Amazon refreshed its UK fee structure for 2026, and if you're sourcing for FBA the changes cut both ways — some fees came down, but a new surcharge and several category tweaks mean your old profit assumptions may be out of date. Here's what actually changed, in plain English, with what each one does to your margin.
Figures below reflect Amazon's published "Rate Card — Europe Fees, effective 1 February 2026" (UK) and Amazon's 2026 fee announcement. Amazon can change fees at any time — always confirm current rates in Seller Central before you buy.
1. A new 1.5% fuel & logistics surcharge
The headline change for cash flow: since 17 April 2026, Amazon applies a 1.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on FBA fulfilment fees in the UK (and several other European stores). It's small per unit, but it's on top of the fulfilment fee on every unit you sell, so at volume it adds up. If your numbers were built on 2025 fulfilment fees, they're now slightly optimistic.
2. Lower fulfilment fees on many items
The better news: Amazon reduced average fulfilment fees across European stores in early 2026, with parcel-size items in the UK seeing some of the biggest cuts. For a lot of typical retail-arbitrage products — small, light, parcel-sized goods — the base fulfilment fee is lower than it was, which partly offsets the new surcharge. The net effect depends on the exact size tier and weight of what you sell, which is why per-item checking matters more than rules of thumb.
3. Low-Price FBA now covers more products
Amazon's Low-Price FBA rates — cheaper fulfilment fees for small, light, low-priced items — apply to products priced £20 or under in most categories (and £10 or under in some, such as Beauty, Health & Personal Care, Grocery, Books and Office). If a big share of your sourcing is sub-£20 clearance and discount-store stock, a meaningful slice of your catalogue likely qualifies for these reduced rates.
4. Referral-fee cuts in some categories
Referral fees (the percentage Amazon takes of the sale price) didn't all stay flat. Notably, Clothing & Accessories moved to a tiered structure — 5% on items at or under £15, 10% between £15 and £20, and 15% above £20 — which is lower than before for cheaper items. Some other categories (including parts of Grocery and pet lines) also saw reductions for low-priced products. Most categories remain around 15%, but it's worth checking your specific category rather than assuming.
5. The £0.25 minimum referral fee still applies
One that catches out sellers of very cheap items: Amazon charges a minimum referral fee of £0.25 per item, whatever the percentage works out to. On a £1 item, the referral fee isn't 15p — it's 25p. For low-value, high-volume flips, that floor can quietly eat your margin.
6. Storage and aged-inventory charges
Storage economics didn't get simpler. Beyond the base monthly storage fee, watch the aged-inventory surcharge on stock sitting in fulfilment centres a long time (Amazon applies it to inventory held beyond 241 days), plus a storage-utilisation surcharge for sellers holding a lot of stock relative to what they ship. Slow sellers cost you twice — in tied-up cash and in surcharges.
What this means for your buying decisions
| Change | Direction | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5% fuel surcharge (from 17 Apr 2026) | Fees up a little | Rebuild any saved profit numbers on 2026 rates |
| Lower fulfilment fees on many items | Fees down | Re-check borderline products that didn't work in 2025 |
| Low-Price FBA expansion (≤£20 / ≤£10) | Fees down for cheap items | Don't write off sub-£20 stock too quickly |
| Clothing referral cut (5/10/15%) | Fees down | Cheaper clothing flips look better than before |
| £0.25 minimum referral | Fees up on very cheap items | Be wary of £1–£2 flips |
The practical takeaway is the same one that's always true after a fee change: your assumptions are stale, so check the maths per item before you buy. Our free UK Amazon FBA calculator already uses the 2026 rates — including the 1.5% fuel surcharge — and handles VAT, so you can see real net profit, ROI and margin in seconds. If you want the same maths on a barcode scan in the aisle, Axivelo does it on every scan.
For the underlying mechanics of each fee, see our Amazon FBA fees in the UK, explained guide, and for the targets to apply them against, what's a good ROI and BSR for Amazon FBA.
Recheck your margins on 2026 rates
The free UK Amazon FBA calculator uses the 1 Feb 2026 rate card plus the 1.5% fuel surcharge, and handles VAT — net profit, ROI and margin in seconds.
Open the free FBA calculatorFAQ
What is the Amazon fuel and logistics surcharge?
A 1.5% charge Amazon adds to FBA fulfilment fees in the UK (and several European stores) from 17 April 2026. It applies per unit, on top of the normal fulfilment fee.
Did Amazon FBA fees go up or down in 2026?
Both. Amazon reduced average fulfilment fees on many items and expanded Low-Price FBA, but added the 1.5% fuel surcharge and kept the £0.25 minimum referral fee. The net effect depends on your product's size, weight, price and category.
What is the minimum referral fee on Amazon UK?
£0.25 per item. If the percentage referral fee works out lower than that, Amazon charges £0.25 instead.
UK Amazon FBA seller and founder of Axivelo, a barcode scanner that shows real profit, ROI and risk on in-store scans, with 2026 UK fees built in.