--- title: "Amazon FBA in the UK 2026: Fees, Pros, Cons and Alternatives" description: What is Amazon FBA and what does it cost in the UK in 2026? Fees, storage costs, pros and cons, alternatives like FBM and Seller Fulfilled Prime, and when to switch. image: https://blog.getbyrd.com/hubfs/Umweltfreundliches%20E-Commerce%20Fulfillment-2.png --- [![Getbyrd](https://blog.getbyrd.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Getbyrd_May2021/images/Header_logo.svg "Getbyrd")](https://getbyrd.com/) 12+ Logistics locations in Europe - [Home](https://getbyrd.com/uk) - Product - [Fulfilment](https://getbyrd.com/uk/fulfilment) - [Switching 3PL](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/3pl-switch) - [Returns Portal](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/returns-portal) - [Dedicated Support](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/account-management) - Integrations - [Overview](https://getbyrd.com/uk/all-integrations) - [Amazon](https://getbyrd.com/uk/amazon-fulfilment) - [Billbee](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/billbee-fulfilment) - [Mirakl](https://getbyrd.com/uk/mirakl-fulfilment) - [ChannelEngine](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/integration-channelengine) - [eBay](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/ebay-fulfilment) - [PlentyOne](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/plentymarkets-fulfilment) - [PrestaShop](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/prestashop-fulfilment) - [Shopify](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/shopify-fulfilment) - [Shopware](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/shopware-fulfilment) - [WooCommerce](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/woocommerce-fulfilment) - [Xentral](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/xentral-integration) - Solutions - [Baby Products](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/baby-products) - [Beauty, Health & Cosmetics](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/health-beauty) - [Electronics](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/electronics) - [Food, Beverages & Supplements](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/food-beverages-supplements) - [Jewellery, Accessories & Watches](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/jewellery-accessories) - [Pet Supplies](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/pet-supplies) - [Toys & Games](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/toys-games) - [For New Businesses](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/new-businesses) - [For Established Retailers](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/established-retailers) - [For Enterprises](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/enterprise) - [Pricing](https://getbyrd.com/uk/pricing) - Fulfilment Center Network - [Fulfilment Center Europe](https://getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network) - [UK](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/uk) - [Austria](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/austria) - [France](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/france) - [Germany](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/germany) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb) - [Success Stories](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/references) - [Demo](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/fulfilment-software) - [Whitepaper: E-Commerce Slowdown](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/survive-and-thrive-whitepaper) - [E-Book: Sustainable Supply Chain](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/sustainable-supply-chain-ebook) - [E-Book: Cross-Border E-Commerce](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/cross-border-ecommerce-eu-ebook) - [Whitepaper: 7 Fulfilment Tips](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/7-fulfilment-tips-whitepaper) - About us - [Team](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/team) - [Career](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/jobs) - [Sustainability](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/sustainability-at-byrd) - [Partnerships](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/partnerships) - [Press](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/press) - [Login](https://app.getbyrd.com/en/login?_ga=2.175706018.1283541857.1621736684-626381589.1621482964) - [English - United Kingdom](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb/pros-cons-amazon-fba) - [Deutsch](https://blog.getbyrd.com/pros-cons-amazon-fba) - [English](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en/pros-cons-amazon-fba) - [Español](https://blog.getbyrd.com/es/ventajas-y-desventajas-de-fulfilled-amazon) - [Français](https://blog.getbyrd.com/fr/avantages-inconvenients-amazon-fba) - [Italiano](https://blog.getbyrd.com/it/vantaggi-e-svantaggi-amazon-fba) [Request a quote](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk#angebot-anfordern) # Amazon FBA in the UK 2026: Fees, Pros, Cons and Alternatives A Guide to the Advantages and Disadvantages of Amazon FBA for UK E-Commerce Professionals [**Phillip Pitsch**](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb/author/phillip-pitsch) Published: December 21, 2023 Updated: October 06, 2026 ## Table of Contents **Amazon FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) means you send your stock to Amazon's warehouses, and Amazon stores, packs and ships your orders and handles returns and customer service.** In return, your offers carry the Prime badge. It sounds convenient, and often it is. Still, at byrd we are talking to more and more FBA sellers who want to rethink their logistics. It is rarely one single problem. Usually several things add up: storage fees that almost double in autumn, capacity limits ahead of peak season, and stock that is missing elsewhere for your own shop and other marketplaces. In this article you'll learn **what Amazon FBA costs in the UK in 2026, its pros and cons, and when an alternative such as FBM with a fulfilment partner pays off**. *Last updated: October 2026* **Key takeaways** - With FBA, Amazon takes care of storage, shipping, returns and customer service for Amazon orders. On top of selling fees, you pay fulfilment and storage fees. - For 2026, Amazon lowered fulfilment fees for parcels on average, while monthly storage fees went up. From October to December, storing standard-size products costs about twice as much as during the rest of the year. - Surcharges can apply if you hold too much stock for too long (storage utilisation, aged inventory). - FBA works best for small, fast-selling products that sell mainly on Amazon. - If you sell across several channels, have slow-moving or bulky products, or want your brand to show when customers unbox, FBM with a fulfilment partner is often the better choice. Prime is still possible through Seller Fulfilled Prime. [![byrdAI - logistics ai](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7590762/c0b87961-8ddb-462b-a41c-429824180b87.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7590762/c0b87961-8ddb-462b-a41c-429824180b87) ## What is Amazon FBA? Amazon FBA stands for **Fulfilment by Amazon**. You remain the seller and decide on prices, range and marketing. Amazon handles the logistics: storage in its fulfilment centres, picking, packing, shipping, returns and customer service for delivery questions. FBA offers are automatically eligible for Prime. The counterpart is **FBM (Fulfilment by Merchant)**. Here you store and ship yourself or through a fulfilment provider. For a direct comparison of the two models, see our article on [FBA vs FBM](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb/amazon-fbm-vs-fba?hsLang=en-gb). ### How Amazon FBA works in 5 steps 1. **Create a seller account:** You need an Amazon seller account, and for regular sales usually the Professional plan. 2. **Switch products to FBA:** In Seller Central, you set your offers to Fulfilled by Amazon. 3. **Prepare your goods:** Every unit needs a scannable barcode, and packaging and cartons must meet Amazon's prep and shipping requirements. 4. **Create a shipment and send it in:** You create a shipment in Seller Central, print the carton labels and deliver to the assigned fulfilment centre. 5. **Amazon takes over:** Once your stock is received, Amazon sells it with the Prime badge, ships it and processes returns. ### Requirements and rules you should know - **Prep to Amazon's standards:** Barcodes, labels and packaging must follow the guidelines. Mistakes lead to delays at check-in or extra costs. - **Capacity limits:** Amazon limits how much stock you can send in. Especially ahead of Q4, this can slow your growth. - **UK and EU are separate:** Since Brexit, stock in UK fulfilment centres serves Amazon.co.uk, while EU marketplaces need stock inside the EU. Selling in both means planning two inventories. ## How much does Amazon FBA cost in the UK in 2026? Costs come in three blocks: **selling fees** (which also apply without FBA), **FBA fulfilment fees per unit sold**, and **storage fees**. Surcharges may be added depending on your stock levels. The figures below are taken from Amazon's [European rate card, effective 1 February 2026](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/02/sell/images/260114-FBA-Rate-Card-EN.pdf), and the [pricing page on sell.amazon.co.uk](https://sell.amazon.co.uk/pricing). | Cost type | Amazon.co.uk, 2026 | When it applies | | --- | --- | --- | | Selling plan | Individual: £0.75 per item sold. Professional: £25 per month (both excl. VAT) | Always, also with FBM | | Referral fee | Depends on category, mostly 8 to 15% of the sale price, minimum £0.25 per item in most categories | On every sale, also with FBM | | FBA fulfilment fee | For example £2.07 for a small envelope up to 80 g, £3.01 for a standard parcel up to 400 g and £3.06 up to 900 g | Per unit sold, depending on size and weight | | Monthly storage fee | Standard size: £0.76 per cubic foot (January to September), £1.51 per cubic foot (October to December) | For the average volume of your stock in the warehouse | | Storage utilisation surcharge | Applies if your stock covers more than 22 weeks of sales | When holding too much stock, for Professional sellers | | Aged inventory surcharge | For stock stored longer than 241 days | For slow movers | For 2026, Amazon partly lowered its fees in Europe. According to [Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.eu/news/empowering-small-business/update-to-european-referral-and-fulfilment-by-amazon-fees-for-2026), FBA fulfilment fees for parcels in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain fell by £0.26 per unit on average. Low-Price FBA has applied to items up to £20 since January 2026, and referral fees dropped in some categories, for example from 15 to 8% for home products up to £20. At the same time, Amazon raised monthly storage fees and fees for returning stock to the seller. ### Example: what one carton costs in Amazon's warehouse A carton measuring 60 x 40 x 40 cm has a volume of about 3.39 cubic feet. Filled with standard-size products, it costs in storage fees: - January to September: 3.39 x £0.76 = **about £2.58 per month** - October to December: 3.39 x £1.51 = **about £5.12 per month** For a product that sells quickly, this hardly matters. If the same stock sits for six months or longer, storage fees and possible surcharges eat a noticeable share of your margin. What counts is not the single fee but how fast your products turn over. ## Advantages of Amazon FBA - **Prime badge without your own logistics:** FBA offers are automatically Prime-eligible, which is a buying criterion for many customers. - **No warehouse or shipping team:** Storage, packing, shipping and returns run through Amazon. - **Customer service for delivery questions:** Amazon answers questions about delivery and returns. - **European reach:** With [FBA Europe](https://sell.amazon.co.uk/fulfilment-by-amazon/fba-europe) you can serve customers in other European countries without building your own warehouses there. - **Predictable for small fast sellers:** For light products with high sell-through, the cost per unit is often low. ## Disadvantages of Amazon FBA - **Storage costs grow over time:** Slow-moving stock becomes expensive, especially in Q4 and when aged inventory or storage utilisation surcharges kick in. - **Tight inventory planning:** Too much stock triggers surcharges, too little risks stockouts and lost rankings. Getting the balance right takes constant attention. - **Capacity limits:** Amazon decides how much stock you may send in. Ahead of peak periods this can cause bottlenecks. - **Stock is tied to Amazon:** Inventory in Amazon's warehouse is not readily available for your own shop or other marketplaces. Many sellers therefore keep a second stock. - **Little branding:** Your customers receive an Amazon parcel. Your own packaging, inserts or a special unboxing are not possible. - **Strict inbound rules:** Prep, labelling and carton requirements take time, and mistakes lead to delays or extra costs. - **Dependence on Amazon's rules:** Fees, programmes and requirements change regularly. --- --- ## Who is Amazon FBA still worth it for in 2026? FBA is not on its way out. For certain products and business models it fits very well, for others it becomes more expensive and less flexible as the range grows: | FBA tends to fit if … | An alternative tends to fit if … | | --- | --- | | You sell mainly on Amazon | You also run your own shop and sell on other marketplaces | | Your products are small, light and fast-selling | You have bulky, heavy or slow-moving products | | You can match stock closely to demand | You have seasonal products or long replenishment times | | Branding at unboxing doesn't matter much | Packaging and inserts are part of your brand | | You don't need B2B or retail deliveries from the same stock | You want to supply consumers, retailers and Amazon from one stock | ## Alternatives to Amazon FBA ### FBM with a fulfilment partner With FBM you keep selling on Amazon, but a fulfilment partner ships the orders from its warehouse. Your stock sits in one place and is available to every channel: Amazon, your own shop and other marketplaces. You choose the packaging and carriers. Without the Prime badge, competitive delivery times and shipping costs matter all the more. ### FBM from your own warehouse For small volumes you can ship yourself. As order numbers grow, so do staff, space and packaging effort, and delivery times become harder to keep. ### Seller Fulfilled Prime With [Seller Fulfilled Prime](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb/amazon-prime-seller-fulfilled-requirements?hsLang=en-gb) you get the Prime badge without sending stock to Amazon. The bar is high. According to [Amazon](https://sell.amazon.co.uk/programmes/seller-fulfilled-prime), you need a domestic warehouse, must ship over 99% of orders on time, keep the cancellation rate below 0.5%, use Amazon Buy Shipping for at least 98% of orders and deliver with supported carriers. During the trial period, orders must be processed with zero-day handling time. ### Hybrid: combine FBA and FBM Many sellers run both: fast sellers stay in FBA, the rest goes through FBM. A fulfilment partner can also act as a buffer warehouse and replenish FBA regularly. That way you keep only as much stock at Amazon as you need and avoid costly storage time. If FBA stock runs out, you can fulfil orders via FBM at short notice. ## Switching from FBA to a fulfilment partner: how to do it A switch doesn't have to change everything at once. A step-by-step approach works best: 1. **Analyse your range:** For each product, look at sell-through, storage time and FBA costs. This shows which items should stay in FBA and which run cheaper elsewhere. 2. **Connect your fulfilment partner:** Link Seller Central and your other channels to the partner so orders and stock levels sync automatically. 3. **Move your stock:** Send new stock directly to the partner. Pull existing stock out of Amazon's warehouse with a removal order. Amazon charges a fee per unit for this. 4. **Adjust your shipping settings:** Set handling time and delivery promises in Seller Central so they match your partner's cut-off times and transit times. 5. **Start with one product group:** Test the process with part of your range, check delivery times and customer feedback, then roll it out. ## Amazon FBM and pre-FBA with byrd byrd takes care of the logistics for your Amazon orders, while you keep the decisions and full visibility. Seller Central is connected directly, so orders and stock levels sync automatically. byrd usually picks, packs and ships your FBM orders the same day, in your own packaging if you like. From our [warehouse in the UK](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/uk) we ship with Royal Mail, DPD and Parcelforce. Find out more on our page for [Amazon sellers](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/amazon-fulfilment). If some products need the Prime badge, combine FBM with FBA: byrd prepares your goods in line with Amazon's guidelines and delivers them to Amazon's fulfilment centres, with the byrd warehouse acting as a buffer. The same stock also serves your own shop and other marketplaces, from warehouses in the UK, Germany, Austria, France and Poland. ### Checklist: how a pre-FBA shipment with byrd works - **Already created the shipment in Seller Central?** Choose “Amazon Pre-FBA (Announced)” when creating the order and add the FBA reference, PO number, destination Amazon warehouse address and carton labels right away. - **Not created yet?** Choose “Amazon Pre-FBA (Unannounced)” and add the Amazon details once byrd has packed the goods. This works for parcel shipments. - **Get your labels right:** Amazon labels in 4 x 6 inch format (10.2 x 15.2 cm), one label per page. - **Release the order:** You release pre-FBA orders manually in the byrd dashboard and, if you use several locations, pick the warehouse. - **Fill in missing details:** If the shipment shows “Label required”, add the Amazon details. byrd then applies the labels and the shipment moves to pickup. Our support article on the [Amazon pre-FBA process for B2B shipments](https://support.getbyrd.com/en/knowledge-base/amazon-pre-fba-process-for-b2b-shipments?hsLang=en-gb) covers every step in detail. ## FAQ about Amazon FBA **What is Amazon FBA in simple terms?** Amazon FBA means Amazon stores, packs and ships your products and handles returns. You keep selling yourself, and your offers get the Prime badge. **How much does Amazon FBA cost in the UK in 2026?** Besides the selling plan (Professional: £25 per month excl. VAT) and referral fees, you pay a fulfilment fee per unit, for example £3.01 for a standard parcel up to 400 g, and storage fees from £0.76 per cubic foot per month. Surcharges may apply depending on your stock. **Is Amazon FBA still worth it in 2026?** For small, fast-selling products that sell mainly on Amazon, often yes. For slow-moving or bulky stock, and when selling across several channels, FBM with a fulfilment partner is often cheaper and more flexible. **Can I get the Prime badge without FBA?** Yes, through Seller Fulfilled Prime. You have to meet Amazon's performance requirements continuously, including on-time delivery, tracking, cancellation rate and delivery speed. **Can I use FBA and FBM at the same time?** Yes. You can decide per product whether it ships via FBA or FBM. Many sellers keep fast sellers in FBA and ship the rest via a fulfilment partner that can also replenish FBA. **How do I get my stock out of Amazon's warehouse?** With a removal order in Seller Central. Amazon then ships the stock to an address you specify, for example your fulfilment partner. A fee per unit applies. ---   ## As seen on               [![Getbyrd](https://blog.getbyrd.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Getbyrd_May2021/images/Footer_logo.svg "Getbyrd")](https://getbyrd.com/en/) - Services - [Fulfilment](https://getbyrd.com/uk/fulfilment) - [New Business](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/new-businesses) - [Established Retailers](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/established-retailers) - [Enterprises](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/enterprise) - [European Fulfilment Network](https://getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network) - Integrations - [Amazon FBM](https://getbyrd.com/uk/amazon-fulfilment) - [Billbee](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/billbee-fulfilment) - [ChannelEngine](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/integration-channelengine) - [Mirakl](https://getbyrd.com/uk/mirakl-fulfilment) - [PlentyONE](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/plentymarkets-fulfilment) - [Shopify](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/shopify-fulfilment) - [Shopware](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/shopware-fulfilment) - [WooCommerce](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/woocommerce-fulfilment) - [PrestaShop](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/prestashop-fulfilment) - [Xentral](https://getbyrd.com/en/xentral-integration) - Locations - [Fulfillment Network Europe](https://getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network) - [UK](https://getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/uk) - [Austria](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/austria) - [France](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/france) - [Germany](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/european-fulfilment-network/germany) - Partner - [Our partner network](https://getbyrd.com/en/partner) - [Become a partner](https://getbyrd.com/en/partnerships) - About us - [Team](https://getbyrd.com/en/team) - [Blog](https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb) - [Our Customers](https://getbyrd.com/en/references) - [Press](https://getbyrd.com/en/press) - [Career](https://getbyrd.com/en/jobs) - [Sustainability](https://www.getbyrd.com/uk/sustainability-at-byrd) - Additional links - [Terms and Conditions](https://getbyrd.com/en/tac) - [Privacy Policy](https://getbyrd.com/en/privacy) - [Imprint](https://getbyrd.com/en/imprint) - [Contact](https://getbyrd.com/en/contact) - [Help](https://support.getbyrd.com/en/knowledge-base) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Phillip Pitsch", "url" : "https://blog.getbyrd.com/en-gb/author/phillip-pitsch" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-06", "datePublished" : "2023-12-21", "description" : "What is Amazon FBA and what does it cost in the UK in 2026? 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