Q4 2026 brings three Amazon FBA costs at the same time: a holiday peak fulfillment fee, the fuel and logistics surcharge that started in April, and the low-inventory-level fee for items that run short. Here’s what each one costs, when it applies, and how to plan holiday stock so you don’t pay more than you have to.
Amazon FBA fee changes in 2026: timeline
| Date | Change | Size of the change |
|---|---|---|
| January 15, 2026 | Annual US referral and FBA fee update | FBA fees up by an average of $0.08 per unit; no new FBA fee types |
| April 17, 2026 | Fuel and logistics surcharge on FBA fulfillment fees (US and Canada) | 3.5% of the fulfillment fee, about $0.17 per unit on average in the US |
| October 15, 2026 – January 14, 2027 | Holiday peak fulfillment fee | Average of $0.32 per unit, with the 3.5% surcharge on top |
Sources: Amazon “Update to U.S. referral and Fulfillment by Amazon fees for 2026” (October 15, 2025); Seller Central announcements “Fuel and logistics-related surcharge: FBA, MCF, and BWP in US and CA” and “Holiday 2026: Same fees, same eligibility, earlier deadlines”. Checked September 2026.
How the 3.5% surcharge is calculated
The surcharge is 3.5% of the FBA fulfillment fee, not of your selling price. If an item’s fulfillment fee is $4.00, the surcharge is $0.14. Amazon calls the surcharge temporary and says it will keep reviewing it, but it’s still in place for the holiday season. The same surcharge applies to Multi-Channel Fulfillment and Buy with Prime from May 2, 2026.
What is the holiday peak fulfillment fee?
From October 15, 2026 to January 14, 2027, Amazon adds a peak fee to fulfillment fees, averaging $0.32 per unit. It applies to FBA, Remote Fulfillment, Multi-Channel Fulfillment and Buy with Prime. Your exact amount depends on the item’s size tier and price, so use the fee preview in Seller Central for your own products.
For a seller shipping 5,000 units in the peak period, an average of $0.32 a unit is about $1,600 in extra fees. Add it to your Q4 margin plan now, not in January.
The low-inventory-level fee: the rule that punishes running short
Amazon charges a low-inventory-level fee on units sold when an item’s stock is low compared with its sales. The fee applies only when both of these are below 28 days:
- Short-term historical days of supply (the last 30 days)
- Long-term historical days of supply (the last 90 days)
From 2026 the fee also covers Small and Large Bulky items, not only standard size.
You’re exempt if:
- The item sold fewer than 20 units in the past 7 days.
- You’re a new Professional seller, for 365 days after your first FBA inventory is received.
- The parent product is new to FBA, for 180 days.
- The item is in Grocery.
Source: Amazon Seller Central help page “Low-inventory-level fee”, checked September 2026. Check the current per-unit rates on that page.
Check any item in seconds with our free Amazon Low-Inventory-Level Fee Checker. It also tells you how many units to send.
How to plan Q4 stock: 5 steps
- List your top 20 items by holiday sales last year. They drive most of the fee risk and most of the profit.
- Check days of supply for each. Anything close to 28 days on both the 30-day and 90-day figures needs a shipment now.
- Send enough, but not too much. Aim to keep several weeks of cover through peak. Too little triggers the low-inventory fee; too much pays October–December storage rates, which are higher than the rest of the year, and can age into aged inventory surcharges, which start after 181 days.
- Book shipments early. Amazon’s holiday announcement moved deadlines earlier this year, and inbound delays in November can leave you out of stock.
- Update your prices. Put the peak fee and surcharge into your profit numbers with our Amazon vs Walmart Profit Calculator.
Common mistakes
- Looking at one days-of-supply number. The fee needs both the 30-day and 90-day figures below 28 days.
- Cutting stock to avoid Q4 storage costs. Running out costs you the low-inventory fee, lost sales and ranking.
- Forgetting the surcharge applies on top of the peak fee.
- Using last year’s margin sheet. 2026 fees are higher.
USA vs Canada
Amazon said there would be no increases to Canada referral and FBA fees for 2026, but the 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge applies to Canada FBA from April 17, 2026. Since July 1, 2026, Amazon no longer offers prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments in Canada, so your shipments must arrive prepped and labeled. The holiday peak fee notice covered US programs; check Seller Central Canada news for .ca peak fees.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 holiday peak fee apply?
From October 15, 2026 to January 14, 2027.
Is the fuel surcharge charged on the peak fee too?
Yes. Amazon says the 3.5% surcharge applies on top of the holiday peak fulfillment fee.
Is the low-inventory fee threshold 28 or 35 days?
Amazon’s help page says 28 days, for both the 30-day and 90-day figures. Some blogs mention 35 days; we follow Amazon’s page.
Does the low-inventory fee apply to new products?
Not for 180 days if the parent product is new to FBA, and not while it sells fewer than 20 units a week.
How RetailerBox helps
Our Inventory & Fulfillment team plans FBA replenishment, creates shipments, fixes stranded and excess inventory and coordinates prep with our partner prep center. For Q4 we watch days of supply on your main items so they stay in stock without overfilling storage. Message us your store link to plan holiday stock.