Amazon FBA vs Walmart WFS Profit Calculator
FBA vs WFS is a SKU-level decision, not a channel-level one. Run the same product through both fee stacks and see which keeps more per month — fast movers tie, slow movers win on WFS.
Amazon FBA or Walmart WFS: which keeps more per SKU?
Both platforms charge a referral fee (6-15% on most categories) and a fulfillment fee per unit, but the fee stacks diverge elsewhere: Amazon has a $39.99/month subscription, inbound placement fees (~$0.14-$1.90/unit depending on size tier and splits), peak fulfillment surcharges (Oct 15–Jan 14) and storage that roughly triples in Q4, while Walmart WFS has no subscription, no inbound fee and a simpler storage schedule. The result is a SKU-level conclusion: fast movers are nearly tied, but slow movers, seasonal inventory and long-tail SKUs are structurally cheaper on WFS. This calculator runs the same SKU through both channels.
Same product, both channels
Monthly net by channel
How the FBA vs WFS comparison works
Both channels charge a referral fee and a per-unit fulfillment fee, then diverge everywhere else. This tool runs the same SKU through both to expose where the gap comes from.
The numbers it works with
Referral is 6–15% on both platforms for most categories (Walmart caps jewelry at 20%; Amazon runs as high as 45% on device accessories). Amazon small-standard fulfillment starts around $4.60 in 2026 and adds a 3.5% fuel surcharge plus a holiday peak surcharge averaging $0.32 from Oct 15 to Jan 14; WFS starts at $3.45 with no fuel line. Storage: Amazon $0.78–0.87/cu ft off-peak and roughly $2.25–2.40 in Q4; WFS $0.75 off-peak and $1.20–1.50 peak. Amazon adds inbound placement fees of about $0.14–$1.90/unit and a $39.99/month subscription; WFS charges $0 inbound and no subscription.
The formula
Per-unit net = retail − referral − fulfillment (peak and fuel surcharges included) − inbound placement − storage per unit over the holding period − COGS − return handling. The subscription and any inbound placement are amortized over monthly volume before the per-unit number is compared.
Where the numbers come from
Amazon figures come from Seller Central's 2026 fee schedule and the official fuel surcharge announcement (3.5%, effective 2026-04-17). WFS figures come from Walmart's WFS pricing page and rate card. Both are editable defaults, because a seller's negotiated freight or category fee can differ from the published baseline.
Every Walmart cost in one place
15% referral hides tiered rates; WFS hides dimensional weight and storage; claims hide lost money. Each calculator surfaces one Walmart cost before it eats your margin.
WFS Fee & Profit
True net per unit on Walmart: referral by category, WFS fulfillment by weight, storage, returns — vs self-fulfillment.
Open tool ↗FBA vs WFS
Same SKU through both channels: subscription, fulfillment, storage, inbound and peak surcharges — which nets more per month.
You are hereWFS Claims
Estimate what WFS should reimburse for lost or damaged inventory, and the fee refunds you are owed.
Open tool ↗GTIN Check Digit
Validate a GTIN-12 (UPC), GTIN-13 (EAN) or GTIN-14 and auto-fix the check digit — free, in your browser.
Open tool ↗GS1 QR
Generate a GS1 Digital Link QR for Sunrise 2027 — encodes your GTIN in a web-enabled 2D barcode.
Open tool ↗All Walmart Tools
WFS fee & profit, FBA vs WFS, claims and GTIN validation.
Open Walmart hub ↗FBA vs WFS — the structural difference
Structural comparison (2026): referral — both 6-15% on most categories (Walmart caps at 20% jewelry; Amazon runs up to 45% on device accessories). Fulfillment — Amazon small-standard from ~$3.20, WFS from $3.45; Amazon adds a 3.5% fuel surcharge, WFS does not. Storage — Amazon $0.78-0.87/cu ft off-peak and ~$2.25-2.40 peak (Oct–Dec); WFS $0.75 off-peak and $1.20-1.50 peak. Inbound placement — Amazon ~$0.14-$1.90/unit by size tier (avoidable with 5+ splits); WFS $0. Subscription — Amazon $39.99/month; WFS $0. Amazon adds low-inventory and storage-utilization surcharges; WFS does not. Treat this as structural, not a rate card — pull current numbers from Seller Central and Seller Center.
Worked example
A slow-moving 2.2 lb SKU at $25, same on both channels.
Amazon FBA stacks: a share of the $39.99 subscription, a per-unit inbound placement fee (~$0.14–$1.90), the standard fulfillment fee and Q4 peak surcharges — plus storage that roughly triples in the fourth quarter.
Walmart WFS: no subscription, no inbound fee, a simpler weight-based fulfillment charge and a flat storage schedule. For a SKU that sells 20 units a month, the calculator shows WFS keeping more — which is why the tool's conclusion matches what sellers report: fast movers are nearly tied, slow movers and seasonal stock are cheaper on WFS.
Amazon FBA vs Walmart WFS Profit Calculator — FAQ
Is WFS cheaper than FBA?
For most products under 2 lb, WFS is comparable or slightly cheaper than FBA, and it has fewer surcharges. The structural advantage shows on slow movers and seasonal inventory: no peak fulfillment premium, no inbound placement fee, and storage that does not triple in Q4.
Why do sellers say FBA and WFS are tied?
On a fast-turning standard-size SKU, the $39.99 Amazon subscription spreads across the whole catalog and disappears into rounding, and both fulfillment fees land around $3-4. The tie is real — the difference shows up in storage and surcharges, not the headline fee.
Should I launch on Walmart or Amazon first?
Most operators launch and rank on FBA first, then push proven top-25% SKUs into WFS. Walmart's algorithm rewards established products with existing search demand — launching a net-new SKU exclusively on Walmart is hard in 2026.
Does WFS have an inbound placement fee like Amazon?
No. Amazon charges inbound placement fees of roughly $0.14-$1.90/unit depending on size tier (avoidable with 5+ shipment splits). Walmart WFS charges $0 inbound — one of the structural advantages this calculator captures.
Sources & methodology
How this calculator was built and where the reference figures come from.
Last verified: August 2026 · Confidence: High
Primary source: Walmart — WFS pricing
Reference rates are editable and drawn from public policy reports; confirm the exact figures with your Walmart seller agreement and the relevant authority before relying on them.