Amazon charges a monthly plan fee plus a referral fee on every sale. Walmart charges only a referral fee, with no monthly or setup fee. For most everyday categories the referral rate is the same 15% on both, so the real difference comes from fulfillment, storage and the extra fees around them. Here’s a side-by-side of the 2026 fees for the USA and Canada.
Amazon vs Walmart fees at a glance (USA)
| Fee | Amazon.com | Walmart.com |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly or plan fee | Professional $39.99/month, or Individual $0.99 per item sold | None |
| Setup fee | None | None |
| Referral fee, most categories | 15% (minimum $0.30 in most categories) | 15% |
| Fulfillment service | FBA, priced by size, weight and item price | WFS, priced by shipping weight |
| Standard storage, Jan–Sep | Priced per cubic foot (see Seller Central) | $0.75 per cubic foot per month |
| 2026 surcharge | 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on FBA fees since April 17, 2026 | None announced |
Sources: Amazon “Amazon selling costs” (sell.amazon.com/pricing); Amazon Seller Forums announcement “Fuel and logistics-related surcharge: FBA, MCF, and BWP in US and CA” (April 2, 2026); Walmart Marketplace “Pricing”; Walmart Marketplace Learn “Referral fees” (updated March 9, 2026) and “WFS fees” (updated May 27, 2026). Checked September 2026; plan fees, referral rates and WFS fees rechecked October 2026.
Referral fees by category
Both marketplaces take a percentage of the total sale price. Walmart includes shipping charges in that total.
| Category | Amazon.com | Walmart.com |
|---|---|---|
| Home & Kitchen, Toys, Pet, Tools, Everything Else | 15% | 15% |
| Beauty, Health, Baby | 8% up to $10, 15% above | 8% up to $10, 15% above |
| Grocery | 8% up to $15, 15% above | 8% up to $15, 15% above |
| Clothing / Apparel | 5% up to $15, 10% for $15–$20, 17% above $20 | 5% up to $15, 10% for $15–$20, 15% above $20 |
| Consumer Electronics | 8% | 8% |
| Automotive | 12% | 12% |
| Furniture | 15% up to $200, 10% above | 15% up to $200, 10% above |
| Jewelry | 20% up to $250, 5% above | 20% up to $250, 5% above |
The biggest category gap is clothing over $20: 17% on Amazon, 15% on Walmart. Always check the exact subcategory for your product in Seller Central or Seller Center before you price.
Fulfillment: FBA vs WFS
Amazon FBA
Amazon’s 2026 fees took effect January 15, 2026. Amazon said FBA fees rose by an average of $0.08 per unit, with no referral fee increase. FBA fulfillment fees depend on size tier, shipping weight and the item’s price band (under $10, $10–$50, over $50). On top of that:
- Fuel and logistics surcharge: 3.5% of fulfillment fees since April 17, 2026 (US and Canada FBA). Amazon calls it temporary.
- Holiday peak fees: October 15, 2026 to January 14, 2027, averaging $0.32 more per unit. Read our Amazon FBA holiday 2026 fees guide.
- Other FBA fees to budget for: monthly storage (higher October–December), inbound placement, the low-inventory-level fee, returns processing for some categories, and aged inventory surcharges.
Amazon’s exact FBA rates change often and depend on your product’s measurements. The most reliable number is the fee preview for your own ASIN in Seller Central.
Walmart WFS
WFS fulfillment is priced by shipping weight:
| Shipping weight | WFS fulfillment fee |
|---|---|
| 1 lb or less | $3.45 |
| Over 1 lb to 2 lb | $4.95 |
| Over 2 lb to 3 lb | $5.45 |
| Over 3 lb to 20 lb | $5.75 + $0.40 per lb above 4 lb |
Add $0.50 for apparel, $0.50 for hazmat, and $1.00 for items priced under $10. WFS storage is $0.75 per cubic foot per month, plus a $1.50 peak surcharge per cubic foot from October to December for items stored more than 30 days. Since June 30, 2026, inventory held 366–450 days costs $2.25 per cubic foot per month, and over 450 days $7.50. Source: Walmart Marketplace Learn “WFS fees” (updated May 27, 2026). More detail in our WFS storage fees guide.
A simple example
Take a $25 kitchen item that ships at 1 lb, sold through each marketplace’s fulfillment service in October:
- Walmart: 15% referral ($3.75) + WFS fulfillment ($3.45) = $7.20 before storage.
- Amazon: 15% referral ($3.75) + your FBA fee for that size and price band + 3.5% of the FBA fee + the holiday peak fee from October 15, plus the $39.99 monthly plan spread across your orders.
This is an illustration only. Put your own numbers into our free Amazon vs Walmart Profit Calculator to compare your margin on both.
New Walmart sellers pay less in their first year
Walmart’s New-Seller Savings 2026 gives first-time US sellers who go live after February 1, 2026 a 20–40% discount on base referral fees and 10% off WFS fulfillment fees, until January 31, 2027. See our New-Seller Savings guide.
Canada: Amazon.ca vs Walmart.ca
| Fee | Amazon.ca | Walmart.ca |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly or plan fee | Professional CAD $29.99/month, or Individual CAD $1.49 per item | None |
| Referral fee, most categories | 15% (minimum CAD $0.40) | 15% |
| Grocery | 8% up to CAD $20, 15% above | 10% |
| Fulfillment, under 1 lb | FBA, by size and weight | WFS CAD $5.50 |
| Storage | Priced per cubic metre, higher Oct–Dec (see Seller Central) | CAD $0.80 per cubic foot per month, plus $1.70 Oct–Dec after 30 days |
Sources: Amazon “How pricing works on Amazon.ca” (sell.amazon.ca/pricing); Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada “Commission or referral fees for contract categories” and “WFS Fees” (updated June 26, 2026). Checked September 2026; Amazon.ca plan and referral fees and Walmart.ca referral fees rechecked October 2026. Walmart.ca referral fees are flat by category, without the US price tiers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Walmart charge a monthly fee to sell?
No. Walmart Marketplace has no setup or monthly fee in the US or Canada. You pay a referral fee when an item sells, plus WFS fees if you use Walmart’s fulfillment.
Is it cheaper to sell on Walmart or Amazon?
Referral fees are the same in most categories, and Walmart has no monthly fee. Fulfillment and storage costs depend on your product’s size, weight and price, so compare your own numbers. Amazon usually brings more sales volume, which matters as much as the fee.
What is Amazon’s 3.5% surcharge?
It’s a fuel and logistics surcharge of 3.5% on FBA fulfillment fees, charged since April 17, 2026 in the US and Canada. It’s charged on the fulfillment fee, not on your sale price.
Can I sell on both Amazon and Walmart?
Yes. Many sellers run both. Keep inventory in sync so one marketplace doesn’t sell stock the other needs, and watch each marketplace’s performance standards.
How RetailerBox helps
Fees are only half of what a marketplace costs you. Fulfillment and storage fees charged on the wrong size or weight can be claimed for 90 days after each charge on Amazon, and a wrong referral fee on Walmart for 90 days from the settlement date. Our team checks your FBA and WFS reports for those errors and for lost or damaged units that were never paid, files each claim with the evidence the marketplace asks for and follows it up. Start with a free 6-month reimbursement audit.