Amazon Aged Inventory Surcharge 2026: Threshold Drops to Day 181
Key 2026 change
The aged inventory surcharge previously started at day 271. In 2026, it starts at day 181 — 90 days earlier. If your inventory management was calibrated to the 2025 threshold, you're getting hit with fees you didn't budget for.
Model aged inventory costs in the full P&L calculator
Run the numbers →What it is
The aged inventory surcharge is an extra monthly fee Amazon charges for slow-moving inventory sitting in its fulfillment centers. It's assessed on the last day of each month based on a snapshot of your inventory age at that point. The surcharge stacks on top of your regular monthly storage fee and any storage utilization surcharge — it's not a replacement.
2026 aged inventory surcharge tiers
| Inventory age | Surcharge (in addition to storage) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–180 days | $0 | Regular storage fees only |
| 181–270 days | Varies (verify at build) | NEW 2026: threshold moved from 271 to 181 days |
| 271–365 days | Existing 2025 rates | Needs verification — AMZ Prep says unchanged |
| 365–455 days (12–15 mo) | $0.30/unit OR $6.90/cu ft | Whichever is greater. +$0.15 vs 2025 |
| 455+ days (15+ mo) | $0.35/unit OR $7.90/cu ft | NEW TIER 2026. Did not exist in 2025. |
What the day-181 change means in practice
Scenario: 500 units of a $29.99 product, 0.08 cu ft each
If you were managing to day 270 and hitting the 12-month tier at $0.30/unit, you're now also paying the day 181–270 surcharge that didn't exist before. The exact rate for that band is pending verification — but the gap is real. Set removal order triggers at day 150 to stay safe.
What most brands miss
Most Amazon brand owners think of the aged inventory surcharge as a problem for slow-selling products. It's actually a problem for any brand that uses FBA as a warehouse. If you send 90 days of inventory into FBA at the start of Q4 and sell through slowly, that inventory crosses day 181 in late spring. You're not running a slow-selling product — you just had a strategy that was fine under 2025 rules and isn't fine under 2026 rules.
The other thing brands miss: the surcharge is charged on all inventory at that age, not just the overage. If you have 500 units aging past day 181, you pay on all 500 — not on the excess above some baseline.
How to avoid aged inventory surcharges
- Set removal alerts at day 150, not 180. By the time you see the day 181 charge, it's already happened. Seller Central > Inventory > Inventory Age report can be sorted by units approaching a threshold.
- Use Amazon Outlet or Deals for slow-moving inventory. Discounting to clear inventory before day 181 is almost always cheaper than the surcharge chain — especially if the product is heading toward the 12-month tier.
- Create removal orders before the end-of-month snapshot. The fee is calculated on the last calendar day of each month. A removal order initiated and processing before month-end can keep inventory out of the snapshot.
- Recalibrate your send-in model for 2026. If you were sending 90–120 day supply into FBA, your new ceiling is lower. Work backwards from the day 181 threshold to figure out your safe inbound cadence by SKU.
- Consider liquidation vs. removal. Amazon's Liquidations program typically returns 10% of average selling price. If your product's removal + re-prep + re-ship cost is higher than the liquidation return, liquidate.
Frequently asked questions
What is Amazon's aged inventory surcharge? ▾
A fee added on top of regular monthly storage fees for inventory that has been in Amazon's fulfillment centers for an extended period. In 2026, the clock starts at 181 days — 90 days earlier than the 271-day threshold that applied in 2025.
Why did the aged inventory threshold change in 2026? ▾
Amazon moved the starting threshold from 271 days to 181 days, giving sellers 90 fewer days before penalty fees kick in. Amazon has been tightening aged inventory rules since 2023 as part of its effort to increase fulfillment center throughput and reduce slow-moving inventory in the network.
How is the aged inventory surcharge calculated? ▾
For the 12–15 month tier, Amazon charges $0.30/unit OR $6.90/cubic foot — whichever is greater. For the new 15+ month tier (455+ days), it's $0.35/unit OR $7.90/cubic foot. The fee is assessed monthly on the last day of each month based on inventory age at that snapshot.
Is the aged inventory surcharge on top of regular storage fees? ▾
Yes. The aged inventory surcharge is in addition to regular monthly storage fees and the storage utilization surcharge. At the 12+ month tier, you're paying base storage + utilization surcharge + $0.30/unit or $6.90/cu ft. The combined per-unit cost can exceed the product's value on slow-moving inventory.
What's the new 15+ month tier? ▾
A new tier Amazon added in 2026 for inventory aged over 455 days (15 months). The rate is $0.35/unit OR $7.90/cubic foot — whichever is greater. This tier didn't exist in 2025. It's aimed at inventory that brands have simply forgotten about or left as a long-term storage option.
How do I avoid aged inventory fees? ▾
Start removal orders at day 150 — not day 180. Use Amazon's Inventory Age report in Seller Central to identify at-risk inventory. Consider liquidation (Amazon's program pays ~10% of average selling price but avoids storage + aged fees). Create removal orders before the surcharge kicks in; removal fees are lower than sustained surcharge costs.