How Amazon FBA Storage Fees Work (and How to Cut Them)
Amazon charges a monthly storage fee plus surcharges for aged inventory. Here is how FBA storage fees work and how sellers keep them down.
2026-07-31
The two kinds of storage fee
FBA storage costs come in two parts: a recurring monthly inventory storage fee based on the volume your stock occupies, and an added surcharge for inventory that sits too long (aged or long-term stock). Monthly rates typically rise in the busy fourth quarter, so slow movers get expensive fast.
Why the fees add up
Storage fees climb when you overstock, when products move slowly, or when seasonal inventory lingers past its window. Amazon also applies capacity limits, so overloading fulfillment centers can cost you both fees and restock room. Understanding this is half of controlling your total cost.
How to cut them
The reliable fix is to send less, more often. Hold the bulk of your stock in a US warehouse, where storage is priced by space and time, and forward to FBA on demand. That keeps only fast-moving inventory in FBA and avoids long-term storage surcharges on the rest.
The buffer-and-forward model
A prep-and-storage partner receives your goods, holds a buffer and replenishes FBA as sales dictate, so you stay Prime-eligible without paying to warehouse dead stock at Amazon. To size it for your catalog, contact us.
FAQ
How is the FBA storage fee calculated?
It is based on the volume (cubic space) your inventory occupies in Amazon fulfillment centers, charged monthly, with higher rates in the fourth quarter.
What is the long-term storage surcharge?
It is an extra charge Amazon applies to inventory that has been stored beyond a set period, on top of the monthly fee, to discourage aged stock.
How does a US warehouse reduce storage fees?
By holding your buffer stock outside Amazon and forwarding to FBA on demand, you keep only fast-selling units in FBA and avoid long-term surcharges on the rest.