Amazon FBA fees in 2026: What rising costs mean for brands

TL;DR

• Amazon raised FBA fees by an average of $0.08 per unit in 2026.
• A 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge followed in April, averaging $0.17 per U.S. FBA unit.
• Holiday peak fees run October 15, 2026–January 14, 2027, averaging $0.32 per unit above non-peak rates.
• Rising costs make it worth reviewing which SKUs belong in FBA and where FBM or a hybrid model may fit.
• Flowspace supports both FBA prep and Amazon FBM, giving brands more flexibility by product and channel.

Amazon sellers are heading into peak after a year of rising fulfillment costs.

After baseline FBA increases and a new fuel and logistics surcharge earlier this year, Amazon’s holiday peak fulfillment fees take effect October 15.

None of these changes is likely to surprise an experienced Amazon seller. The bigger question is what they mean together. For brands moving significant volume through FBA, higher baseline fees, surcharges, and seasonal pricing can compound at the exact point when order volume is highest and margins matter most.

That makes peak a good time to look beyond individual fee increases and ask a broader question: Is FBA still the best fulfillment method for every product you sell?

The headline FBA fee isn’t the full cost

The actual cost of FBA can extend beyond the core fulfillment fee. Depending on the seller and product, costs can include storage, inbound inventory placement, aged inventory, removals, FBA prep, returns processing, and other inventory-related fees.

Brands should evaluate total fulfillment cost by SKU, not the standard rate alone.

What's changed with Amazon FBA fees in 2026?

Three changes stand out heading into peak.

January: FBA fees increased

Beginning January 15, Amazon's 2026 fee changes increased FBA fees by an average of $0.08 per unit sold. Amazon noted that actual changes vary depending on factors such as product size and the services being used.

April: Amazon added a fuel and logistics surcharge

On April 17, Amazon introduced a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge on U.S. and Canadian FBA fulfillment fees.

For U.S. FBA, Amazon says the surcharge averages about $0.17 per unit, though the actual amount varies by product size and dimensions. The surcharge is calculated against the fulfillment fee—not the item's selling price.

It will also apply on top of Amazon’s holiday peak fulfillment fees.

October: Holiday peak fees begin

Amazon's holiday peak fulfillment fees will apply from October 15, 2026, through January 14, 2027.

Amazon says the increase over non-peak fulfillment rates will average $0.32 per unit, the same average increase as last year.

Because rates vary by product size and weight, brands should evaluate the peak impact at the SKU level rather than treat the $0.32 average as a flat increase.

Why peak changes the cost equation

Amazon’s increases don’t happen in isolation. During peak, brands may also face carrier demand surcharges, higher storage costs, inventory repositioning, and other seasonal logistics expenses.

For high-volume brands, that makes total fulfillment cost by SKU and channel more important than any single rate increase.

How to evaluate FBA as costs rise

FBA offers meaningful advantages, including access to Amazon's fulfillment infrastructure and a relatively hands-off way to manage Amazon orders.

Brands can evaluate which products are best suited to FBA based on product size, sales velocity, storage requirements, margins, and inventory strategy. A high-volume SKU with strong FBA economics may call for a different approach than a slower-moving or more expensive-to-fulfill product.

Amazon itself allows sellers to use FBM for an entire catalog or combine it with FBA, creating flexibility to choose fulfillment methods based on the needs of individual products.

When FBM may make more sense

Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) gives brands more control over how Amazon orders get fulfilled, without requiring them to run their own warehouse. A 3PL or fulfillment partner like Flowspace can handle FBM fulfillment on their behalf.

FBM can fit SKUs with higher FBA costs, inventory that already supports multiple sales channels, or brands that want more control over where stock sits and how orders ship.

For omnichannel brands, it can also reduce inventory fragmentation across Amazon, ecommerce, marketplaces, and retail.

FBA vs. FBM doesn't have to be either-or

Brands can keep products with strong FBA economics in FBA while using FBM where it makes sense.

Amazon supports using both methods, giving brands more room to adjust as costs, inventory, and demand shift.

For a full breakdown of the differences, see our FBA vs. FBM guide.

Evaluate your Amazon fulfillment costs before peak

Before volume ramps up, ask:

• What is our true FBA cost by SKU?
• Which products are most affected by peak fees?
• How much inventory is committed specifically to FBA?
• Could some inventory support Amazon alongside DTC or other channels?
• Could our current fulfillment setup handle FBM without adding operational complexity?

Amazon’s Revenue Calculator and profitability tools can also help you compare fulfillment costs and assess SKU-level economics.

The goal isn’t to move away from FBA. It’s to make deliberate fulfillment decisions based on cost, demand, and operational fit.

Build a more flexible Amazon fulfillment strategy

Flowspace supports Amazon FBM alongside FBA prep and replenishment, with integrations that sync orders and inventory across Amazon, ecommerce, and retail channels. Flowspace also supports Seller Fulfilled Prime and SLA monitoring for FBM operations.

Brands can use FBA where it performs best, add FBM where it fits, and manage both within a broader omnichannel fulfillment strategy.

Want to evaluate your Amazon fulfillment strategy before peak? Talk to a Flowspace fulfillment expert.

Frequently asked questions about FBA fees

Did Amazon FBA fees increase in 2026?

Yes. Amazon announced an average FBA fee increase of $0.08 per unit for 2026, with most changes taking effect January 15. Amazon later introduced a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge beginning April 17.

What are Amazon's 2026 holiday peak fulfillment fees?

Holiday peak fulfillment fees apply from October 15, 2026, through January 14, 2027. Amazon says the increase over non-peak rates averages $0.32 per unit.

Does Amazon's fuel surcharge apply during peak season?

Yes. Amazon states that its 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge will apply on top of holiday peak fulfillment fees.

Is Amazon FBM cheaper than FBA?

Not necessarily. The better option depends on factors such as product size, shipping distance, storage, order volume, and the cost of the seller's fulfillment operation or 3PL. Brands should compare costs by SKU rather than assume one method is always cheaper.

Can a 3PL fulfill Amazon FBM orders?

Yes. A seller remains responsible for meeting Amazon's fulfillment requirements, but a 3PL can store inventory and fulfill FBM orders on the seller's behalf. Flowspace, for example, supports Amazon FBM fulfillment and SLA monitoring.

Can sellers use both FBA and FBM?

Yes. Amazon allows sellers to use FBM for their full catalog or combine it with FBA, making a hybrid fulfillment strategy possible.

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