Amazon to Raise FBA Fulfillment Fees by $0.08 Per Unit Starting January 15, 2026

If you’re an Amazon seller, you know how quickly things can change. One day you’re cruising along with your SKUs, profits looking decent, and the next, an email from Amazon drops that makes you pause mid-coffee: FBA fees are changing.

Effective January 15, 2026, Amazon is updating several FBA fees in the US. And this isn’t just a minor tweak—it affects fulfillment fees, inventory and storage fees, and even how you handle inbound shipments. For some sellers, it’s a small bump. For others, it could be a meaningful margin adjustment.

Here at King Makers, we see this as more than just numbers on a page. Fee updates are signals—signals about where your business can tighten operations, where you might be losing money, and where opportunities exist. That’s why we’re breaking this down in detail, explaining what it means for you, and giving you actionable tips to handle it before it hits your bottom line.

So, the big question: should you worry?

Let’s dive in.

How to Recalculate True Amazon Profit When Fees Change (So You Stop Guessing)

Start by rebuilding true contribution margin per unit from scratch: (Selling Price – COGS – Referral Fee – FBA Fulfillment – Inbound Placement Fees – Returns Allowance – PPC). Then layer in the inventory-related changes that can sneak up later (ex: aged inventory surcharges increase for 12–15 months, plus a new surcharge over 15 months, and the low-inventory-level fee now applies to Small + Large Bulky and is calculated per FNSKU). Your goal is one clear number: “profit per unit after Jan 15 fees” for every top SKU—not a blended average. Once you have that, you can make fast decisions (raise price, change pack size, reduce dimensions, or pause replenishment) based on math, not vibes.

SKU Triage 101: How to Spot Which Products Get Hit Hardest by Jan 15 FBA Fees

Sort your catalog by size tier + price band, because that’s where the biggest fee movement lives on January 15, 2026: for standard-size $10–$50, Small Standard +$0.25/unit and Large Standard +$0.05/unit; for standard-size under $10, Small Standard +$0.12/unit and Large Standard has no change (and the average per-unit discount vs higher-priced items rises to $0.86). For standard-size over $50, Small Standard +$0.51/unit and Large Standard +$0.31/unit (Amazon cites added “enhanced services” for higher-value items), while Bulky & Extra-Large drop (Small Bulky –$2.06/unit, Large Bulky –$0.26/unit, Extra-Large –$2.08/unit). The SKUs that get hit hardest are the ones with thin margin + high velocity (they bleed faster), so triage your top sellers first and flag anything that loses more than ~10–20% of contribution margin after fees. Your “fix list” becomes obvious: adjust price, redesign packaging to drop a size tier, move to a multi-pack, or slow/stop reorders on margin killers.

Inbound Placement Fees Explained: How Your Shipment Split Choice Can Quietly Raise Costs

Inbound Placement is where sellers accidentally “approve” higher costs by choosing convenience—Amazon’s Inbound Placement Service (“minimal splits”) fee increases, so fewer splits can now mean a higher all-in landed cost. If you choose more splits, you may reduce placement fees, but you’ll often trade that for more logistics complexity (more labels, more shipments, more chance of mistakes). The solution is to treat inbound like a math decision: compare (placement fees + shipping cost + labor/3PL handling) for both options before you click submit. If you ship frequently, build a default rule (ex: minimal splits only for small replenishments, optimized splits for larger restocks) and you’ll stop getting surprised on your per-unit costs.

How to Protect Margin Without Killing Conversion: Smart Pricing + Pack-Size Moves After Fee Changes

The fastest margin protection usually isn’t a huge price jump—it’s a small, controlled move paired with a conversion-friendly offer (ex: +$0.50 to +$1.50 price test with a coupon, instead of a big visible increase). Next, look for “pack-size leverage”: if your single unit is stuck at a low price band, a 2-pack can raise your revenue per checkout while spreading fees over more dollars (especially helpful where standard-size fees increased, like $10–$50 Small Standard +$0.25/unit). Also audit packaging for hidden size-tier wins: shaving inches, reducing box weight, or switching inserts can prevent dimensional creep and keep you out of more expensive tiers. The goal is simple—keep your best-selling offer attractive while quietly lifting contribution margin back to where it needs to be.

The Inbound Shipment Checklist: 5 Things to Verify Before You Submit a Shipment Plan

Before you finalize any shipment plan, verify these five items every time: placement option + total placement fees, box/pallet dimensions + weights (accuracy matters), labeling/prep compliance, case-pack/carton contents match what’s in Seller Central, and delivery window/carrier requirements are correct. This matters more now because Inbound Defect Fees are simplified to one charge per unit for non-compliant shipments, so small mistakes get expensive fast. And since FBA Prep & Labeling Services are discontinued in the US starting January 1, 2026, your process (or your 3PL’s process) has to be bulletproof before inventory ever leaves the dock. One clean shipment plan can protect margins the same way a “bad” one can quietly drain them.

Fee Increases Aren’t the Problem—Slow Execution Is: A 48-Hour Action Plan for Sellers

In the next 48 hours, your job is to turn this into a controlled update, not a panic: Day 1—export your top SKUs, recalc true profit per unit using the Jan 15 fee changes, and mark each SKU as “raise price / change pack / reduce size / pause reorder.” Day 2—update prices with small tests, adjust coupons/promotions so conversion stays stable, and rebuild shipment plans with the right placement option so you’re not stacking hidden inbound costs. While you’re there, run a quick inventory health check because aged surcharges increase at 12–15 months and a new surcharge starts over 15 months, and the cheapest fix is clearing slow movers before they become a fee problem. Execute fast, and the fee change becomes a business upgrade instead of a margin surprise.

Should You Panic? Not Necessarily

Here’s the truth: fee updates are not the end of the world—but they are a wake-up call. Sellers who plan ahead, tighten operations, and stay on top of inventory will be fine (and often come out stronger). The sellers who ignore it? That’s where margins get quietly eroded and “surprise costs” show up in the P&L.

Key Takeaways

• Margins matter: Especially for standard-size products under $50, small per-unit changes add up fast across volume.

• Inventory management is critical: Old stock gets more expensive if you don’t manage it proactively.

• Operational efficiency pays off: Prep and labeling are now your responsibility, so clean systems win.

• Opportunities exist: Bulky and extra-large SKUs may now have lower fees and stronger profit potential.

Quick Action Checklist

• Review all SKUs: Identify products with fee increases and calculate profit per unit.

• Audit aged inventory: Plan removal, discounts, or bundling for slow movers.

• Prep & label ahead: Avoid shipping delays and extra fees after Jan 1.

• Recalculate margins: Factor in every new fee to make informed pricing decisions.

• Explore opportunities: Bulky and high-value SKUs could now be more profitable.

Here at King Makers, we believe fee changes aren’t meant to scare sellers—they’re designed to reward efficiency, preparation, and smart operations. The sellers who move first won’t just survive these changes—they’ll thrive.

Bottom Line

Do you need to worry? Only if you’re not prepared. Fee changes are Amazon’s way of rewarding execution, attention to detail, and operational discipline—not hope.

With the right strategy, inventory management, and a few smart operational tweaks, you can turn this into an advantage—protect margins, keep conversion healthy, and uncover new profit opportunities.

Want to Work With Like-Minded Sellers?

If you’re the type of seller who actually moves when Amazon changes the rules (instead of waiting and hoping margins magically fix themselves), you’ll fit right in with us.

Join the King Makers community to connect with other serious builders, get real-world strategies, and stay ahead of fee changes, policy shifts, and operational updates that impact profit. And if you want the playbook delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter—we break down what’s changing, what to do next, and how to execute fast without overcomplicating it.

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