How the Amazon referral fee works
The referral fee is the commission Amazon takes on every item you sell, regardless of whether you use FBA or FBM. It is charged as a percentage of the total sale price — the item price plus any shipping or gift-wrap charges you collect — not the profit. Each category has its own percentage, and Amazon applies a per-item minimum (about $0.30) so that very low-priced items still carry a fee.
The formula
Referral fee = total sale price × category rate, subject to the per-item minimum. For tiered categories, the rate changes with price: some apply a higher percentage to the first portion of the price and a lower percentage above a threshold (for example, jewelry is 20% up to $250 and 5% on the amount above). Your effective rate is the total fee divided by the price — useful for comparing categories at your actual price point.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your selling price (include any shipping you charge the buyer — Amazon applies the referral fee to that too).
- Select the category that matches your listing. The tool automatically handles flat, threshold and tiered rates.
- Read the referral fee, effective rate and net proceeds on the right, and add monthly units to estimate your total monthly referral spend.
Amazon referral fees by category (2026)
Referral percentages were frozen for both 2025 and 2026. The table below covers the main US categories. Some categories use tiered or threshold pricing, shown in the rate column.
| Category | Referral fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Most categories (default) | 15% |
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% |
| Automotive & Powersports | 12% |
| Baby Products | 15% |
| Backpacks, Handbags & Luggage | 15% |
| Beauty, Health & Personal Care | 8% if total price ≤ $10, otherwise 15% |
| Books, Music, Video & DVD | 15% (plus a variable closing fee on media) |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% |
| Computers | 8% |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% |
| Electronics Accessories | 15% up to $100, then 8% on the amount above |
| Furniture | 15% up to $200, then 10% on the amount above |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | 8% if total price ≤ $15, otherwise 15% |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Jewelry | 20% up to $250, then 5% on the amount above |
| Pet Supplies | 15% |
| Shoes, Handbags & Sunglasses | 15% |
| Sports & Outdoors | 15% |
| Tools & Home Improvement | 15% |
| Toys & Games | 15% |
| Watches | 16% up to $1,500, then 3% on the amount above |
Rates are for the Amazon US marketplace and are estimates for planning. Category definitions, thresholds and the per-item minimum can change, and media categories carry additional closing fees. Always confirm the current rate for your exact category in Amazon Seller Central before sourcing.
The per-item minimum referral fee
Most categories apply a minimum referral fee of about $0.30 per item. This only bites on very cheap products: a $1.50 item in a 15% category would owe $0.225, so the $0.30 minimum applies instead — an effective rate of 20%. For anything priced above roughly $2, the percentage almost always exceeds the minimum and the minimum is irrelevant.
Tiered and threshold categories explained
A few categories don't use one flat percentage. Tiered (marginal) categories — electronics accessories, furniture, jewelry and watches — split the price into bands and apply a different rate to each band, much like income tax brackets. Threshold categories — beauty/health/personal care and grocery — switch the whole-price rate depending on whether the item is above or below a price line. This calculator applies the correct method automatically, so the effective rate it shows already accounts for the split.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Amazon referral fee in 2026?
It is a per-sale commission charged as a percentage of the total sale price. Most categories are 15%, consumer electronics and computers are 8%, apparel is 17%, and some categories use tiered rates. A per-item minimum of about $0.30 applies.
Is the referral fee charged on the shipping I collect?
Yes. Amazon calculates the referral fee on the total amount the buyer pays, including any shipping or gift-wrap charges you add, so include those in the selling price field for an accurate result.
Does the referral fee apply to FBM as well as FBA?
Yes. The referral fee is charged on every sale regardless of fulfillment method. FBA sellers also pay a separate fulfillment fee on top of it — use the FBA Profit Calculator to combine both.
How is a tiered category like jewelry calculated?
Tiered categories split the price into bands. Jewelry is 20% on the first $250 and 5% on anything above. A $400 item owes 20% × $250 ($50.00) plus 5% × $150 ($7.50) = $57.50, an effective rate of about 14.4%.
Can I lower my referral fee?
The percentage itself is fixed by category, so the main lever is making sure your product is listed in the correct (and often lower-fee) category. Beyond that, sellers reduce total Amazon fees by trimming the FBA fulfillment fee through lighter, smaller packaging — see the FBA Profit Calculator.
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Disclaimer: estimates only, for planning purposes. Amazon referral fees vary by category and marketplace and can change. Verify current fees in Amazon Seller Central before making sourcing decisions. Some links on this page are affiliate links.