Walmart WFS Fees 2026 vs Amazon FBA: Per-Unit Costs
By Rahul Bisht, Digital Marketing, Cotasks IT Solutions · Published October 13, 2026 · 14 min read Fee figures checked on October 13, 2026 against Walmart Marketplace Learn and Amazon's 2026 US rate cards (sources at the end).
Quick answer: Walmart WFS fees are lower than Amazon FBA fees on most standard-size items in 2026. On a $24.99 Home & Kitchen item, WFS costs about $7.43 per unit against about $8.63 on FBA, a gap of $1.20. The exception is items priced under $10, where FBA's low-price rate card can beat WFS. Peak storage, returns and slow stock can still flip the result.
Key takeaways
- WFS base fee starts at $3.45 for items up to 1 lb. FBA's comparable large-standard fee is $4.20 for 8–12 oz in the $10–$50 band, plus a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge.
- Referral fees are mostly a tie. Most categories on both marketplaces charge 15%. Walmart has no monthly fee; Amazon's Professional plan is $39.99 a month.
- Under $10 flips the result. WFS adds a $1.00 surcharge on items priced under $10. At $9.99, FBA came out about $0.95 cheaper per unit in our model.
- Slow stock is cheaper to hold on WFS until it passes 365 days. FBA's aged-inventory surcharge starts at 181 days.
- Q4 timing matters now. Amazon's peak fulfillment fees start October 15, 2026, two days from today.
- UK, Canadian and Australian sellers can use WFS mainly through the US program. Section 9 covers what that means.
1. Why unit economics, not headline fees
Most "FBA vs WFS" comparisons stop at the first line of each rate card. That is the wrong unit of analysis. A seller keeps the money left after referral fee, fulfillment fee, surcharges, storage, inbound costs and returns, per unit sold. Two marketplaces with the same 15% referral fee can leave you very different margins because the other lines differ.
This guide does the arithmetic per unit, shows every assumption, and flags which numbers are Walmart's or Amazon's published rates and which are our illustrations. If you want the full cost model built on your own catalog, our team does that as part of Walmart account management and Amazon inventory and FBA management.
2. Walmart Fulfillment Services cost: the full WFS rate card
Walmart's official guide (last updated May 27, 2026) says its fees are effective as of April 2025 and subject to change. WFS charges two core fees: a per-unit fulfillment fee and a monthly storage fee. There is no sign-up or monthly subscription fee, and no minimum or maximum inventory.
Shipping weight for standard items is the greater of unit weight and dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139). Items under 1 lb take the unit weight plus 0.25 lb for packaging, rounded up to the next pound.
WFS standard fulfillment fees (2026)
| Shipping weight | Base fee per unit |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1 lb | $3.45 |
| 2 lb | $4.95 |
| 3 lb | $5.45 |
| 4–20 lb | $5.75 + $0.40 for each lb above 4 lb |
| 21–30 lb | $15.55 + $0.40 for each lb above 21 lb |
| 31–50 lb | $14.55 + $0.40 for each lb above 31 lb |
| 51 lb and up | $17.55 + $0.40 for each lb above 51 lb |
WFS add-on fees per unit
| Add-on | Fee |
|---|---|
| Apparel | +$0.50 |
| Hazardous materials (chemical, aerosol, pesticide, battery) | +$0.50 |
| Retail price under $10 | +$1.00 |
| Oversize 1 | +$3.00 |
| Oversize 2 | +$20.00 (priced from the 90 lb rate) |
WFS storage fees
| Period | Fee per cubic foot per month |
|---|---|
| January–September | $0.75 |
| October–December (peak) | $0.75 for items stored up to 30 days; +$1.50 for items stored more than 30 days ($2.25 total) |
| 366–450 days (from June 30, 2026) | $2.25 |
| More than 450 days (from June 30, 2026) | $7.50 |
Cubic feet = (length × width × height in inches) ÷ 1,728. Source: Walmart Marketplace Learn, WFS fees.
What WFS does not list: the official WFS fee guide shows no low-inventory-level fee and no fuel or logistics surcharge. Both exist on FBA. Walmart does list optional costs: prep chargebacks ($0.65 for a missing label, $0.80 for a missing poly bag), Inventory Transfer Services, return processing, and disposal or removal.
3. The Amazon FBA fee stack in 2026
FBA has more moving parts. For a US seller in 2026:
- Referral fee: 5% to 45% by category, most often 15%, usually with a $0.30 minimum.
- Fulfillment fee: set by size tier, shipping weight and, since 2025, price band (under $10, $10–$50, over $50).
- Fuel and logistics surcharge: 3.5% of the fulfillment fee since April 17, 2026. It does not apply to referral or storage fees.
- Inbound placement fee: $0.14 to $6.50 per unit depending on size and split option. No fee if you accept Amazon-optimised splits.
- Monthly storage: $0.78 per cubic foot (standard size) January–September, $2.40 October–December.
- Aged inventory surcharge: from 181 days, rising to $7.90 per cubic foot (or $0.35 per unit) above 456 days.
- Low-inventory-level fee: $0.32 to $2.09 per unit when days of supply fall below 28.
- Plan fee: $39.99 per month on Professional.
FBA fulfillment fees, non-peak 2026 (before the 3.5% surcharge)
| Size tier and weight | Under $10 | $10–$50 | Over $50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small standard, 2 oz or less | $2.43 | $3.32 | $3.58 |
| Large standard, 4 oz or less | $2.91 | $3.73 | $3.99 |
| Large standard, 8+ to 12 oz | $3.38 | $4.20 | $4.46 |
| Large standard, 1.5+ to 1.75 lb | $4.75 | $5.57 | $5.83 |
| Large standard, 3+ to 20 lb | $6.15 + $0.08 per 4 oz above 3 lb | $6.97 + $0.08 per 4 oz above 3 lb | $7.23 + $0.08 per 4 oz above 3 lb |
Holiday peak fulfillment rates apply October 15, 2026 to January 14, 2027 and add about $0.32 per unit on average, with the 3.5% surcharge applied on top. Sources: Amazon Seller Central, 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes and Amazon pricing, as compiled in Nova Analytics' September 2026 fee reference.
4. FBA vs WFS side by side: three products, per unit
All three examples assume a 15% referral fee (Home & Kitchen on both marketplaces), US Amazon.com against Walmart.com, and standard-size items. Storage and placement inputs are our assumptions, shown so you can swap in your own.
Example A: $24.99 item, 12 oz, 0.15 cu ft, stored 2 months off-peak
| Cost line | Walmart WFS | Amazon FBA |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee (15%) | $3.75 | $3.75 |
| Fulfillment fee | $3.45 | $4.20 |
| Fuel and logistics surcharge (3.5%) | not listed | $0.15 |
| Inbound placement (assumed mid-band) | not listed | $0.30 |
| Storage (2 months) | $0.23 | $0.23 |
| Fees per unit | $7.43 (29.7%) | $8.63 (34.5%) |
WFS is $1.20 cheaper per unit. On 10,000 units a year, that is $12,000, before ads, returns and product cost. (A 12 oz unit becomes 1.0 lb after WFS's 0.25 lb packaging rule, so it lands in the $3.45 tier.)
Example B: $9.99 item, 12 oz, before storage and inbound costs
| Cost line | Walmart WFS | Amazon FBA |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee (15%) | $1.50 | $1.50 |
| Fulfillment fee | $3.45 | $3.38 |
| Under-$10 surcharge | $1.00 | included in low-price rate card |
| Fuel and logistics surcharge | not listed | $0.12 |
| Fees per unit | $5.95 (59.6%) | $5.00 (50.1%) |
FBA is about $0.95 cheaper here, even before adding FBA's optional placement fee ($5.30 with a $0.30 placement fee, still cheaper). Either way, fees take half or more of the price. Raise the price, bundle, or avoid fulfillment-fee-heavy SKUs.
Example C: $39.99 item, 1.6 lb, 0.35 cu ft, stored 2 months off-peak
| Cost line | Walmart WFS | Amazon FBA |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee (15%) | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Fulfillment fee | $4.95 (2 lb tier) | $5.57 (1.5+ to 1.75 lb, $10–$50 band) |
| Fuel and logistics surcharge | not listed | $0.19 |
| Inbound placement (assumed $0.47) | not listed | $0.47 |
| Storage (2 months) | $0.53 | $0.55 |
| Fees per unit | $11.48 (28.7%) | $12.78 (32.0%) |
WFS is $1.30 cheaper per unit.
Assumptions: FBA placement uses the middle of Amazon's published band for a minimal-split shipment. Sellers who send inventory to Amazon-optimised splits pay no placement fee, which narrows the gap by $0.30 to $0.47. WFS inbound shipping to Walmart's centers and Amazon's inbound freight are not modeled; both are real costs. These are illustrations, not guarantees.
Recommended resource
Want this per-unit model built on your own SKUs, weights and storage times? Get a free audit.
Get a Free Audit5. WFS vs FBA shipping: fulfillment fee by weight
Weight is where WFS's advantage is most visible on lighter standard items. The table compares fulfillment fee only in the $10–$50 price band, assuming identical shipping weight on both sides.
| Shipping weight | WFS fee | FBA fee (+3.5% surcharge) | WFS saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lb | $5.75 | $7.55 | $1.80 |
| 5 lb | $6.15 | $7.88 | $1.73 |
| 8 lb | $7.35 | $8.87 | $1.52 |
| 10 lb | $8.15 | $9.53 | $1.38 |
| 15 lb | $10.15 | $11.19 | $1.04 |
| 20 lb | $12.15 | $12.84 | $0.69 |
The gap narrows as weight rises. Two cautions: shipping weight is calculated differently on each side (WFS divides by 139 for dimensional weight), and WFS pricing jumps at the 21 lb tier. Always run your actual dimensions through each calculator.
Delivery speed. WFS handles picking, packing, shipping, customer service and returns, and Walmart's guide notes that heavier items shipped by ground can take longer than two days. Walmart also reports that listings with the "Fulfilled by Walmart" tag and two-day promise saw about 50% average GMV growth in its first-party data (February–July 2024). That is Walmart's average, not a promise for your listing.
6. Storage, Q4 and slow stock
This is where the cheaper-looking option changes by month.
| Scenario | Walmart WFS | Amazon FBA |
|---|---|---|
| Standard storage, Jan–Sep | $0.75 per cu ft | $0.78 per cu ft |
| Q4 storage, held over 30 days (Oct–Dec) | $2.25 per cu ft | $2.40 per cu ft |
| Peak fulfillment surcharge | none listed | about $0.32 per unit, Oct 15–Jan 14 |
| First aged-stock fee | 366 days ($2.25 per cu ft) | 181 days ($0.50 per cu ft) |
| Worst aged tier | 450+ days: $7.50 per cu ft | 456+ days: $7.90 per cu ft or $0.35 per unit |
A worked example. A 0.35 cu ft unit that has sat for 300 days costs about $1.91 per month in FBA aged-inventory surcharge (271–300 day band, $5.45 per cu ft) on top of $0.27 base storage. The same unit on WFS costs about $0.26 per month with no age fee until day 366.
Holiday storage waiver: WFS waived peak storage fees for October 1 to December 31 in 2025. We did not find a 2026 announcement as of October 13, so do not budget for one. Check your Seller Center notices.
If you are sizing Q4 stock right now, read our holiday inventory planning guide for USA sellers and the BFCM Amazon PPC checklist. Send 8 to 10 weeks of peak cover, not the whole quarter.
7. Returns, referral fees and subscriptions
Returns. On WFS, Walmart covers the return processing fee when the return is Walmart's fault. For seller-fault returns (wrong size, no longer wanted, and similar), you pay the return processing fee (from $4.70 for items up to 1 lb) and Walmart keeps the fulfillment fee. On FBA, a returns processing fee applies to apparel and shoes on every return, and to other categories only above a return-rate threshold, from $1.65 per unit upward. Amazon also keeps a refund administration fee out of the referral fee it credits back. For apparel, model returns carefully on both sides. For low-return categories, FBA's threshold can mean you rarely pay it.
Walmart marketplace seller fees 2026: referral fees and new-seller savings
- No setup, listing or monthly fee on Walmart Marketplace. Referral fees run roughly 6% to 15%, most categories at 15%. Apparel is tiered at 5% up to $15, 10% from $15 to $20 and 15% above $20.
- Amazon: referral fees run 5% to 45% by category, also mostly 15%, plus $39.99 a month on Professional. At 1,000 units a month the plan fee is $0.04 per unit; at 200 units it is $0.20.
- New-Seller Savings (through January 31, 2027): 20% off base referral fees on the first $50K of GMV, 30% off between $50K and $500K, 40% above $500K, plus 10% off WFS fulfillment fees until you reach $2,000 in savings. Eligibility is for first-time Walmart sellers.
Rates change by category and date. Confirm your live rate in Seller Center and see Walmart's referral fee schedule and New-Seller Savings overview.
8. Is Walmart Marketplace worth it?
Short answer: it is worth it when your numbers clear on a per-unit basis and you can absorb a second channel's operations. The fee math above is one half. The other half is whether Walmart.com will actually sell your product.
WFS tends to win when:
- Your item is $10 or more, standard size, and sells steadily.
- Stock turns inside 6 to 12 months, so aged fees never bite.
- You want Walmart's fast-shipping tags without building your own warehouse.
- You qualify for New-Seller Savings.
FBA tends to win when:
- Your item is under $10 and fits a low-price FBA tier.
- Your category has a low Amazon referral rate (for example Consumer Electronics at 8%) and you can check Walmart's live rate for the same SKU.
- Your Amazon sales volume far exceeds what Walmart delivers for your category.
Most growing brands use both. Amazon holds Prime demand; WFS adds a second channel at a slightly lower fulfillment cost. The hard part is not the fee card. It is keeping content, inventory and pricing consistent across two systems. That is the work in our Walmart marketplace seller guide for 2026 and the marketplace onboarding guide.
9. UK, Canada and Australia: what changes outside the US
The numbers in this article are US programs in US dollars. Here is what we could confirm for other markets.
- United Kingdom. Walmart opened its marketplace to UK sellers at its first UK Seller Summit on September 9, 2025. UK businesses sell to customers in the US, Canada, Mexico and Chile via Walmart.com, and WFS benefits begin once inventory reaches US territory. On Amazon, a 2% digital services fee applies on top of selling and FBA fees for sellers established in the UK. See our UK Amazon management page.
- Canada. WFS operates on Walmart.ca with its own fee schedule in CAD. A third-party summary of Walmart Canada's 2026 program says new sellers going live on or after February 1, 2026 get 25% off WFS fulfillment fees, 50% off storage and 50% off base referral fees on WFS items through January 31, 2027. Verify this in Walmart Canada's Seller Center before relying on it. Amazon's 3.5% surcharge also applies to FBA in Canada. See Amazon management in Canada.
- Australia. We did not find a WFS network in Australia, and we did not verify Walmart eligibility for Australia-based sellers. Check Walmart's international seller requirements directly. FBA rate cards for Amazon.com.au differ from the US ones above. See our Australia Amazon management page.
For any non-US market, treat the US per-unit model as a template and rebuild it with local rates, currency and tax.
10. Build your own per-unit model in five lines
Use this on your best-selling SKUs:
- Referral fee = price × category rate (check the live rate).
- Fulfillment = rate card by shipping weight and price band (+ surcharges: WFS add-ons, FBA 3.5% fuel).
- Storage = cubic feet × monthly rate × months held (use the peak rate in Q4).
- Inbound and placement = freight to the warehouse + FBA placement fee or WFS prep/ITS costs.
- Returns = return rate × (processing fee + lost fulfillment fee), then subtract the plan fee per unit.
Then compare the fee per unit as a percentage of price on each side. As a rule of thumb (ours, not Walmart's or Amazon's), a gap under about 1.5 percentage points rarely justifies the extra operations, and a gap over 3 points usually does.
If you want a second pair of eyes on your numbers, we do this audit for sellers across the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. Start with our Amazon seller account service or talk to the team. For agency cost context, see Amazon agency pricing in the USA.
Recommended resource
Not sure whether WFS, FBA or both fits your catalog? Talk to the team.
Talk to CoTasks11. How we built these numbers
- Walmart rates come from Walmart Marketplace Learn's WFS fee guide (last updated May 27, 2026) and the New-Seller Savings overview (updated February 19, 2026).
- Amazon rates come from Amazon's 2026 US rate cards for fulfillment, storage, aged inventory, placement and returns, as summarised in Nova Analytics' reference (Amazon pages checked September 15, 2026).
- Unit examples are our arithmetic using those published rates. Assumed items (weights, volumes, storage months, placement fee) are labeled.
- Not covered: advertising, product cost, inbound freight, taxes, and category-specific exceptions. Both marketplaces change fees, so verify before you price.
- About Cotasks: Cotasks IT Solutions is an Amazon SPN Partner, Amazon Ads Verified Partner and Google Partner managing marketplace and digital marketing for 200+ brands.
Frequently asked questions
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Sources
- Walmart Marketplace Learn: WFS fees (last updated May 27, 2026)
- Walmart Marketplace Learn: New-Seller Savings overview (last updated February 19, 2026)
- Walmart Marketplace Learn: Referral fee schedule (last updated December 11, 2025)
- Walmart: WFS fee estimator
- Amazon Seller Central: 2026 US FBA fulfillment fee changes
- Amazon: Selling plans and referral fees
- Nova Analytics: Amazon seller fees 2026 (compilation of Amazon rate cards, updated October 8, 2026)
- eDesk: Walmart recruits UK sellers at its UK Seller Summit (Italian-language edition; summit held September 9, 2025)
- Walmart Canada Marketplace Learn: WFS program
Fees, programs and eligibility change. Verify current rates in Seller Center and Seller Central before making pricing or inventory decisions. This article is general information, not financial advice.
Need help modeling WFS vs FBA for your catalog? Get a free audit from Cotasks or book a 15-minute call.
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