Amazon FBA Holiday Peak Fees 2025–2026: What They Cost & How to Stay Profitable
Why This Matters
If you’re selling through FBA, you’ll see holiday peak fulfillment fees automatically applied between October 15, 2025, and January 14, 2026.
These fees cover Amazon’s increased operating costs during the high-volume holiday season — when demand, labor, and logistics expenses surge. The 2025–2026 rates remain consistent with last year, which gives sellers stability to plan ahead.
But “consistent” doesn’t mean “cheap.” Every extra ounce or size tier affects your bottom line — and with rising ad costs, protecting margin during Q4 matters more than ever.
Let’s break it down simply.
What Are Amazon Peak Fulfillment Fees?
Amazon charges additional fees during peak months for certain categories to cover seasonal fulfillment and shipping costs.
According to Amazon Seller Central:
“A holiday peak fulfillment fee will apply to U.S. FBA, apparel, and dangerous goods from October 15, 2025, through January 14, 2026. These fees are in line with last year’s rates to support seller predictability.”
That means you won’t see new surcharges, but the peak fee adds on top of your usual FBA fulfillment cost.
Examples of 2025–2026 Peak Season FBA Fees (Excluding Apparel)
Here are a few examples:
| Size Tier | Shipping Weight | 2025 Non-Peak Fee | 2025 Peak Fee | Peak Increase | Example Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard | ≤ 2 oz | $3.06 | $3.25 | +$0.19 | Lightweight phone case |
| Small standard | 4–6 oz | $3.24 | $3.44 | +$0.20 | USB cable |
| Small standard | 12–14 oz | $3.60 | $3.82 | +$0.22 | Cosmetics set |
| Large standard | 12–16 oz (≤1 lb) | $4.65 | $4.85 | +$0.20 | Travel mug |
| Large standard | 1.75–2 lb | $5.77 | $6.10 | +$0.33 | Small electronics |
| Large standard | 2.75–3 lb | $6.62 | $7.03 | +$0.41 | 3-lb bundle |
| Large bulky | 0–50 lb | $9.61 + $0.38/lb above 1 lb | $10.65 + $0.38/lb above 1 lb | +$1.04 | Small appliance |
| Extra-large (0–50 lb) | 70–150 lb | $194.96 + $0.19/lb above 151 lb | $203.46 + $0.19/lb above 151 lb | +$8.50 | Oversize equipment |
Source: Amazon Seller Central – 2025 Peak Fulfillment Fee Chart
Important: Peak fees apply per unit shipped, not per shipment. If you sell 1,000 small standard items, that’s an additional $200 in fees at $0.20 each.
- This table is FBA Non-Apparel only; Apparel and Dangerous Goods have separate rate tables on that page.
- Fees are per unit and U.S. marketplace examples.
- For large standard, large bulky, and extra-large (except 150+ lb), Amazon uses the greater of unit weight or dimensional weight; small standard and extra-large 150+ lb use unit weight.
How to Check Your Own Fee Impact
You can easily see which SKUs are affected using these steps:
- Log into Seller Central → Reports → Fulfillment
- Select “Fee Preview” under “Payments.”
- Download the CSV and review the “per-unit fulfillment fee” column.
- Add the peak fee from the table above for each SKU type.
Tip: You can import that CSV into the Seller Labs Profit Calculator Template to instantly see your adjusted Q4 margins.
How to Offset Peak Fees (Without Cutting Profit)
Peak fees are unavoidable — but their impact isn’t.
Here’s how successful sellers protect profits:
1. Audit Your FBA Storage Before November
Remove or discount aged inventory (over 180 days old). Amazon storage fees spike alongside peak fees. Clearing dead SKUs early means you pay less and free up cash flow.
2. Raise Prices Strategically (Not Blindly)
Run a price sensitivity test using small 2–3% price increments on top SKUs. If conversion stays stable, you can absorb your added per-unit fee easily.
3. Use Smaller, Lighter Packaging
Reducing size tiers by even half an inch or a few ounces can move you into a lower rate bracket — saving up to $0.20–$0.40 per unit.
4. Bundle Smart
Combine two complementary SKUs into one FBA shipment (e.g., mug + coffee scoop). You’ll pay one peak fee per bundle instead of two separate listings.
5. Monitor Margins Automatically
Tools like Seller Labs Profit Genius track real-time FBA fees, ad spend, and return rates so you know which SKUs are losing margin during peak season.
No more guessing which products are still profitable — you’ll see alerts before you overspend.
Use Seller Labs to Stay Profitable in Q4
Seller Labs helps you see exactly how Amazon’s peak fees impact your margins — and gives you the insights to act fast before profits slip.
- Analyze products in SKU Details to uncover how fulfillment, storage, and advertising costs affect each listing’s performance. Use the built-in tabs for sales, fees, inventory movement, and feedback to spot where rising fees or slow sales could impact your bottom line.
- Drill down in SKU Economics to understand true profitability at both the individual and catalog level. With transaction-level data, you can compare performance across SKUs or focus on a single ASIN to make smarter pricing or bundling decisions.
- Refine your ad strategy with Ad Genius using Campaign Manager. Filter campaigns by ACOS, spend, or sales to identify where ad dollars aren’t producing returns. Pause or adjust underperforming campaigns, create SL Campaign Groups for Q4 product pushes, and reallocate budget toward high-performing listings that maintain strong margins.
- Enable margin or loss alerts in your notification settings to stay aware when profitability dips below your target threshold — helping you correct course before it cuts into Q4 revenue.
Together, these connected tools make it simple to monitor costs, adjust ad strategies, and protect your profit margins during Amazon’s busiest season.
Final Takeaway
The 2025–2026 Amazon FBA holiday peak fees aren’t new — but ignoring them can quietly erase thousands in Q4 profit.
Plan smarter by:
- Auditing your FBA inventory before the rush,
- Calculating your real per-unit costs, and
- Using automated profit and fee alerts to stay ahead.
The difference between hoping you’re profitable and knowing you are comes down to data — and Seller Labs helps keep that data crystal clear.
Next Step
Get your numbers right before Q4 ramps up.
Download the free Profit Calculator Tool to see your updated cost per unit, and connect Seller Labs to use Profit Genius to analyze fees and margins and Ad Genius to refine ad strategy based on real performance data.
Start your free trial today and finish the season strong.
Ready to protect your profit this Q4?
Turn Amazon’s complex FBA fees into clear, actionable insights with Seller Labs Profit Genius. Track every cost, uncover hidden fees, and make informed pricing and ad decisions before peak season hits.
For a limited time, get 30% off your first month — after your 30-day free trial.
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