How the referral fee is calculated
The referral fee is charged on the total sale price β the item price plus any shipping you charge the buyer, before tax. Amazon deducts it automatically from each order; you never invoice it. Because it is a straight percentage, it grows with your price, which makes it the dominant fee on higher-priced products.
For example, a $25 item in a 15% category pays a $3.75 referral fee; the same-category item at $200 pays $30. Same rate, far bigger bite in absolute terms β which is why the fee matters most on your premium listings.
If the percentage works out to less than $0.30, Amazon charges the $0.30 minimum instead β so on very cheap items the effective rate is higher than the headline percent.
Free calculatorAmazon referral fee calculatorPick a category and price to see the exact fee, including the tiered and minimum rules.Referral fee rates by category
Here are representative Amazon US rates. Most categories sit at 15%; the notable exceptions are below.
| Category | Referral fee |
|---|---|
| Home & Kitchen | 15% |
| Beauty, Health & Personal Care | 8% on items β€ $10, 15% above |
| Clothing & Accessories | 17% |
| Electronics | 8% |
| Most other categories | 15% |
Note
Amazon maintains dozens of category rules and revises them periodically. Confirm your exact category rate on the calculator before pricing.
Tiered rates and the minimum fee
Some categories use a tiered rate: Beauty and Health, for example, charge just 8% on the portion of the price at or below $10 and 15% above it. This rewards low-priced consumables. Combined with the $0.30 floor, the effective rate on a sub-$5 item can differ noticeably from the sticker percentage β worth modelling if you sell cheap, high-volume goods.