Amazon's FBA inbound placement fee, explained
Since 2024 Amazon charges a fee per unit when you send FBA inventory to fewer of its warehouses and let Amazon spread it around the country. Here is what it costs in 2026, the option that costs nothing, and how to qualify for it.
Inbound placement fee with minimal shipment splits (one location), $0.34 to $0.60 a unit. Where in the range depends on the region you ship to: the West costs more.
Splitting the shipment the way Amazon suggests saves $102.00 to $180.00, if you can send at least five identical cartons or pallets of each item. Charged 45 days after Amazon receives the shipment.
The three placement options
When you create a shipping plan in Send to Amazon, it offers the options your shipment qualifies for, each with its fee:
- Minimal shipment splits: you send everything to as few inbound locations as possible, usually one, and Amazon moves the stock across its network. You pay the fee, which varies with the location (higher in the West).
- Amazon-optimized shipment splits: you send the stock to several locations yourself (Amazon's comparison says five or more) and pay no placement fee. To qualify, each item must ship in at least five identical cartons or pallets: the same quantity per item and the same item mix in every one.
- Partial shipment splits: bulky items only, two or three locations, for a reduced fee.
Which options you see also depends on your products, quantities, the stock you already have at Amazon, where your buyers are and warehouse capacity. Extra-large items pay no placement fee.
2026 rates per unit
For shipping plans created on or after January 15, 2026. Amazon publishes ranges and may adjust the rate within them.
| Size tier | Shipping weight | Minimal splits | Partial splits | Amazon-optimized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard | 8 oz or less | $0.14 to $0.32 | Not offered | No fee |
| 8+ oz to 16 oz | $0.16 to $0.32 | Not offered | No fee | |
| Large standard | 12 oz or less | $0.20 to $0.40 | Not offered | No fee |
| 12+ oz to 1.5 lb | $0.24 to $0.50 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 1.5+ lb to 3 lb | $0.34 to $0.60 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 3+ lb to 5 lb | $0.38 to $0.76 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 5+ lb to 7 lb | $0.40 to $0.98 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 7+ lb to 10 lb | $0.42 to $1.20 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 10+ lb to 15 lb | $0.44 to $1.50 | Not offered | No fee | |
| 15+ lb to 20 lb | $0.55 to $1.90 | Not offered | No fee | |
| Small bulky | 5 lb or less | $1.10 to $1.60 | $0.55 to $1.10 | No fee |
| 5+ lb to 12 lb | $1.75 to $2.40 | $0.65 to $1.75 | No fee | |
| 12+ lb to 28 lb | $2.74 to $3.50 | $0.81 to $2.19 | No fee | |
| 28+ lb to 42 lb | $3.95 to $4.95 | $1.05 to $2.83 | No fee | |
| 42+ lb to 50 lb | $4.80 to $5.95 | $1.23 to $3.32 | No fee | |
| Large bulky | 5 lb or less | $1.30 to $1.80 | $0.55 to $1.25 | No fee |
| 5+ lb to 12 lb | $2.10 to $2.90 | $0.65 to $1.80 | No fee | |
| 12+ lb to 28 lb | $3.40 to $4.10 | $0.81 to $2.30 | No fee | |
| 28+ lb to 42 lb | $4.70 to $5.60 | $1.05 to $2.95 | No fee | |
| 42+ lb to 50 lb | $5.50 to $6.50 | $1.23 to $3.50 | No fee |
How to pay less
- Qualify for Amazon-optimized splits. Pack each item in at least five identical cartons or pallets, with the same quantity per item and the same mix in every one. Then sending to several locations costs nothing in placement fees, though you pay the extra freight.
- Keep plans simple. Create separate shipments for standard-size items, bulky items, and apparel, jewelry, shoes, watches or dangerous goods. A mixed plan can be split across locations and shows fewer options.
- Compare the total, not just the fee. Send to Amazon shows an estimated total inbound cost (fee plus partnered-carrier freight) for each option. Several small shipments can cost more in freight than the fee they save.
- New sellers get $400 in credits against this fee when they send their first shipment within 90 days of listing.
- Amazon Warehousing and Distribution includes placement in its pricing, so no separate fee is charged.
- Send what you planned, where you planned. Shipments sent to the wrong location, or deleted, abandoned or incomplete, get inbound defect fees on top.
Where you see the charge
It arrives 45 days after the shipment is received, as an FBA Inbound Placement Service Fee line in your settlement report (see Amazon settlement report explained). Seller Central's FBA inbound placement service fee report (Fulfillment reports, Payments) breaks it down by shipping plan, shipment and SKU for the last 12 months.
What it does to your margin
The fee is part of the cost of getting a unit to the customer, like the fulfillment fee. On a $20 item, $0.60 a unit is 3% of the price. MyProfit puts it into each payout's profit, next to the fees, refunds and the landed cost of what sold, so you can see what a shipping plan really cost.
Source: Amazon's "FBA inbound placement service fee" page in Seller Central, read October 3, 2026. Amazon can change its fees at any time; check Send to Amazon for your shipment's actual fee.
See every Amazon fee in your profit, payout by payout
MyProfit pulls your orders, fees, settlements, returns and ad spend from Amazon every night and shows your real profit by product, day and payout. 30 days of everything free, then $19.99 a month, or keep the free plan: it finds the money Amazon still owes you and checks your FBA fees, for good.