Amazon fulfilment fees 2026 have been updated, and for many E-commerce brands, this means higher costs, tighter margins, and more pressure on inventory flow. If you run an online store, it’s vital to understand these changes now.
Based on three decades of logistics and E-commerce experience, this article explains what’s changing, why it matters, and how a third-party logistics partner like Evolve Fulfilment can offer a viable alternative to minimise risk and maintain efficiency.
What’s Changing Under Amazon’s 2026 Fee Update
Amazon has announced several cost adjustments for 2026. You can review the official FBA fee changes for detailed per-unit rates and size-tier updates.
Key Changes for 2026
| Area | What’s Changing | Impact |
| Per-unit fulfilment fees | Increase across most size tiers | Higher operating costs |
| Heavy & oversize products | Larger fee jumps | Reduced margin on bulky items |
| Prep & labelling | Free services discontinued in some regions | Extra prep and compliance costs |
| Long-term storage | Stricter aged-inventory thresholds | More stock management pressure |
| MCF orders | Higher per-unit fees | Higher cost for selling outside Amazon |
| Low-inventory fees | Stricter enforcement | Risk of penalties during stockouts |
These updates can also encourage brands to sharpen their forecasting and streamline processes. With a clear strategy, the effect of Amazon fulfilment fees 2026 becomes easier to control, helping sellers stay efficient and competitive.
How Rising FBA Fees Affect E-commerce Brands
Rising FBA fees, storage surcharges, and new inventory penalties drive up operational costs for online brands in several ways:
- Margin pressure: Cumulatively, even small per-unit increases erode profitability, especially for low-margin products.
- Inventory risk: Holding slow-moving stock becomes risky due to aged inventory surcharges and low-inventory-level fees.
- Less flexibility: Businesses lose the freedom to store buffer stock or test new SKUs without incurring storage or long-term costs.
- Channel dependency risk: Over-relying on Amazon limits adaptability. If FBA becomes too costly, there’s little flexibility to shift to other fulfilment solutions.
As a result, many brands find it harder to maintain consistent profit, especially as competition grows and consumer expectations for fast delivery rise.
Why It’s Time to Re-Evaluate Your Logistics Strategy with Evolve Fulfilment
The upcoming changes in Amazon fulfilment fees 2026 make it crucial for sellers to diversify their storage and fulfilment strategies. Relying solely on Amazon’s infrastructure exposes businesses to unexpected cost increases and operational constraints.
Here’s why reviewing your logistics approach now is smart:
1. Better Control Over Costs
Third-party logistics partners often provide more predictable and flexible pricing. With Evolve Fulfilment’s transparent rate structure, sellers can plan expenses confidently, avoiding sudden or hidden adjustments.
2. Reduced Dependence on FBA
Shifting part of your inventory to an external 3PL reduces exposure to costly long-term storage fees and aged-inventory penalties imposed by Amazon.
3. Improved Delivery Options
Working with the right partner enables sellers to meet fast-delivery expectations without relying solely on FBA, enhancing customer satisfaction.
4. Customisable Fulfilment Solutions
Unlike Amazon’s standardised model, Evolve Fulfilment offers tailored services to match SKU count, product size, seasonality, and market reach. Strong stock management and efficient workflows ensure higher order fulfilment efficiency, supporting both growth and profitability.
- Whether you sell direct to consumers or through multiple E-commerce platforms, our E-commerce / DTC Fulfilment ensures timely order processing and reliable shipping.
[See E-commerce / DTC Fulfilment Services]
How Evolve Offers a Better Fulfilment Path
With more than 30 years in logistics, here’s where Evolve Fulfilment stands out as a strong alternative to relying solely on Amazon’s FBA model.
Transparent, Predictable Pricing
Evolve’s pricing model avoids hidden surcharges, variable storage-based penalties, or surprise inventory fees. That means businesses can budget more accurately, forecast costs, and protect margins even when Amazon’s fulfilment cost structure becomes less predictable. This stability is particularly beneficial when Amazon storage fees increase or fulfilment costs inflation unexpectedly.
| Did you know? A 2025 eFulfillmentService study found that E-commerce brands using a 3PL can reduce fulfilment costs by 15–25% compared to relying solely on Amazon FBA, especially when accounting for storage and peak-season fees. |
Flexible Multi-Channel Fulfilment Options
Evolve supports fulfilment across multiple channels, including Amazon, independent online stores, and alternative marketplaces. This helps brands avoid over-reliance on one platform and opens up room to diversify their sales strategy. For businesses concerned about “peak season fee adjustments,” Amazon seller fees update, or inventory pressure, this flexibility is vital.
- Learn more about our Amazon, TikTok, and eBay Fulfilment solutions for accurate, fast delivery.
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Improved Inventory & Stock Management
With Evolve’s systems, brands get better oversight of inventory turnover, demand forecasting, and warehouse processing. That helps avoid long-term storage fees, reduces aged stock risk, and ensures inventory remains aligned with real demand. For brands with slower-moving products, this kind of control can make the difference between profit and loss.
Reliable Fulfilment & Quality Support
Evolve delivers strong operational consistency, efficient order processing, and reliable last-mile delivery performance. In times when Amazon’s fee increases may push sellers to adjust pricing or cut back on fulfilment speed, packaging quality, or customer support, having a partner like Evolve helps maintain high standards and build customer loyalty.
Scalability for Growth without Hidden Costs
Whether you’re a small brand testing new SKUs or an established seller scaling globally, Evolve offers a scalable, cost-effective fulfilment model without the uncertainty of unpredictable Amazon fee hikes. Their 3PL model can absorb fluctuations in volume, seasonal demand, and channel mix, making growth more sustainable.
- For growing brands, our Retail / B2B Fulfilment services support bulk orders and scheduled deliveries with clear timelines and no unexpected delays or extra charges.
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How Evolve Supports Brands During Peak Season Challenges
Peak seasons often bring unexpected costs and operational stress. Research from Statista shows that up to 40% of E-commerce sellers face issues like increased storage fees and delayed fulfilment during holiday peaks.
Common peak season challenges include:
- Rising storage fees for slow-moving inventory
- Delays in order fulfilment due to high volumes
- Operational bottlenecks in warehouse processes
- Difficulty scaling resources quickly to meet demand
Partnering with a flexible 3PL helps brands scale efficiently, manage inventory, and ensure timely orders, while reducing exposure to rising Amazon fulfilment fees 2026.
What E-commerce Brands Should Do Now to Prepare for 2026
If you manage an E-commerce brand, the following are the strategic steps you should focus on right now:
- Audit your current fulfillment costs – Carry out a thorough cost analysis by utilising the updated 2026 fee table and see how the pressure on the margin will change.
- Forecast inventory demand and turnover carefully – Do not stock more than you will sell, be prepared for the increase in demand during holidays, and keep your inventory under control before it becomes too old.
- Explore hybrid fulfilment strategies -Join FBA with a reliable third-party logistics provider like Evolve to get the advantage of cost, flexibility, and service reliability.
- Diversify sales channels – reduce dependency on a single platform; consider direct-to-consumer, other marketplaces, or multiple channels.
- Partner early with a flexible fulfilment provider – Lessen the risk of depending on just one platform; think about the direct-to-consumer approach, other marketplaces, or using several channels.
Conclusion
This year brings major shifts to Amazon’s cost structure. The Amazon fulfilment fees 2026, along with higher storage charges, aged-inventory penalties, and new per-unit costs, are likely to squeeze margins, slow down stock turnover, and push many sellers to rethink how they manage their fulfilment.
For the brands whose main concern is sustainable growth, cost control, and long-term profitability, the FBA-only model will no longer provide the price stability and flexibility necessary. That’s where a 3PL specialist like Evolve provides real value.
With transparent pricing, multi-channel fulfilment, and scalable operations, Evolve helps brands manage rising costs. We also help you understand Amazon fulfilment cost structure without compromising service or profitability.