Amazon US will implement a comprehensive increase in FBA fulfillment fees, coinciding with additional peak season costs—a development that will significantly impact sellers’ operational planning moving forward.
According to reports, the US marketplace will see a universal rise in fulfillment fees starting January 15, 2026. Two key details demand attention: first, the increase will be applied across the board with no exceptions; second, the rate hike will be tiered by price range, ranging from an additional \(0.05 to \)0.31 per unit. Products priced above \(50 will face the steepest increase at \)0.31 per unit. Notably, fees for the Canadian marketplace will remain unchanged, offering a minor reprieve for cross-border sellers .
However, sellers should be particularly wary of the “dual peak season cost burden.” From October 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026, sellers will incur both “peak season fulfillment fees” and elevated “peak season storage fees” from October to December. These peak storage fees are roughly three times higher than off-season rates .
To put this in perspective: if standard storage costs \(1 per unit, they will jump to \)3 per unit during peak season. When combined with the new fulfillment fee increases, operational costs will surge—creating disproportionate pressure for sellers of high-value items (above $50) or categories with slow inventory turnover .
The key reason behind this adjustment lies in rising logistics costs. Amazon frames this change as part of its “regular fee adjustment mechanism” . Simply put, escalating expenses in logistics—including labor, transportation, and warehousing—have necessitated a fee adjustment to cover operational overheads. This is a common industry practice in e-commerce to address logistics cost volatility, not an unanticipated surcharge, but it still requires proactive planning from sellers .
So, how should US-based sellers prepare? With cost increases imminent, the core strategy is proactive optimization:
- Inventory restructuring: Clear out deadstock before peak season to reduce exposure to high storage fees .
- Pricing strategy refinement: Calculate profit margins against the new fee structure to determine if modest price adjustments are warranted. Alternatively, balance costs through bundle sales or increasing average order value .
With several months remaining until January 2026, there is still ample time to implement these adjustments.
In summary, the combined impact of fulfillment fee hikes and peak season surcharges presents a “cost stress test” for sellers. However, by understanding the new fee structure and adjusting strategies proactively, sellers can minimize the financial impact.
