FeeStrip

Amazon FBA vs FBM calculator

Fulfill by Amazon or ship it yourself — side by side on the same order. FBA's fees, FBM's label, packaging and labor, and which one keeps more per order.

Updated Aug 10, 2026 · sources on every number

FBA vs FBM calculator

Live · 2026

Marketplace

$

Referral fee — identical on both sides.

$

Your carrier rate per order — use your actual label cost.

$

Box, tape, inserts per order.

$

Your time per order.

Fulfill by Amazon

Prime included

  1. Order total$25.00

    selling price

  2. Referral fee · 15%$3.75

    Most categories · $0.30 minimum

  3. FBA fulfillment$3.33

    Small standard · 6–8 oz

  4. Fuel & logistics surcharge$0.12

    3.5% of the fulfillment fee · since Apr 17, 2026

Total fees$7.20
Net per order$17.80

Fulfill by merchant

You ship it

  1. Referral fee · 15%$3.75

    Most categories · $0.30 minimum

  2. Shipping label$6.50

    your carrier rate per order

  3. Packaging$1.50

    box, tape, inserts

  4. Pick, pack & drop-off$2.00

    your time

Total costs$13.75
Net per order$11.25

FBA nets $6.55 more per order

Source:Amazon · Fulfilled by Merchant· FBA fee schedule Aug 10, 2026 · label costs are your own

Estimates only — storage fees, returns and lost-sales effects vary by product.

Inputs restore automatically for an hour · this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.

Markets and headline rates

How it works

01

One order, two columns

Same price, same category — the referral fee is identical on both sides, so it can't skew the answer.

02

FBA side

Fulfillment fee by size tier from the Jan 15, 2026 schedule, plus the 3.5% fuel surcharge.

03

FBM side

Your real label cost, packaging and the value of your time picking, packing and dropping off.

04

Read the delta

Who nets more per order — and the caveats (storage, returns, Prime conversion) that decide real-world choice.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, FBA or FBM?

It depends on weight, price and how efficiently you ship. On small, lightweight items FBA usually wins — fulfillment starts at $3.06 plus a 3.5% fuel surcharge, while even a $4 ground label plus packaging and your time easily passes that. On heavy, large or slow-moving items FBM tends to win, because FBA fulfillment scales with size and adds monthly storage fees you only pay on FBM if you warehouse it yourself.

What does the referral fee do here?

Nothing — that's the point. The referral fee (15% for most categories) is identical on both sides, so it can't decide between FBA and FBM. It's shown in both columns so the totals stay honest, but only the rows below it differ.

What should I put for the FBM shipping label cost?

Your actual per-order label price from your carrier or label provider. USPS Ground Advantage runs roughly $3–5 for items under 1 lb (post-July-2026 commercial pricing), Priority Mail $7–12, FedEx Ground $8–15 and UPS Ground $9–16. Amazon Buy Shipping quotes discounted rates ~31% below retail ground — the exact number depends on zone and weight, so use a real quote.

Does FBA include storage costs?

No. FBA charges monthly storage per cubic foot and the figure rises each October–December. This calculator is a per-order view; a slow-moving SKU sitting in a warehouse for months can erase a per-order FBA advantage. The comparison flags this rather than pretending to price it.

What about Prime and the Buy Box?

FBA listings automatically get Prime eligibility, which converts more shoppers and usually wins the Buy Box. FBM can reach Prime shoppers only through Seller Fulfilled Prime with strict delivery requirements. If Prime conversion is worth more than the per-order delta, FBA can be the better business choice even when it's slightly more expensive on paper.

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