Calculator Use
The fba shipping cost calculator is a specialized tool designed for Amazon sellers to estimate the total expenses associated with the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. By entering specific product details, sellers can visualize the impact of logistics costs on their profit margins before shipping inventory to Amazon warehouses.
This calculator accounts for the most common variables in the Amazon fee structure, helping you decide whether a product is viable for the FBA model or if FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) might be more cost-effective.
- Item Price
- The listing price of your product on Amazon. This directly affects the Referral Fee.
- Inbound Shipping
- The estimated cost to ship a single unit from your location or supplier to an Amazon Fulfillment Center.
- Unit Weight
- The actual weight of the packaged product in pounds. Amazon uses the higher of actual weight or dimensional weight for some tiers.
- Dimensions (L x W x H)
- Length, Width, and Height in inches. These values determine the size tier and monthly storage costs.
How It Works
When you utilize the FBA service, Amazon handles the picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for your products. In exchange, they charge several distinct fees. The fba shipping cost calculator aggregates these into a single per-unit estimate. The core formula involves four primary components:
Total FBA Cost = Referral Fee + Fulfillment Fee + Storage Fee + Inbound Shipping
- Referral Fee: Usually a percentage (average 15%) of the total sales price. It is Amazon's "commission" for selling on their platform.
- Fulfillment Fee: A flat fee per unit based on the size tier and shipping weight of the product. It covers the labor and postage.
- Monthly Storage Fee: Calculated based on the volume (cubic feet) your inventory occupies in the warehouse. Prices increase significantly during Q4 (October – December).
- Inbound Shipping: Your cost to get the item into the Amazon ecosystem, often using Amazon's Partnered Carrier program.
Calculation Example
Example: Shipping a standard-sized yoga mat priced at $40.00.
Step-by-step solution:
- Referral Fee: $40.00 x 15% = $6.00
- Fulfillment Fee: For a 2lb item, the fee is roughly $4.90 (Base + weight surcharge).
- Monthly Storage: If the mat is 0.15 cubic feet, the fee is approximately $0.13 (off-peak).
- Inbound Shipping: Estimated at $0.60 per unit when shipping in bulk.
- Total FBA Cost: $6.00 + $4.90 + $0.13 + $0.60 = $11.63 per unit.
Common Questions
What is Dimensional Weight?
Dimensional weight (DIM weight) is a pricing technique used by carriers that calculates weight based on the volume of the package rather than its actual heft. Amazon uses the formula (Length x Width x Height) / 139 to determine DIM weight for larger items. The fba shipping cost calculator generally focuses on actual weight for small standard items, but DIM weight applies to all large standard and oversize units.
Do FBA fees change during the holidays?
Yes. While referral and fulfillment fees stay relatively stable, Monthly Storage Fees increase dramatically between October and December. Storage costs can triple during this period to encourage sellers to move inventory quickly and avoid warehouse congestion.
Is the inbound shipping cost included in Amazon's fees?
No. Inbound shipping is the cost you pay to send your goods to Amazon. While you can use Amazon's discounted "Partnered Carrier" rates (which are very affordable), these are billed separately and are not part of the per-order fulfillment fee. Our fba shipping cost calculator allows you to manually input this to get a true total cost.