How to Sell on Amazon as a Reseller in 2026: Fees, FBA, Gating & Used Rules

On eBay you create a listing. On Amazon you usually don’t: you attach an offer to an existing product page (an ASIN) and compete with every other seller offering that same product in the same condition. That makes Amazon fast for things that are already in its catalog, and a poor fit for one-of-a-kind items. It also makes Amazon stricter than any other marketplace a reseller will use — about which brands you can sell, what condition they can be in and whether you can prove where they came from.

What resellers actually sell on Amazon

Experience, not Amazon data: the reseller models that tend to work on Amazon are:

• Used books. Ungated, used allowed, huge catalog — the classic starting point. Most are cheap; the money is in textbooks, niche non-fiction and anything the scan says sells well.
• Used video games and media. Video games allow used condition without approval; used music and DVD/Blu-ray listings need category approval first (and records often do better on Discogs).
• New toys and games. Clearance and retail arbitrage buys, often sent to FBA for the fourth quarter. Toys can only be sold new, and some brands are gated.
• Used electronics, cameras and computer gear with a clear model number. Check the going rate before you buy — our electronics price guide is a good starting point — and note that phones and laptops often sell better on Swappa or eBay.

What doesn’t work: vintage, one-offs, unbranded goods and most used clothing, which have no ASIN to match and sell better on eBay, Poshmark or Etsy.

Individual vs Professional

$39.99 ÷ $0.99 ≈ 40, so below about 40 sales a month Individual is cheaper on plan fees alone. Start on Individual if you’re testing with a box of books; move to Professional once you sell steadily.

Amazon fees

Referral fees

Every sale pays a referral fee: a percentage of the total sales price — the item price plus any shipping and gift wrap the buyer pays, excluding tax — or a per-item minimum, whichever is greater. A few of the US rates:

The full list is on Amazon’s fee schedule (linked in Sources). Amazon did not change US referral rates for 2026; the January 15, 2026 update raised FBA fulfillment fees by an average of $0.08 per unit.

Worked example: a used book, shipped yourself

A used book sells for $12.00. Merchant-fulfilled books get Amazon’s standard shipping credit of $3.99 (Professional sellers can change it), so the total sales price is $15.99:

• Referral fee: 15% × $15.99 = $2.40.
• Closing fee: $1.80.
• Deposited to you on Professional: $15.99 − $4.20 = $11.79. On Individual, subtract $0.99 more: $10.80.
• Then pay for postage. If your label costs $4.50, you net $7.29 on Professional before the cost of the book — about 46% of what the buyer paid.

That’s why cheap books rarely pay on Amazon: the $1.80 closing fee and the shipping cost are the same on a $4 book as on a $40 one. Compare the same numbers on other platforms in our 2026 fee comparison.

FBA vs FBM

With FBM (fulfilled by merchant) you store and ship each order. With FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) you send inventory to Amazon’s warehouses and Amazon picks, packs, ships and handles customer service and returns.

What FBA costs

• Fulfillment fee: a flat fee per unit sold, set by the product’s size tier and shipping weight. It varies too much by item to quote one number; the Revenue Calculator shows the exact fee for any ASIN.
• Monthly storage: for standard-size items, $0.78 per cubic foot from January to September and $2.40 from October to December (oversize: $0.56 and $1.40). Larger established sellers with high storage relative to sales pay an extra utilization surcharge.
• Aged inventory surcharge: on inventory stored 181 days or more. Since January 15, 2026, items 12–15 months old pay at least $0.30 per unit per month, and items over 15 months pay $0.35 per unit or $7.90 per cubic foot, whichever is greater.
• Others to know: inbound placement service fees, returns processing, and removal or disposal fees when you pull inventory out.

Amazon offers new sellers credits toward some of these (listed on its FBA page), and it publishes a free Revenue Calculator. Use it for every new product before you ship it in. For boxes, tape and labels, see our FBA supplies list.

Gating, ungating and invoices

Many products can’t be listed until Amazon approves you. Restrictions can apply to a category, a subcategory, a brand, a brand within a category or a single ASIN, and one product can need more than one approval — Amazon’s example is Nike shoes, which need both shoe category and Nike brand approval. Amazon’s list of commonly restricted categories includes automotive, beauty, clothing and accessories, grocery, health and personal care, jewelry, luggage, medical devices, shoes and handbags, and watches, and it changes over time.

To apply, search the product in Add a Product, click Show limitations, then Apply to sell. Requirements vary by product but commonly include purchase invoices dated within the last 180 days, clear product photos, brand authorization letters, safety certifications or liability insurance. Reviews take about 2–7 business days. If you see “Your account does not qualify,” that decision can’t be appealed.

When Amazon asks for invoices — for an application or to answer an authenticity complaint — it wants a document from your supplier showing the supplier’s name, phone number, address and website, with product identifiers and quantities. It won’t accept quotes, pro forma invoices, self-issued invoices or editable files. Experience, not Amazon policy text: store receipts from retail arbitrage or clearance runs are routinely rejected for ungating; approvals generally come from invoices from the manufacturer or an authorized distributor. Be very wary of paid “ungating services.”

Selling used items: conditions and Renewed

Amazon’s used grades, in short:

• Used – Like New / Open Box: perfect working order, original packaging intact, instructions included.
• Used – Very Good: limited use, small scratches or blemishes; any missing accessories must be stated.
• Used – Good: wear from consistent use, may have markings or be missing parts like a manual.
• Used – Acceptable: fairly worn but works; may have dents, scratches or missing accessories.
• Collectible: must add real value, such as an autograph or out-of-print edition.

Nothing can be listed if it’s dirty, needs repair, is missing essential parts, is a promotional or advance copy, or is a counterfeit. Which conditions are allowed depends on the category: books, video games, camera and photo, consumer electronics, computers, cell phones, home, kitchen and tools allow used; toys, beauty, baby products, grocery and health and personal care appliances are new only. Before shipping a used phone you must cancel its account, remove the SIM and restore factory settings.

Amazon Renewed is a separate program for professionally inspected and refurbished products. US applicants who are resellers need paid invoices showing at least $50,000 of qualifying refurbished purchases in the past 90 days, so it isn’t an option for a reseller with a few used phones.

Restricted products and IP complaints

Beyond gating, Amazon’s restricted products rules prohibit illegal and unsafe items outright. Amazon says violations can lead to suspension, destruction of FBA inventory without reimbursement and withheld payments, so check the restricted products pages for anything unusual (supplements, chemicals, recalled items, anything with a blade or battery).

Intellectual property complaints are the other big reseller risk. A brand can report your offer for trademark, counterfeit, copyright or patent infringement, and Amazon may remove the listing; repeated notices can cost you your selling privileges. For counterfeit or trademark claims against the product, Amazon’s route back is an appeal with an invoice or order ID showing the item is authentic. Our take: avoid brands known for aggressively policing resellers, keep every purchase record, and don’t upload your own photos or text to a brand’s listing.

How to list your first item

1. Register for Seller Central and pick a plan. Amazon verifies your identity during sign-up, so have your ID, bank account and a card ready.
2. Search the item in Add a Product by ISBN, UPC or name, and match the exact ASIN — edition, platform, color and bundle contents all matter.
3. Check the status: “Sell this product,” “Apply to sell” or “Not available.”
4. Choose a condition honestly and write a condition note: what’s missing, any marks, and for books whether there’s writing or highlighting.
5. Price against same-condition offers, not against new.
6. Choose FBM or FBA. For FBM, ship on time with tracking. For FBA, label each unit and create a shipment to Amazon.

Shipping merchant-fulfilled orders

Individual sellers can’t set shipping charges: Amazon charges the buyer a fixed rate and passes it to you as a credit — $3.99 standard for books, music, video, DVDs and video games, and $4.49 + $0.50 per pound for all other categories. You must ship even if the credit doesn’t cover your label. Professional sellers set their own rates with shipping templates, including free shipping. Remember that the referral fee is charged on the shipping too.

Common mistakes

• Buying before checking. Scan in Seller Central first — gated or “Not available” items are dead stock.
• Ignoring the closing fee on cheap media. $1.80 plus 15% plus postage leaves little on a $5 book.
• Overstocking FBA before Q4. Peak storage and aged surcharges turn slow sellers into losses.
• Listing on the wrong ASIN or condition. “Not as described” returns and complaints follow.
• Relying on retail receipts. They rarely satisfy an ungating or authenticity request.
• Selling used where only new is allowed, such as opened toys.