Storage is the FBA fee sellers most often underestimate, because it looks tiny per unit and per month — and then Q4 triples it while the peak fulfillment table adds another $0.19–0.54 to every standard-size order. This guide lays out the 2026 rates, shows how to turn a box size into a monthly cost, and gives a simple rule for how much to send in before October. Rates were verified against Amazon Seller Central’s public help pages on 2026-09-20 (data sources).
Base monthly storage rates (US, 2026)
| January – September | October – December | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard size | $0.78 per cubic foot | $2.40 per cubic foot |
| Oversize (bulky, extra-large) | $0.56 per cubic foot | $1.40 per cubic foot |
Storage is charged on the average daily volume of your inventory during the month, billed between the 7th and 15th of the following month. Dangerous goods (hazmat) have higher rates and are not covered here.
From a box to a dollar amount
Cubic feet = length × width × height (inches) ÷ 1,728. Amazon measures the packaged unit itself, and its number wins if it differs from yours.
| Packaged size | Cu ft | Jan–Sep per unit-month | Oct–Dec per unit-month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 5 × 1.5 in (phone accessory) | 0.035 | $0.03 | $0.08 |
| 10 × 6 × 2 in (small kitchen tool) | 0.069 | $0.05 | $0.17 |
| 12 × 8 × 4 in (shoebox) | 0.222 | $0.17 | $0.53 |
| 18 × 14 × 8 in (large standard limit) | 1.167 | $0.91 | $2.80 |
| 24 × 18 × 12 in (oversize) | 3.000 | $1.68 | $4.20 |
Multiply by the months a unit sits before it sells. A shoebox-sized item that turns over every 45 days costs about $0.26 per unit in storage during most of the year and $0.80 in Q4 — meaningful next to a $5 fulfillment fee, but not decisive. The same item turning over every 6 months costs $1.02 to $3.18 per unit, plus the aged-inventory surcharge that starts at 181 days.
Surcharges on top of the base rate
- Storage utilization surcharge — applies when your storage utilization ratio (average daily inventory volume ÷ average daily shipped volume, trailing 13 weeks) exceeds 22 weeks. It is a per-cubic-foot addition that rises through several tiers as the ratio grows. Sellers under 22 weeks — which includes most active sellers — pay nothing extra, and new sellers are exempt.
- Aged-inventory surcharge — charged monthly on units stored 181 days or more, increasing with age until it dwarfs the base storage fee.
- Inventory storage limits — a capacity limit per storage type based on your IPI score and sales forecast; exceeding it costs an overage fee.
Peak-season fulfillment fees (October 15 – January 14)
During peak, the standard fulfillment table is replaced by a higher one. Selected 2026 peak rates, $10–50 price band:
| Size tier & shipping weight | Non-peak | Peak | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard, ≤ 4 oz | $3.42 | $3.61 | +$0.19 |
| Small standard, 12–16 oz | $3.96 | $4.18 | +$0.22 |
| Large standard, 1–1.25 lb | $5.04 | $5.34 | +$0.30 |
| Large standard, 2.75–3 lb | $6.67 | $7.08 | +$0.41 |
| Large standard, 3+ lb (base) | $6.97 | $7.51 | +$0.54 |
The 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge applies to the peak rate as well, so a large standard 1.2 lb item goes from $5.22 to $5.53 all-in. Amazon publishes peak rates for standard sizes; bulky and extra-large peak rates are listed on the same help page.
A plan for Q4 inventory
- Size the send-in to about 8–10 weeks of expected Q4 sales. Sending 20 weeks of stock in September means most of it sits through October–December at $2.40 per cubic foot and the utilization ratio may cross 22 weeks.
- Price in the peak fee. Add the difference from the table above to your cost basis for October–January — or raise the price by that amount; the calculator’s “peak season” toggle shows the effect.
- Ship in before capacity tightens. Inbound receiving slows in late October. Inventory that arrives in December pays Q4 storage without capturing the November demand.
- Remove or clear aged stock in September. Units already at 150+ days will hit the aged-inventory surcharge in Q4 on top of the higher base rate; compare the per-unit removal fee in Seller Central against three months of Q4 storage plus the surcharge before deciding.
- Check the utilization ratio under Inventory › FBA Inventory › Storage utilization before each send-in.
Put your packaged dimensions into the Amazon FBA calculator — it computes cubic feet, applies the seasonal rate for the months you enter, and switches to the peak table when you tick “peak season”.