to Amazon | £0.40 |
| Profit | £3.07 |
| ROI | 30% |
From a £24.99 sale, £3.07 profit is left after all costs. That is a good deal, but only if the estimates are right. With ProfitGo you see this calculation for every product in seconds, including selling eligibility, confirmed sales and price history.
Alternatives to FBA: FBM and Seller Fulfilled Prime
- FBM (Fulfilment by Merchant): you store and ship yourself. FBA fees disappear, but you cover shipping, packaging and customer service. Useful for large, heavy or slow-selling items.
- Seller Fulfilled Prime: you ship yourself with the Prime badge, but must meet strict delivery times.
- A mix: many Amazon sellers use FBA for fast sellers and FBM for special cases.
Is Amazon FBA still worth it in 2026?
Yes, for sellers who know their costs. According to ProfitPath, profit margins in online arbitrage are usually between 15 and 40%, depending on category and competition.
- Advantages: access to Amazon's logistics network across the UK and Europe, Prime delivery for more customers, better chances of winning the Buy Box, and Amazon handles storage, shipping, returns and customer service.
- Disadvantages: fees that Amazon changes regularly, high storage costs for slow sellers and dependence on Amazon's rules. Amazon deducts its fees directly from your sales.
- Realistic timeline: in months 1 to 2 learn the basics and make your first 10 to 20 sales, in months 3 to 6 build a sourcing routine and reinvest profits, from month 6 put more capital to work and test wholesale.
How to reduce Amazon FBA costs: 6 tips
- Use the new seller incentives: according to Amazon, eligible new sellers on Amazon.co.uk can get up to £42,000 in incentives, including 10% back on the first £40,000 in branded sales and free storage for new products.
- Focus on low-priced items: they benefit from the cheaper Low-Price FBA rates.
- Turn your stock quickly: buy smaller quantities and reorder rather than storing stock for months.
- Choose small, light products: size and weight drive the fulfilment fee.
- Check selling eligibility before you buy: avoid stock you are not allowed to sell.
- Watch your pricing: set a minimum price you will not sell below and check price history before you buy.
Frequently asked questions about Amazon FBA costs
How much does Amazon FBA cost?
On Amazon.co.uk the Professional plan costs £25 a month excl. VAT. Per sale you pay the referral fee of usually 7 to 15% and the FBA fulfilment fee, plus storage fees for your stock.
How much are FBA fees in 2026?
In 2026 FBA fees depend on size tier and weight, and low-priced items pay reduced rates. The exact figures are in Seller Central and in our FBA calculator guide.
How much start-up capital do I need for Amazon FBA?
About €1,000 to €2,000 for retail arbitrage. For online arbitrage ProfitPath recommends €5,000 to €10,000. Wholesale often needs €5,000 to €15,000 because of minimum order quantities, private label usually €10,000 to €25,000.
What percentage does Amazon take from sellers?
The referral fee is usually 15%, lower in some categories. With FBA fulfilment, storage and VAT, 30 to 40% of the selling price is often gone.
How much does Amazon FBA cost per month?
At least £25 for the selling plan. On top come storage fees, tools such as ProfitGo from €19.95 and possibly accounting and advertising.
How much can you earn with Amazon FBA?
It depends on capital, time and business model. In online arbitrage, margins are usually 15 to 40% according to ProfitPath. If you reinvest your profits consistently, you build your business step by step.
Where can I find the Amazon FBA fee calculator?
Amazon offers the Revenue Calculator in Seller Central. It is faster with ProfitGo directly on every product page. Our FBA calculator guide explains all fees.
Conclusion
Amazon FBA costs consist of fixed monthly fees, fees per sale and the start-up capital for your stock. How much you need depends mainly on the business model: retail arbitrage is the cheapest way in, online arbitrage and wholesale need more capital, private label the most. Do the full calculation before every purchase, keep reserves and reinvest your profits, and FBA becomes a profitable online business.
