FBA Shipping Costs Explained
With Fulfillment by Amazon, you pay a per-unit fulfilment fee that covers picking, packing, shipping, and customer service. The fee depends on the size tier and weight of your product.
Size Tiers 2026
Amazon assigns every product to a size tier. The tier determines your fulfilment fee:
| Size tier | Max dimensions | Max weight | Fulfilment fee (DE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Envelope | 33 x 23 x 2.5 cm | 100 g | EUR 1.89 |
| Small standard | 35 x 25 x 12 cm | 400 g | EUR 2.69 |
| Standard | 45 x 34 x 26 cm | 3.9 kg | EUR 3.15 - 4.95 |
| Small oversize | 61 x 46 x 46 cm | 9 kg | EUR 5.90 - 7.25 |
| Large oversize | 120 x 60 x 60 cm | 23.5 kg | EUR 8.40 - 13.50 |
| Special oversize | Over 120 cm length | Over 23.5 kg | EUR 15.00+ |
Key point: Amazon uses the higher of actual weight and dimensional weight (length x width x height / 5000). A light but bulky box may end up in a more expensive tier than you expect.
What Changed in 2026
Amazon reduced FBA fulfilment fees across Europe by an average of EUR 0.17 per unit starting January 2026. For shipments within Germany, an additional reduction of EUR 0.32 per unit was introduced in December 2025. These savings are modest per unit but compound quickly at scale -- 1,000 units per month means EUR 490 saved annually just from these reductions.
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FBM Shipping Costs: Self-Fulfilment
With Fulfillment by Merchant, you ship orders yourself. Your costs depend on the carrier, parcel size, and your negotiated rate.
Typical Business Rates From Major Carriers (2026)
| Carrier | Parcel up to 5 kg | Up to 10 kg | Up to 31.5 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Business Portal | EUR 3.99 - 4.50 | EUR 4.99 - 5.50 | EUR 6.99 - 8.50 |
| DPD | EUR 3.80 - 4.20 | EUR 4.80 - 5.30 | EUR 6.50 - 7.80 |
| GLS | EUR 3.70 - 4.10 | EUR 4.60 - 5.10 | EUR 6.20 - 7.50 |
| Hermes (consumer rate) | EUR 4.50 | EUR 5.50 | EUR 10.49 |
Note: Business rates at DHL, DPD, and GLS are negotiable. The higher your monthly volume, the better your terms. Once you ship around 300 parcels per month, it is worth contacting their sales teams directly.
Hidden Costs of FBM
Beyond raw shipping rates, FBM involves costs that many sellers overlook:
- Packaging materials: Boxes (EUR 0.30-1.50), filler (EUR 0.10-0.30), tape
- Labour: Packing, labelling, scheduling pickups or visiting the post office
- Returns handling: You bear return shipping costs and process returns yourself
- Storage: Whether at home or in a rented warehouse, space has a cost
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Comparison Table: FBA vs FBM by Product Size
Which model is cheaper for which product type? A direct comparison:
| Product type | Example | FBA cost/unit | FBM cost/unit | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small & light (under 100 g) | Phone case | EUR 1.89 | EUR 3.99+ | FBA |
| Standard (up to 1 kg) | Book, toy | EUR 2.69 - 3.15 | EUR 3.99 - 4.50 | FBA |
| Medium (1-5 kg) | Electronics, appliance | EUR 3.50 - 4.95 | EUR 3.80 - 4.50 | Roughly equal |
| Large (5-15 kg) | Furniture part, power tool | EUR 5.90 - 8.50 | EUR 4.80 - 5.50 | FBM |
| Oversize (15+ kg) | Garden furniture set | EUR 10.00 - 15.00+ | EUR 6.50 - 8.50 | FBM significantly |
Takeaway: For small and medium products, FBA is almost always cheaper when you factor in labour and packaging materials. Once you exceed roughly 5 kg shipping weight, FBM becomes increasingly attractive because FBA oversize fees escalate disproportionately.
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5 Ways to Reduce Your Shipping Costs
1. Choose Smaller Packaging
The size tier determines your FBA fee. Moving a product from the standard tier to the small standard tier saves EUR 0.50 to EUR 1.50 per unit. Specifically, check whether more compact packaging is possible. A product with a 26 cm height pays the full standard fee, but at 12 cm it would qualify for the cheaper tier.
For private label sellers, design product packaging around FBA size tier thresholds from the start. For arbitrage sellers, check whether you can remove outer packaging without violating Amazon's packaging guidelines.
2. Use the Low-Price FBA Programme
Amazon offers the FBA Low-Price programme (formerly Light & Bulky) for large but inexpensive products. Fulfilment fees are up to 30% lower than standard FBA rates. Products must meet specific price and size criteria -- check your eligibility in Seller Central.
3. Pan-EU Instead of EFN for European Sales
If you sell on multiple European marketplaces, you have two options:
- EFN (European Fulfilment Network): Your inventory sits in one country, and Amazon ships cross-border. Per-unit shipping costs are significantly higher than domestic rates.
- Pan-EU: Amazon distributes your inventory across warehouses in multiple countries. Shipping is local, and you pay the lower domestic fulfilment rates.
The difference is substantial: A standard product shipped via EFN from Germany to France costs around EUR 5.50 in fulfilment fees. The same product shipped from a French warehouse under Pan-EU costs roughly EUR 3.00. At 500 units per month on foreign marketplaces, Pan-EU saves you over EUR 1,000 monthly.
Note: Pan-EU has tax implications. You need VAT registrations in every country where Amazon stores your inventory. Use a tax service such as Hellotax or AVASK to handle compliance.
4. Use FBM for Oversized Products
As the comparison table shows, FBA becomes increasingly expensive beyond 5 kg shipping weight. If you sell large or heavy products, FBM can be significantly cheaper -- especially if you already have warehouse space and negotiated business rates with a carrier.
A hybrid model works well: Light standard products via FBA, bulky goods via FBM. Amazon allows you to use both fulfilment methods in parallel for different SKUs.
5. Set Your Repricing Floor Correctly
Your minimum price in the repricer must cover all costs, including the exact shipping cost for each product. Many sellers use a flat shipping rate across all SKUs and either leave margin on the table (flat rate too high) or lose money (flat rate too low).
The correct formula for your minimum price:
Min price = COGS + FBA/FBM shipping + Referral fee + Target margin
Calculate shipping costs per SKU based on the actual size tier. With arbytrage.io, you can set individual minimum prices per product, ensuring your repricer never drops below your profitability threshold no matter how aggressively competitors price.
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FAQ
Can I charge the customer for shipping on FBA orders?
No. FBA products ship free for Prime members -- that is one reason why Prime listings convert significantly better. You pay the FBA fulfilment fee as a seller and must factor it into your selling price.
When does switching from FBM to FBA make sense?
When your total FBM costs (shipping + packaging + labour + storage) per unit exceed the FBA fee, FBA is more economical. Additionally, FBA gives you the Prime badge, which typically lifts conversion rates by 20-30%. So factor in not just the cost difference but also the revenue impact.
Do shipping costs vary between Amazon marketplaces?
Yes. FBA fulfilment fees differ by country. Amazon.de has moderate fees, while Amazon.it and Amazon.es can be slightly cheaper. Amazon.fr is similar to DE. Check the FBA fee calculator in Seller Central for exact numbers per marketplace.
How do I calculate shipping costs for my repricing?
Use the Amazon Revenue Calculator in Seller Central to determine the exact FBA cost per ASIN. Enter that figure as the basis for your minimum price in the repricer. Our FBA fee calculator guide walks you through the process step by step.
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Shipping costs under control, margins protected. Your repricer needs to know your actual costs to price profitably. arbytrage.io works with individual minimum prices per SKU so you win the Buy Box without losing money.
FBA or FBM? If you have not decided yet, read our detailed comparison: FBA vs FBM: Which Fulfilment Model Fits Your Business?
See the full cost picture. Our Amazon FBA fees guide covers every fee you will encounter in 2026 -- not just shipping.