Amazon charges Professional sellers a referral fee on each order; this fee is calculated based on the product category and the total sale price, including items like shipping and gift-wrapping. Referral rates typically range between 8% and 15%, but certain categories go as high as 45%. A minimum fee (often $0.30) ensures Amazon always receives a base commission per sale.
Common referral fee ranges for products sold through Printful
- Clothing & accessories: around 17%, but apparel priced under $15 drops to 5%, and between $15–$20 drops to 10%
- Home & kitchen items (like mugs or wall art): around 15%
- Phone accessories (like phone cases): generally 15% for the portion of the sale up to $100, and 8% for any amount above that
Some categories, like jewelry or Amazon device accessories, can have referral fees of 20% or higher.
How it works:
- Referral fees vary depending on the category assigned to your product listing
- Amazon updates its fee schedules periodically — always check Amazon’s official referral fee page for the most accurate and up-to-date information for your product type
Don’t forget about your Professional seller plan
- A Professional selling plan costs $39.99/month in the U.S., and varies slightly in other regions. This plan is required to access Amazon’s API and integrate with Printful.
- Individual accounts (pay-per-item) are not eligible for integration with Printful.
What this means for Printful sellers
- When pricing your products, account for:
- The referral fee percentage based on your product category
- The $39.99/month subscription fee (via Professional plan)
- Your margin should cover both the Printful fulfillment costs plus these Amazon-specific fees.
- Since Printful products typically fall under categories like Apparel or Accessories, expect referral fees at or near the 15% range.