Banner OutlineBlog Banner Shape

What Are Amazon FBA Storage Fees Per Month? 2026 Rates

What Are Amazon FBA Storage Fees Per Month? 2026 Rates
Published:
August 18, 2026
Adam E Wilkens

Table of Contents

What are amazon fba storage fees per month? Amazon charges monthly inventory storage fees based on how much space your inventory uses in fulfillment centers, measured in cubic feet, and the rate changes by season. Peak months usually cost more than January through September. If you want to know how are FBA storage fees calculated, where to find current rates, and how to lower the bill, this guide walks through the math, the reports, and the actions sellers use every week.

What You Will Learn

  • How Amazon calculates amazon fba monthly storage fees using cubic feet, size tiers, and seasonal rate windows
  • How monthly inventory storage fees Amazon charges differ from Amazon long term storage fees
  • Step-by-step sample calculations for standard-size and oversize SKUs
  • How to build a simple spreadsheet or use a fba storage fee calculator workflow
  • Practical ways to reduce monthly charges, including removal, FBM shifts, and better replenishment timing
  • Which Seller Central reports to review before storage fees get expensive

How Amazon’s monthly FBA storage fees work

Amazon’s monthly FBA storage fees work by charging for the average daily volume your sellable and unsellable inventory occupies in Amazon fulfillment centers during a month. The key idea is space, not just unit count. A compact item with 500 units can cost less to store than a bulky item with 50 units. In our experience managing Amazon stores, many sellers focus on referral and fulfillment fees first, then get surprised by storage because storage accumulates quietly in the background.

What is monthly storage?

Monthly storage is defined as the fee Amazon charges each month for inventory kept in FBA warehouses, based on cubic feet used and the applicable seasonal rate. Amazon storage fees by cubic foot are the standard basis for the charge, not a flat fee per unit (Amazon Seller Central, 2026).

What Amazon measures, cubic feet vs per unit

Amazon calculates storage volume from product dimensions. The basic formula is:

(Length × Width × Height in inches) ÷ 1,728 = cubic feet per unit

If a unit measures 12 in × 10 in × 6 in, the math is 720 cubic inches. Divide 720 by 1,728 and the unit volume is about 0.417 cubic feet. If you have 100 units in stock, the total occupied volume is about 41.7 cubic feet. That volume is then multiplied by the monthly rate for the item’s size tier and month.

  • Standard-size items usually have a lower monthly rate
  • Oversize items usually have a higher monthly rate
  • Peak months, often October through December, carry higher rates

When fees are charged

Amazon does not simply count your inventory on one random day and bill from that single snapshot. Monthly inventory storage fees Amazon applies are generally based on average daily volume during the month, then billed monthly through your seller account statement (Amazon Seller Central, 2026). That means inventory levels throughout the month matter. Sending 2,000 units on the 2nd of the month will usually create a different fee outcome than sending the same 2,000 units on the 28th.

Seasonal storage fees Amazon sellers should expect

Seasonal storage fees Amazon applies in peak months are higher because warehouse capacity is tighter heading into holiday demand. This is one of the biggest reasons sellers adjust inbound timing in late Q3. We have seen clients cut Q4 storage by shipping in smaller waves instead of stuffing FBA with 90 to 120 days of cover all at once.

Where to find the current monthly storage rates in Seller Central

If you want live numbers for storage fees Amazon per month 2026, the safest answer is to verify the rate table in Seller Central before making inventory decisions. Rate cards change. Size-tier definitions can change. Program exceptions can change. A blog post, including this one, should help you understand the system, but your final decision should use the current official fee schedule in your marketplace.

Seller Central paths to check rates

  1. Log in to Seller Central.
  2. Go to Help.
  3. Search for FBA storage fees or monthly storage fees.
  4. Open the current fee schedule and storage fee help page.
  5. Review the rate table by size tier and month range.
  6. Cross-check your own inventory reports to estimate actual exposure.

You may also find fee details through FBA fee help pages and inventory-related report areas. Navigation labels move from time to time, so searching inside Help is often faster than clicking through menu layers.

Official definitions you should know

Before you run any calculation, get clear on these terms:

  • Standard-size, smaller products that fit Amazon’s standard dimension and weight thresholds
  • Oversize, larger or heavier products billed at a different storage rate
  • Unit volume, the cubic feet occupied by one unit
  • Average daily volume, the basis Amazon uses for the monthly charge
  • Aged inventory, units that have sat long enough to risk aged-inventory surcharges or long-term fees

For deeper fee context, sellers often review the full Amazon FBA fee overview alongside storage charges, because a SKU can look profitable on margin until storage and aging costs are added.

  • Column headings: Put exact headers in row 1: SKU, L(in), W(in), H(in), Units on-hand, Cu ft per unit, Monthly rate $/cu ft (Jan-Sep), Peak rate $/cu ft (Oct-Dec), Monthly fee.
  • Cu ft formula: In F2 use =ROUND(B2*C2*D2/1728,4) to compute cubic feet per unit and copy down.
  • Rate columns: Enter the standard per-cu-ft rate in column G and the peak per-cu-ft rate in column H as currency values (e.g., 0.75 or 2.40).
  • Monthly fee formula: Set column I formula =E2*$F2*$G2 for non-peak or use =E2*$F2*$H2 for peak; Monthly fee = Units × Cu ft per unit × chosen rate.
  • 12-month projection: Add Jan-Dec columns (e.g., J1:U1) and in J2 use =E2*$F2*IF(OR(J$1="Oct",J$1="Nov",J$1="Dec"),$H2,$G2) then copy across and down.
  • Sample row 1: Add sample: SKU=ABC-001, L=10 W=5 H=2 Units=100 gives Cu ft=ROUND(10*5*2/1728,4)=0.0579, Jan fee=100*0.0579*0.75=$4.34, Oct fee=$13.89.
  • Sample row 2: Add sample: SKU=XYZ-999, L=16 W=12 H=8 Units=25 gives Cu ft=ROUND(16*12*8/1728,4)=0.8889, Jan fee=$16.67, Oct fee=$53.33.
  • Rate lookup table: Optional: create a 2-row table with MonthGroup and Rate and use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP in projection formulas to pick G or H per month.
  • Monthly totals: Below data add totals row: for Jan use =SUM(J2:J100) and copy across to Dec; compute Annual total =SUM(J_tot:U_tot).
  • Formatting rules: Format Cu ft to 4 decimals, rates as currency with 3 decimals, fees as currency with 2 decimals, and Units as integer.
  • Input validation: Apply validation: Units on-hand integer >=0; L/W/H >0; prevent text in numeric cells to avoid formula errors.
  • Sheet protection: Lock formula and totals columns and protect the sheet while leaving SKU, L, W, H, Units, and rate input cells unlocked for edits.
  • Assumptions note: Add a top-note listing assumptions: dimensions in inches, divisor 1728, Jan-Sep = Monthly rate, Oct-Dec = Peak rate, currency and last update date.

Monthly rates, how to read them and sample fee math

The phrase what are amazon fba storage fees per month sounds like it should have one simple answer, but the rate depends on size tier and season. The right way to read the table is by matching your SKU to the current size classification, then applying the correct Jan to Sep or Oct to Dec rate. The table below uses example figures only. Verify current rates in Seller Central before using them for decisions.

Example monthly storage rates table

Period Standard-size ($/cu ft) Oversize ($/cu ft)
Jan-Sep $0.87 $0.56
Oct-Dec $2.40 $1.40

Those numbers are examples for demonstration only. Seller Central is the source you should use for live storage fees amazon per month 2026.

Worked example for a standard-size SKU

Assume a unit measures 12 × 10 × 6 inches and you have 100 units on hand.

  1. Calculate cubic feet per unit: 12 × 10 × 6 = 720 cubic inches
  2. Convert to cubic feet: 720 ÷ 1,728 = 0.417 cu ft
  3. Multiply by units: 0.417 × 100 = 41.7 cu ft total
  4. Apply Jan-Sep example rate: 41.7 × $0.87 = $36.28 monthly fee
  5. Per-unit monthly storage cost: $36.28 ÷ 100 = about $0.36 per unit

Now apply the Oct-Dec example rate of $2.40. The same 41.7 cubic feet would cost $100.08 for the month, or about $1.00 per unit. That jump is why seasonal planning matters so much.

Worked example for an oversize SKU

Assume an oversize item measures 24 × 18 × 12 inches and you have 40 units.

  1. Volume per unit: 24 × 18 × 12 = 5,184 cubic inches
  2. Cubic feet per unit: 5,184 ÷ 1,728 = 3.0 cu ft
  3. Total volume: 3.0 × 40 = 120 cu ft
  4. Apply Jan-Sep example rate: 120 × $0.56 = $67.20
  5. Per-unit storage cost: $67.20 ÷ 40 = $1.68 per month

Even though the oversize rate per cubic foot is lower in this example, the item still costs more per unit to store because the product is much larger. That is a common seller misconception. Lower rate does not always mean lower bill.

Monthly storage vs Amazon long term storage fees

Monthly storage fees and Amazon long term storage fees are not the same thing. Monthly storage applies to inventory held during the month. Long-term or aged-inventory charges apply when inventory sits too long and crosses Amazon’s age thresholds under the current policy. Policies can shift by year, so confirm the active rule in Seller Central before acting on any age-based fee (Amazon Seller Central, 2026).

Age thresholds and inventory age

In plain terms, Amazon tracks how long units have been in the fulfillment network. Once units cross the relevant age mark, aged inventory surcharges or long-term fees may apply in addition to normal monthly storage. Many sellers still refer to the classic 365-day threshold, because that was the benchmark for years. In practice, you should check the latest aged inventory page for the exact brackets and rates in your marketplace.

We have seen this issue with clients that ordered too deeply before a product had proven demand. A SKU can survive regular FBA fulfillment fees, then become unprofitable once storage stacks month after month and an age-based surcharge lands on top.

Keep, remove, or liquidate decision table

Scenario Signal Likely better move
Keep in FBA Strong sell-through, healthy margin, low storage exposure Replenish carefully and keep stock lean
Remove inventory Slow sales, rising aged inventory risk, positive resale value off Amazon Open removal order before age threshold hits
Liquidate or discount Low demand, low margin, weak forecast Exit quickly and free capacity

Removal and disposal math

A simple comparison helps. If a SKU is costing $0.85 per unit per month in storage and you expect it to sit for six more months, that is $5.10 of future storage per unit before any aged surcharge. If removal costs less than that and you can resell or bundle the item elsewhere, removal often wins. Sellers should also compare that number with a markdown plan. Sometimes a 15 percent coupon is cheaper than carrying dead stock into peak season.

Common scenarios and exceptions that affect monthly charges

Not every SKU behaves the same. FBA storage fees per month can climb faster than expected when packaging, prep, or listing issues inflate the space used or block inventory from selling through.

Oversize, multi-unit packs, and bulky packaging

A multi-pack can improve contribution margin, but only if the packaging does not push the SKU into a less favorable size tier. We have seen sellers create a 4-pack that improved conversion, then discover that the extra box depth increased cubic footage enough to eat most of the gain. Check dimensions after final packaging, not just product dimensions from your supplier.

  • Measure the finished sellable unit
  • Confirm the current size tier in Amazon’s system
  • Rework packaging if empty space is inflating volume

Hazmat, apparel, and seasonal surges

Certain categories bring more operational friction. Hazmat review can delay inbound availability. Apparel sellers often carry broader size and color variation, which raises the chance of stranded or slow-moving child ASINs. Seasonal products are the biggest trap. If a holiday item misses its sales window, monthly inventory storage fees Amazon charges can continue long after demand drops off.

  • Build tighter preseason forecasts for seasonal SKUs
  • Limit post-season carryover unless margins are exceptional
  • Watch variation-level sell-through, not just parent ASIN totals

Stranded inventory and FC transfers

Stranded inventory is inventory that cannot sell because the listing has an issue, a pricing block, a compliance problem, or another status error. Stranded units can still occupy space and incur storage fees while generating zero sales. That is one of the highest-friction problems in FBA operations.

  • Review stranded inventory reports weekly
  • Fix suppressed listings quickly
  • Resolve pricing or contribution issues before units age

Fulfillment center transfers can also blur your planning. Units moving inside Amazon’s network are still part of your inventory footprint. Sellers should avoid assuming that an in-transfer status means storage cost stops.

Step by step, calculate monthly storage fees for your catalog

If you want a spreadsheet-ready method for how are fba storage fees calculated, use the simple structure below. This works well for sellers with 20 SKUs or 2,000 SKUs, and you can scale it in Excel or Google Sheets.

Spreadsheet columns and formulas

Column Purpose Formula
SKU Product identifier Manual entry
Length (in) Finished unit length Manual entry
Width (in) Finished unit width Manual entry
Height (in) Finished unit height Manual entry
Units on hand Current FBA quantity Manual entry or report import
Cu ft per unit Unit volume (L×W×H)/1728
Monthly rate Current $/cu ft Manual entry by size tier and month
Monthly fee per SKU Estimated monthly storage Units × Cu ft × Rate

Sample calculation block

SKU Dimensions (in) Units Cu ft/unit Rate Monthly fee
STD-001 12×10×6 100 0.417 $0.87 $36.28
OVR-010 24×18×12 40 3.000 $0.56 $67.20
Total - 140 - - $103.48

How to forecast a full year

  1. Add a Jan-Sep rate column.
  2. Add an Oct-Dec rate column.
  3. Estimate monthly ending inventory by SKU.
  4. Apply the correct seasonal rate to each month.
  5. Sum the 12 months to find annual storage exposure.

This is where a proper fba storage fee calculator becomes useful. A seller does not need advanced software to get started. A clean sheet with current dimensions and on-hand units already catches most cost problems.

  • Column headings: Put exact headers in row 1: SKU, L(in), W(in), H(in), Units on-hand, Cu ft per unit, Monthly rate $/cu ft (Jan-Sep), Peak rate $/cu ft (Oct-Dec), Monthly fee.
  • Cu ft formula: In F2 use =ROUND(B2*C2*D2/1728,4) to compute cubic feet per unit and copy down.
  • Rate columns: Enter the standard per-cu-ft rate in column G and the peak per-cu-ft rate in column H as currency values (e.g., 0.75 or 2.40).
  • Monthly fee formula: Set column I formula =E2*$F2*$G2 for non-peak or use =E2*$F2*$H2 for peak; Monthly fee = Units × Cu ft per unit × chosen rate.
  • 12-month projection: Add Jan-Dec columns (e.g., J1:U1) and in J2 use =E2*$F2*IF(OR(J$1="Oct",J$1="Nov",J$1="Dec"),$H2,$G2) then copy across and down.
  • Sample row 1: Add sample: SKU=ABC-001, L=10 W=5 H=2 Units=100 gives Cu ft=ROUND(10*5*2/1728,4)=0.0579, Jan fee=100*0.0579*0.75=$4.34, Oct fee=$13.89.
  • Sample row 2: Add sample: SKU=XYZ-999, L=16 W=12 H=8 Units=25 gives Cu ft=ROUND(16*12*8/1728,4)=0.8889, Jan fee=$16.67, Oct fee=$53.33.
  • Rate lookup table: Optional: create a 2-row table with MonthGroup and Rate and use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP in projection formulas to pick G or H per month.
  • Monthly totals: Below data add totals row: for Jan use =SUM(J2:J100) and copy across to Dec; compute Annual total =SUM(J_tot:U_tot).
  • Formatting rules: Format Cu ft to 4 decimals, rates as currency with 3 decimals, fees as currency with 2 decimals, and Units as integer.
  • Input validation: Apply validation: Units on-hand integer >=0; L/W/H >0; prevent text in numeric cells to avoid formula errors.
  • Sheet protection: Lock formula and totals columns and protect the sheet while leaving SKU, L, W, H, Units, and rate input cells unlocked for edits.
  • Assumptions note: Add a top-note listing assumptions: dimensions in inches, divisor 1728, Jan-Sep = Monthly rate, Oct-Dec = Peak rate, currency and last update date.

8 practical strategies to reduce monthly FBA storage fees

If you are searching for how to reduce fba storage fees, the best answer is not one tactic. It is a sequence of actions based on SKU speed, margin, and seasonality. Here are eight methods sellers can apply.

Short-term actions, next 30 days

  1. Remove clear slow movers. If sell-through is weak and aged inventory risk is rising, open removal orders early.
  2. Run a price test. A modest markdown can cost less than two or three more months of storage.
  3. Launch coupons or bundles. Bundling can improve conversion without slashing list price too aggressively.
  4. Fix stranded listings. Stranded inventory burns storage dollars while sitting unsellable.

Operational tactics, 30 to 90 days

  1. Ship smaller replenishment quantities. Fewer days of cover usually means lower average daily volume.
  2. Tighten forecasts. Base purchase orders on realistic sell-through, not supplier minimums alone.
  3. Move selected SKUs to FBM. Some low-velocity products perform better merchant fulfilled than parked in FBA.

Program options, 90 days and beyond

  1. Use eligible programs and automation. Review the FBA Small and Light program guide if your products qualify, and set automated removal rules where appropriate.

For a broader cost-control playbook, sellers can also review 15+ practical tips to reduce Amazon FBA fees.

Remove vs keep vs liquidate table

Option Best for Main cost Main benefit
Keep in FBA Fast movers with healthy margin Ongoing storage and fulfillment fees Prime eligibility and strong conversion
Remove Slow movers with resale potential Removal fee and handling time Stops future storage exposure
Liquidate or discount Dead stock with weak forecast Lower recovery value Quick cash recovery and space savings
Convert to FBM Low-volume, bulky, or seasonal SKUs Self-fulfillment overhead Better control of storage footprint

Tools and reports to monitor storage fees

The best storage-fee strategy is a reporting rhythm. In our agency work, the sellers who control storage well usually have a weekly inventory review and a monthly aged-inventory cleanup. The sellers who struggle often look only at total revenue and TACoS, then find storage charges after the fact.

Seller Central reports to use

  • Inventory Age, to spot units nearing fee thresholds
  • Inventory Health, to compare excess stock and sell-through
  • Monthly Storage Fee Preview, to estimate what is coming
  • Fee Preview, to validate economics at the SKU level
  • FBA Revenue Calculator, to compare FBA and FBM outcomes

Report columns worth exporting

  • SKU and ASIN
  • Available units
  • Reserved units
  • Sell-through rate
  • Aged inventory buckets
  • Cubic feet or size-tier data where available
  • Estimated storage fee or fee preview fields

Third-party tools and dashboards

Many sellers use third-party software for forecasting and alerts. For example, this Jungle Scout storage fee guide is useful for benchmarking concepts and examples. Tools such as Helium 10, Jungle Scout, Forecastly, or inventory planning systems can help with reorder timing, excess-stock warnings, and catalog-level dashboards. The exact tool matters less than the discipline of reviewing the right fields weekly.

Alerting suggestions

  1. Set a weekly reminder to review stranded inventory.
  2. Flag any SKU with more than 90 days of cover.
  3. Flag any SKU entering aged inventory brackets.
  4. Review Q4 inbound plans by mid-August or early September.
  5. Create a remove, discount, or FBM action owner for every problem SKU.

Monthly storage fee decision framework, keep, remove, or convert to FBM

Every SKU should earn its space. A simple matrix can help you decide whether to keep inventory in FBA, remove it, or switch it to FBM.

Decision matrix

Sell-through rate Margin Storage fee per month Suggested action
High High Low to moderate Keep in FBA
Low High High Test FBM or smaller FBA quantities
Low Low Moderate to high Remove, liquidate, or discontinue
Seasonal Variable Rises sharply in Q4 Time inbound tightly and clear leftovers fast

Three quick examples

Fast mover: A beauty SKU sells 400 units a month, has strong margin, and costs $45 a month to store. Keep it in FBA, but do not hold 120 days of stock if 35 to 45 days is enough.

Slow mover: A home item sells 8 units a month, stores at $70 a month, and has a $9 net margin. This SKU likely needs removal, bundling, or an FBM switch because storage is eating most of the contribution.

Seasonal item: A Q4 décor product sells well in November, then nearly stops in January. Send conservative quantities, plan markdowns early, and avoid carrying leftovers into another high-storage cycle.

If you need a larger profitability lens, pair this framework with a full FBA fee review so storage is judged alongside referral fees, fulfillment fees, returns, and ad spend.

FAQ: Monthly Amazon FBA storage fees

How much does Amazon FBA charge for storage per month?

Amazon FBA charges monthly storage based on the cubic feet your inventory occupies in fulfillment centers and the applicable seasonal rate for your item’s size tier. Standard-size and oversize products have different rates, and peak months usually cost more. The exact live rate should be verified in Seller Central for your marketplace and current policy year.

Are storage fees higher in October to December?

Yes, storage fees are usually higher in October, November, and December because Amazon raises rates during peak demand periods. Those seasonal storage fees Amazon applies can materially increase your per-unit carrying cost, especially for bulky or slow-moving inventory. Sellers should forecast Q4 separately rather than using Jan to Sep rates all year.

How does Amazon calculate storage fees for oversized items?

Amazon calculates storage fees for oversized items by measuring the item’s cubic feet and multiplying that volume by the oversize monthly storage rate for the current season. The formula starts with product dimensions in inches, then converts cubic inches to cubic feet by dividing by 1,728. Oversized items often create a high total bill because each unit takes up much more space.

When does inventory become subject to long-term storage fees?

Inventory becomes subject to long-term or aged-inventory charges when units remain in Amazon’s fulfillment network long enough to cross the age threshold defined in the current FBA policy. Sellers often reference the 365-day benchmark, but Amazon can revise age bands and surcharges. The current aged inventory fee page in Seller Central is the final source to check before making removal decisions.

What are the fastest ways to reduce monthly FBA storage fees?

The fastest ways to reduce monthly FBA storage fees are removing slow-moving inventory, fixing stranded listings, discounting units that are unlikely to sell through in time, and sending smaller replenishment quantities going forward. For many sellers, the biggest immediate savings come from clearing dead stock before Q4 rates begin.

Will I be charged storage fees while an item is stranded?

Yes, stranded inventory can still incur storage fees because the units continue occupying fulfillment center space even though the listing is not actively selling. That is why stranded inventory should be reviewed weekly. Fixing the listing issue quickly often saves more money than sellers expect.

Is it cheaper to switch some SKUs from FBA to FBM to avoid storage fees?

Yes, switching some slow-moving or bulky SKUs from FBA to FBM can be cheaper if monthly storage fees and aged inventory risk outweigh the conversion benefit of Prime fulfillment. The right decision depends on your sell-through rate, unit margin, shipping cost, and customer expectations. A per-SKU comparison usually gives a much clearer answer than a catalog-wide rule.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon charges monthly FBA storage based on average daily inventory volume in cubic feet, not simply by unit count.
  • The answer to what are amazon fba storage fees per month depends on size tier and season, with Oct to Dec usually costing more.
  • Monthly storage fees are different from Amazon long term storage fees or aged-inventory surcharges, which apply when stock sits too long.
  • A simple spreadsheet using dimensions, on-hand units, and current rates is enough to estimate storage cost by SKU.
  • Slow movers, stranded inventory, and oversized items are the three most common drivers of avoidable storage expense.
  • Better inbound timing, smaller replenishment cycles, removals, and selective FBM shifts can lower storage costs quickly.
  • This week, review stranded inventory. This month, calculate storage by SKU. This quarter, tighten forecasting before peak season arrives.

If you are auditing total profitability, storage should never be reviewed in isolation. It works best as part of a full fee and inventory analysis that includes fulfillment, advertising, and sell-through trends.

  • Fb
  • twitter
  • Instagrame

Related Blog Post

Send Us a Message
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.