FBA Fees in 2025: The Good, the Bad, and the Fee-ly Ugly

New FBA fees are here—don’t let them bulldoze your profits. Learn how to protect your margins before they vanish.

If it feels like every time you finally get your FBA margins figured out, Amazon goes and shifts the goalposts… it’s because they do.

Well, buckle up, because 2025 is no exception. Amazon just rolled out a fresh batch of FBA fee updates. Some are subtle. Others? Not so much.

But don’t worry—I’ve got you. Today we’re breaking down what’s changing, what it really means for your bottom line, and how to pivot like a pro so you don’t get burned. Let’s dive in. 🔍

📖 The Storage Unit Story (And Why It Matters)

A few years ago, my buddy Tom started flipping furniture as a side hustle. He rented a storage unit to stash inventory. First few months? Easy breezy. Low rent, steady sales.

Then—boom. The storage facility hiked his rent by 40%. No warning. Suddenly, Tom’s profits were toast unless he moved fast, cleared inventory quicker, or raised prices.

Selling on FBA? It’s no different.

You’re using Amazon’s “storage unit,” and when they change the rates, your profits either take the hit… or you adjust. Let’s talk about how to do just that.

🔢 2025 Amazon FBA Fee Changes (and What to Do About Them)

Here’s the lowdown in plain English. I’ll spare you the jargon and jump right into what affects YOU the most:

📦 1. Inbound Placement Fees – New in 2025

Amazon now charges a fee per unit to ship inventory to multiple fulfillment centers.

What it means:
If you let Amazon split your shipments (which most sellers do), you’ll now pay an extra $0.21–$0.68 per unit.

What to do:
➡️ Use Amazon’s Send to Single option (you’ll pay more in shipping, but less in placement fees).
➡️ Send in full cases to reduce split shipments.
➡️ Use a 3PL to consolidate shipments before sending to FBA.

🧊 2. Monthly Storage Fees – Now on Steroids

From October to December (Q4), storage rates are up 11%. And the aged inventory surcharge? Kicking in at 181 days instead of 271.

What it means:
Amazon wants your stuff in and out fast. If it sits, you pay… and keep paying.

What to do:
➡️ Send in smaller batches.
➡️ Check restock limits weekly.
➡️ Liquidate slow movers early—don’t wait till it’s dead weight.

🚛 3. Returns Processing Fee – Expanded

Products with high return rates (think apparel, accessories, and electronics) now get slapped with an extra fee for each return.

What it means:
Selling yoga pants? You’ll feel this.

What to do:
➡️ Improve listings—add size charts, better images, and more accurate descriptions.
➡️ Use customer feedback to reduce return rates.
➡️ Shift focus to low-return products if margins are tight.

📬 4. Low Inventory Fee – The Sneaky One

This new fee hits sellers who consistently keep low FBA inventory levels. Amazon says it "hurts Prime shipping speed."

What it means:
Even if you're lean and mean, you’ll pay extra if your sell-through rate is too fast for your stock levels.

What to do:
➡️ Monitor the new Inventory Performance Index (IPI) metrics closely.
➡️ Use Amazon’s restock tool (but verify it—it's not always perfect).
➡️ Keep 4–6 weeks of rolling inventory at FBA.

🎯 Big Takeaway: You’re Paying to Play—So Play Smarter

Amazon’s fees are going up. That’s just reality.

But here’s the deal: fees aren’t what kill your margins—it’s not knowing how to handle them.

Sellers who win in 2025 will be the ones who:

  • Track their numbers weekly

  • Optimize logistics and restocking

  • Cut dead weight before it costs them

  • Focus on high-ROI products

💬 “Margins are made in the middle, not the madness.”

You don’t have to fear Amazon’s changes. You just need to move quicker than the sellers who aren’t reading this.

🙋‍♂️ Your Move

Here’s what to do next:

✅ Review your current FBA SKUs.
✅ Cut slow movers.
✅ Map out your storage, placement, and return costs.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed—hey, I’ve been there. You don’t need 10 new tools or a $2,000 course. Just clear info, a strategy, and some real talk (like this).

Catch you next time,

Andy Splichal
Founder & Managing Partner of True Online Presence & Author of the Make Each Click Count Book Series

P.S. Overwhelmed by Amazon ads? I get it. Most sellers are throwing darts in the dark. If you want a pro in your corner running your PPC while you focus on growing your brand, let's hop on a call.

👉 Schedule your call here — we’ll see if it’s a fit 👊

P.S. Want a fast way to increase your Amazon sales? Take a look at my new software, Persona Factor, that uses your product reviews to optimize your product titles and descriptions.