How do I calculate Amazon FBA profit on China imports?

To calculate FBA profit accurately, you must stack three cost layers: (1) China Landed Cost (FOB + Sea Freight + Duties + Port Delivery), (2) FBA Inbound & Prep costs (shipping to Amazon FCs, labeling prep), and (3) Amazon specific fees (15% referral fee, FBA fulfillment fee based on size/weight tier, and monthly storage fees). Subtracting all these from your retail price gives your net FBA margin before PPC spend.

Should I ship from China directly to Amazon FBA?

Direct-to-FBA shipping (often called DDP to Amazon) is popular because it avoids the need for a 3PL and domestic trucking. However, it requires your supplier or forwarder to strictly adhere to Amazon's labeling (FNSKU) and carton requirements. The downside is high Amazon storage fees during slow seasons and the inability to quickly fix defective inventory. Experienced sellers often ship from China to a 3PL, and drip-feed into FBA.

How do Amazon FBA fees impact my import strategy?

FBA fees are highly sensitive to dimensions and weight. A product that is slightly too large may bump into an "Oversize" tier, doubling your fulfillment fee and destroying your margin. Always engineer your product and packaging to fit within Standard Size tiers before finalizing the mold with your Chinese manufacturer.

💰 Product Costing

Amazon FBA Import Calculator from China

Use our amazon fba import calculator to calculate amazon FBA profit for China-sourced products. Includes FBA fees, referral fee, landed cost, and net profit per unit.

Updated: 2026-04-13

Planning Reference

Inputs Last Reviewed April 2026

Reference Basis

Built from current calculator assumptions plus typical import cost benchmarks used by China sourcing teams.

Planning Note

Use this to pressure-test margin and landed cost. Final profitability still depends on your freight quote, duty classification, and downstream selling costs.

Primary opportunity

amazon fba import calculator
Medium SERP difficulty

Landed Cost Per Unit (China→FBA) USD Your full cost per unit to Amazon warehouse including duties and freight.

Amazon Selling Price USD

Units Per Shipment units

Amazon Product Category

Unit Weight (packaged) lbs Used to estimate FBA fulfillment fee. Includes packaging.

Complete Amazon FBA Profit Breakdown

Selling China-manufactured goods on Amazon FBA is a highly lucrative model, but it is deeply intolerant of margin calculation errors. Your profit must survive three distinct "toll booths": the factory, the border, and Amazon's fulfillment centers.

Anatomy of an FBA Import Margin

Sale Price:                $45.00  (100%)
--- Cost of Goods (Landed) ---
FOB Price (China):       -$12.00
Freight to US:           - $3.50
Customs & Duties:        - $2.80  (Includes Section 301)
--- Amazon Fees ---
Amazon Referral Fee:     - $6.75  (Typically 15%)
FBA Fulfillment Fee:     - $5.40  (Standard size tier)
Inbound/Storage Auth:    - $0.45
--- Profitability ---
Gross Profit:              $14.10 (31.3%)
Estimated PPC Spend:     - $5.00
Net Profit:                $9.10  (20.2%)

High-Risk Areas for FBA Importers

Section 301 Tariff Surprises: Many FBA sellers are caught off guard by 25% additional duties on Chinese goods. Always verify your HS code before buying inventory.
FBA Size Tier Boundaries: If your product package is 18.1 inches on its longest side, it is "Large Oversize" instead of "Large Standard Size". That 0.1 inch difference can cost you $4+ extra in FBA fees per unit.
Storage Fees: Amazon heavily penalizes slow-moving inventory with long-term storage fees and high Q4 holiday storage rates. Don't import a 12-month supply into FBA at once.

Tips for China Importers

Never compare suppliers by FOB price alone. A supplier $0.50 cheaper on FOB can easily be more expensive once freight, duty, and compliance differences are factored in. Always compare landed cost.
Include platform fees in your landed cost model. Amazon FBA referral + fulfillment fees total 30–40% of your selling price. If that's your channel, it must be in your cost calculation from day one.
Add a 15% cost contingency for your first import. First-time importers consistently underestimate costs — unexpected charges like detention fees, inspection costs, or currency moves routinely add 10–20%.
Calculate break-even units before ordering. Know exactly how many units you must sell to cover your landed cost and fixed overheads. If break-even is more than 60% of your order, the risk is too high.
Recalculate on every reorder. Freight rates, duty rates, and supplier prices all change. A cost model from 6 months ago can be meaningfully wrong. Always recalculate before committing to a new order.