Account health, ads, inventory and fulfilment · Paying for distance
Inbound placement fee
Amazon now prices where your inventory lands. Splitting shipments or paying the fee are the two levers.
Key facts
| What it is | A fee on inbound shipments that reflects the distance from the receiving location to the fulfilment centres that need the inventory |
|---|---|
| Options | Split inventory across more locations, or use a minimal-split option and pay a higher fee |
| Fee drivers | Number of shipment splits, destination locations and the size of the shipment |
| Trade-off | More splits mean more freight and coordination but a lower placement fee |
| Scope | Applies to the US marketplace under the published programme; check the current schedule |
| Official source | Amazon inbound placement service fee help page and fee schedule |
Amazon now prices distance
The fee exists because Amazon moves inventory from where it arrives to where it is likely to sell. When a seller sends everything to one location, the network does the transfer and charges for it. When the seller spreads the shipment, the transfer is shorter and the fee is lower.
The mistake is to compare the placement fee with zero. Splitting has its own costs: multiple cartons, multiple tracking numbers, possibly multiple freight bookings, and more room for a receiving discrepancy. Compare the total landed cost of each option.
Split or pay
For a small shipment, the fee can be cheaper than the freight and labour of splitting. For a large, fast-selling shipment, splitting usually wins because the fee scales with volume while the coordination cost does not.
Model both paths with the actual carton count and the current fee schedule. Do not use last quarter's fee: the programme and rates can change, and the placement options are updated in Seller Central.
Frequently asked questions
Does the fee apply to every inbound shipment?
It applies under the published US programme and depends on the shipment and the placement option chosen. Check the current schedule for your marketplace.
Can I avoid it entirely?
The lower-fee path is to split inventory across the recommended locations. A zero fee is not generally available for standard inbound shipments.
How is the fee calculated?
It reflects the number of splits and the distance to the fulfilment centres that need the units. The exact formula is in the published fee schedule.
Does it apply to FBA Onsite or other programmes?
Scope varies by programme and marketplace. Verify the specific programme before including the fee in a landed-cost model.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.