Amazon seller profit guide
Find the FBA versus FBM break-even point
FBA and merchant fulfillment can produce very different margins for the same listing. The useful comparison starts with the exact packaged size, billable weight, sale-price band, storage velocity, and your real cost to ship one order.
This tool applies Amazon’s published 2026 US non-apparel fulfillment rate card and keeps every business-specific expense editable.
How to use this tool
Measure the packed unit
Use the retail-ready package Amazon will receive, including protective material.
Enter true FBM labor and postage
Use commercial shipping rates and a realistic value for handling time.
Add category-specific charges
Enter known Amazon placement, prep, returns, or inventory fees that the base table cannot infer.
Test peak season
Amazon peak fulfillment and storage rates run October 15 through January 14.
Fees included in both choices
The category referral fee and product cost apply to both fulfillment methods. They remain visible because they determine actual margin, even though they usually cancel in the FBA-versus-FBM difference.
Where generic FBA calculators fail
- Ignoring dimensional weight for light, bulky products
- Using a single fee across Amazon price bands
- Leaving out the 2026 fuel surcharge
- Treating storage cost as zero or ignoring inventory velocity
- Valuing owner pick-and-pack time at zero
Scope of the official rate table
The built-in table covers ordinary non-apparel products. Apparel, dangerous goods, special handling, and products with unusual category fees require the applicable Amazon rate card or Revenue Calculator.
Amazon can change fees and product classification, and a measured item near a tier boundary may be reclassified. Verify the final SKU in Seller Central before changing fulfillment strategy.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
When is Amazon FBA cheaper than FBM?
FBA becomes cheaper in this model when its fulfillment, inbound, prep, storage, returns, and fixed costs fall below FBM postage, packaging, labor, storage, returns, and fixed costs. The shipping break-even result isolates the FBM postage threshold.
Does Amazon use dimensional weight?
Yes. For large-standard through most extra-large tiers, the 2026 rate card generally uses the greater of unit weight or dimensional weight. Small-standard and extra-large 150+ use unit weight.
Are Amazon referral fees different for FBA and FBM?
The category referral fee generally applies to the sale under either fulfillment method. Enter your category percentage; the calculator applies it to both.
Does this replace Amazon’s Revenue Calculator?
No. Use Amazon’s tool for SKU-specific confirmation, especially for apparel, dangerous goods, aged inventory, or special programs.