What this fee is and why it exists
When a product runs low, Amazon can no longer position units close to buyers. Orders get filled from distant fulfillment centers, which costs Amazon more to ship. The low-inventory-level fee passes that cost back to the seller.
It applies to standard-size products only. Large Bulky and Extra-Large items are not subject to it.
Exactly when it triggers
This is the part worth getting precise, because the fee only applies when both conditions are true at once:
If either measure is 28 days or more, no fee is charged. Days of supply is calculated as:
It is assessed weekly, so this is not something you can fix once a month. A single thin week can attract the charge.
2026 rate table
Charged per unit, with the rate rising the further below 28 days you fall:
| Size tier & weight | 0–13 days of supply | 14–20 days | 21–27 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard (≤16 oz) | $0.89 / unit | $0.63 / unit | $0.32 / unit |
| Large standard (≤3 lb) | $0.97 / unit | $0.70 / unit | $0.36 / unit |
| Large standard (3–20 lb) | $1.11 / unit | $0.87 / unit | $0.47 / unit |
On a small standard product selling 900 units a month at 10 days of supply, that is roughly $800 a month — on top of every other fee, and on a product that is by definition selling well.
Exemptions
No fee is charged if any of these apply:
- New professional sellers — first 365 days after account creation.
- New FBA products — first 180 days after first inventory received.
- AWD-replenished products — auto-replenished via Amazon Warehousing & Distribution at least 70% of the time over 90 days.
- Low-volume products — fewer than 20 units sold in the previous 7 days.
The squeeze between two fees
This fee has to be planned alongside its opposite. Amazon now charges you at both ends of the inventory range:
| Too little stock | Too much stock |
|---|---|
| Low-inventory-level fee below 28 days of supply | Aged inventory surcharge from 181 days |
| Up to $1.11 per unit, charged weekly | $0.50 to $6.90 per cubic foot, charged monthly |
| Plus lost sales and lost organic rank | Plus capital tied up in stock that is not moving |
The usable window is roughly 28 days of supply at the floor and 181 days of age at the ceiling. That is a wide band for a steady seller and an uncomfortably narrow one for a seasonal product — which is the real reason reordering to actual demand now matters more than ordering to a freight schedule.
Staying above the line
- Target a buffer, not the threshold. Aim well above 28 days. Weekly assessment means aiming exactly at 28 will catch you on a good sales week.
- Watch both windows. The 30-day and 90-day figures move differently. A product that has just accelerated can pass the 90-day test while failing the 30-day one.
- Size reorders from real velocity. The restock calculator works the reorder point back from lead time and daily sales.
- Consider AWD for steady sellers. The 70% auto-replenishment exemption is a genuine route out of the fee if your velocity is consistent.
- Watch the fast movers hardest. High velocity burns days of supply quickly, so your best products are the ones most likely to trip this fee.
Days of supply is a moving target that has to be tracked per SKU. SellerGuards inventory intelligence monitors stock health and flags restocks from your real SP-API data. For every other Amazon charge, see the complete guide to Amazon seller fees.