Amazon FBA vs FBM Calculator
Enter your price and costs once, then compare profit when Amazon fulfills the order (FBA) with profit when you ship it yourself (FBM). The calculator also shows the shipping cost at which the two break even.
How to use this Amazon FBA vs FBM Calculator
- Enter your selling price and product cost.
- Enter the referral rate. It is the same for FBA and FBM on most listings.
- Enter the FBA fulfillment fee plus storage and inbound cost per unit.
- Enter what it costs you to ship, pack and handle one order yourself.
- Press Calculate to see which option pays more per unit and per month, and the shipping cost where they are equal.
How to compare FBA and FBM profit
Both methods pay the same referral fee, so the difference is the fulfillment cost.
- Referral fee = price x referral rate
- FBA profit = price – product cost – referral fee – FBA fee – storage and inbound
- FBM profit = price – product cost – referral fee – shipping – packaging – labor
- Difference = FBA profit – FBM profit
- Break-even shipping = the FBM shipping cost that makes the two profits equal
Worked example
A product sells for $25.00 and costs $7.00. The referral fee is 15%, which is $3.75. With FBA, the fulfillment fee is $4.00 and storage plus inbound is $0.80, so the profit is $9.45 per unit. With FBM your label costs $5.50, packaging is $0.75 and handling is $1.00, so the profit is $7.00 per unit. FBA is better by $2.45 per unit, or $735.00 a month at 300 units. The FBM shipping cost at which both are equal is $3.05.
The comparison above is only about cost. FBA listings usually earn the Prime badge and handle customer service and returns, which can lift sales. FBM gives you more control and lower storage risk for slow products. Use the result as one input to the decision, and test with your own real shipping rates.
Assumptions & limits
- The referral rate default comes from the Amazon pricing page checked on November 5, 2026. The FBA, storage, shipping and labor figures are placeholders you should replace with your own.
- Sales volume is assumed to be the same under both methods. In practice FBA can raise sales through Prime eligibility.
- Returns, long-term storage, removal, advertising and taxes are not included.
- Shipping cost is a single average per order. Heavy or remote orders cost more.
- It is a planning tool, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FBA and FBM?
With FBA, Amazon stores, packs and ships your products. With FBM, you handle storage and shipping yourself.
Which is more profitable, FBA or FBM?
It depends on your size, weight and shipping rates. Small, light products often favor FBA, while large slow movers can favor FBM.
Does the referral fee change between FBA and FBM?
On most listings it does not. The difference comes from fulfillment, storage and shipping costs.
Why does the calculator show a break-even shipping cost?
It is the shipping cost per order at which FBM and FBA profits match. If your real shipping is lower, FBM pays more.
Does FBM lose the Prime badge?
Often, unless you qualify for a seller-fulfilled Prime program. The calculator does not model the sales effect.
Can I include advertising?
Advertising is the same under both methods, so it does not change the comparison.
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Last updated: November 2026