Amazon FBA Fees in 2026: What Every Seller NEEDS to Know Right Now

If you're selling on Amazon, the fee landscape just got a lot more complicated — and most sellers are underestimating the real impact.

🚨 The Headline Number Is Misleading

Amazon announced an average increase of just $0.08 per unit. Sounds minor, right? Not so fast. when storage, transportation, and placement fees all increase at once, the real impact is much bigger than any single headline figure suggests. amzprep

For a typical seller moving 1,000 units monthly of 6-pound products, the combined monthly increase works out to around $700 — or $8,400 annually — not just the base fulfillment fee change. amzprep

💸 The Fee Changes At a Glance CategoryOld FeeNew FeeSmall standard ($10–$50)$3.86$4.11Small standard (over $50)$4.08$4.59Large standard ($10–$50)$5.42$5.73

Sellers with higher-priced products get hit hardest — a $0.51 increase per unit might seem small, but multiplied across a year of sales, the numbers get serious fast. amzprep

🔧 The Biggest Change Nobody's Talking About: FBA Prep Is GONE

As of January 1, 2026, Amazon has completely eliminated their specialized FBA prep and labeling services. Every unit you send to FBA must now be fully prepped before it reaches Amazon's dock — labeled, bagged, bundled, and compliant. amzprep

Your options now:

Handle prep yourself (time-intensive, and mistakes are expensive)

Have your supplier do it (quality can vary)

Use a third-party prep service

Why does this matter so much? Because inbound defect fees just exploded:

In 2025, defect fees ran $0.02–$0.07 per unit. In 2026, that same error now costs $0.32–$5.72 per unit. A 2% error rate on 10,000 units that cost you $4–$14 in 2025 could now cost you $64–$1,144. amzprep

📦 Storage Costs Are Rising Too

AWD storage fees in the West Region have increased 19%, and transportation costs have jumped 22%. amzprep

Amazon is raising storage costs on the West Coast while storage in the East and Midwest remains more affordable — meaning your warehouse location strategy now matters more than ever. amzprep

✅ The Good News

The Low-Price FBA discount actually improved in 2026 — from $0.77 to $0.86 per unit for items priced under $10. amzprep Small win, but worth noting if you sell budget-friendly products.

🔑 Bottom Line for Sellers

The 2026 changes aren't just about $0.08 per unit. They're about:

Prep accuracy now being 10–80x more costly when mistakes happen

Peak season storage running 3× normal rates

Aged inventory fees kicking in at 181 days instead of 365

Multi-channel fulfillment costing 10–15% more for non-Amazon orders

Professional prep now being effectively mandatory

Treat fee optimization as an ongoing habit, not a one-time task. Know every charge, use the programs Amazon offers, and keep your inventory practices disciplined. amzprep

Amazon Ending FBA Prep Operations in 2026: What Sellers Need to Know

Amazon has officially stopped offering FBA prep services starting January 2026. This big shift means sellers can no longer rely on Amazon to label, polybag, bubble wrap, or co-pack their products before they reach fulfillment centers. The change is part of Amazon's strategy to focus on its core fulfillment operations instead of the complex, low-margin prep work.

Why does this matter? Prep services were once a major help for sellers to meet Amazon’s strict compliance rules. Without this support, sellers risk longer inbound times, higher chargebacks, and stranded inventory if their products are not fully compliant. Sellers will now need to turn to specialized 3PLs or prep centers for these tasks.

The good news? Some new prep providers like AMZ Prep offer faster check-ins, better compliance, and lower costs, sometimes 30-40% cheaper than Amazon. By switching to expert prep centers, sellers gain more control over product quality, speed, and cost efficiency.

If you sell on Amazon, now is the time to start evaluating your 3PL options and get ready for this major change. Proper prep will be key to avoiding pitfalls and keeping your inventory flowing smoothly.