Amazon Referral Fees by Category (2026): The Full List
Most sellers assume Amazon takes 15% on everything. In reality the referral fee varies from 3% to 45% depending on the product category — and getting it wrong can wreck your margin math. Here are the 2026 rates that apply to the categories most sellers actually use.
What the referral fee is
The referral fee is Amazon’s commission on each sale, charged as a percentage of the total price (item + shipping). It applies whether you use FBA or fulfill orders yourself (FBM). There’s almost always a minimum referral fee of $0.30 per item.
Important: the referral fee is separate from FBA fulfillment fees. If you use FBA, you pay both. FBA vs FBM breakdown →
Referral fees by category (2026)
| Category | Referral fee |
|---|---|
| Most categories (default) | 15% |
| Electronics | 8% |
| Computers | 8% |
| Cell phone devices | 8% |
| Cameras & Photo | 8% |
| Video game consoles | 8% |
| Personal care appliances | 8% (≤$10), 15% (>$10) |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% |
| Watches | 16% (portion up to $1,500) |
| Jewelry | 20% (portion up to $250) |
| Furniture | 15% |
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Toys & Games | 15% |
| Sports | 15% |
| Books, Music, Video | 15% |
| Grocery & Gourmet | 8% (≤$15), 15% (>$15) |
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45% |
Several categories use tiered rates — a higher percentage on the first portion of the price and a lower one above a threshold (jewelry, watches). Always check your specific category and price band.
Why the category matters: worked examples
A $40 sale at different referral rates:
| Category | Referral fee | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics (8%) | 8% × $40 | $3.20 |
| Home & Kitchen (15%) | 15% × $40 | $6.00 |
| Clothing (17%) | 17% × $40 | $6.80 |
| Jewelry (20%) | 20% × $40 | $8.00 |
That’s a $4.80 swing on the same sale price — the difference between a healthy margin and a thin one, decided entirely by which category your product sits in.
How to find your exact rate
- Go to Seller Central → Fee schedule (or the public Amazon Selling Fees page)
- Find your product’s category
- Check for tiered rates and the per-item minimum
- If your item could fit multiple categories, the one with the lower referral fee is worth choosing — as long as it’s genuinely accurate (miscategorizing violates Amazon policy)
Don’t forget the rest of the stack
The referral fee is just one layer. On a typical FBA sale you also pay:
- FBA fulfillment fee — $3–6+ per unit by size/weight
- Monthly storage — $0.78–$2.40 per cubic foot
- $39.99/month Professional selling plan (or $0.99/item on the Individual plan)
A 15% referral fee can look fine until the FBA fee and storage turn a $40 sale into a $5 profit. Always model the full stack.
Calculate your real Amazon profit
Enter your price, referral percentage, and FBA fee to see your true net profit and margin:
Referral rates as of May 2026. Amazon adjusts category fees periodically and many use tiered structures — confirm exact rates in Seller Central.