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Marissa Incitti
Marissa Incitti leads research and content at Feedvisor focused on Amazon, Walmart, and the broader e-commerce marketplace ecosystem. Her work covers retail media performance, pricing strategy, and how AI-driven discovery is reshaping how brands compete across marketplaces. Prior to Feedvisor, she worked in content leadership roles at a Fortune Global 500 omnichannel commerce technology company.
FBA Removal Orders: How to Remove Inventory From Amazon’s Fulfillment Centers
Published: February 27, 2017
Last updated: May 03, 2026
A removal order is the process by which an Amazon seller requests that inventory stored in an Amazon fulfillment center be returned, disposed of, liquidated, or donated. Removal orders are a routine part of FBA inventory management - they help you clear unsellable inventory, avoid aged inventory surcharges, and maintain a healthy IPI score.
Amazon offers four removal options: return to seller, disposal, liquidation, and donation. Since September 2025, liquidation is the default for unsold inventory, and donations are mandatory for eligible items.
Table of Contents
- When to Use a Removal Order
- Four Removal Options
- Removal Fees
- How to Create a Removal Order
- Automated Removal Settings
- September 2025 Policy Changes
- Recommended Removal Report
- Canceling a Removal Order
- Processing Times
- Common Errors
- FAQs
When to Use a Removal Order
Create a removal order when:
- Inventory is approaching aged surcharge thresholds - surcharges apply at 271+ days in Amazon’s warehouses
- Products are unsellable - damaged, defective, or customer-returned items in unsellable condition
- Slow-moving inventory is accumulating storage fees
- Products have been discontinued or you no longer want to sell them
- Seasonal inventory needs to be cleared after the selling period
- You want to consolidate inventory - return items to your warehouse for inspection, relabeling, or resale through other channels
The Recommended Removal Report in Seller Central identifies inventory that would benefit from removal based on Amazon’s fee thresholds and storage age.
Four Removal Options
1. Return to Seller
Amazon ships the inventory back to your address.
- Use when: You want to inspect, relabel, resell, or repurpose the items
- Address requirement: Must be a US address (no territories, PO boxes, or other Amazon fulfillment centers)
- Condition: Items are shipped as-is - Amazon does not repackage or inspect before returning
- Fee: Standard removal fees apply (see fee table below)
2. Disposal
Amazon removes the inventory from its fulfillment centers. Despite the name, disposal does not always mean destruction - Amazon may recycle, donate, or resell items as part of its zero-landfill initiative.
- Use when: Items have no resale value or the cost of returning them exceeds their worth
- Fee: Standard removal fees apply (same as return fees)
3. Liquidation
Amazon sells your inventory through secondary markets at a steep discount. This option was introduced after the original article was published and became the default for unsold inventory in September 2025.
- Use when: Items have some value but are not selling at their listed price
- Recovery: Sellers typically receive 5-10% of the regular selling price
- Fees: Liquidation fee + 15% referral fee on the liquidation sale price
- Process: Amazon handles the entire liquidation process through its secondary market channels
4. Donation
Amazon donates eligible items to charitable organizations through the FBA Donations Program, operated in partnership with Good360.
- Use when: Items are in sellable condition but are not moving
- Tax benefit: Tax deduction certificates are available for donated inventory
- Fee: Standard disposal fees apply
- Mandatory: Since September 2025, the donations program cannot be turned off for eligible items
Removal Fees
Removal fees have increased significantly from older rate structures. Current rates apply to both return and disposal options.
Standard-Size Items
| Weight | Fee per Unit |
|---|---|
| 0 to 0.5 lb | $0.84 |
| 0.5 to 1 lb | $1.04 |
| 1 to 2 lb | $1.57 |
| Over 2 lb | $1.57 + $1.06 per additional lb |
Oversize and Special Handling Items
| Weight | Fee per Unit |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 lb | $3.12 |
| 1 to 2 lb | $4.20 |
| 2 to 4 lb | $5.75 |
| 4 to 10 lb | $8.42 |
| Over 10 lb | $8.42 + $1.06 per additional lb |
Special Handling Items
Special handling items (hazardous, lithium batteries, etc.) can reach up to $14.32 per unit plus weight-based surcharges.
2026 Change
The small standard (0-0.5 lb) rate was reduced from $1.04 to $0.84 for 2026. All other rates remain unchanged.
Cost Comparison
These fees are dramatically higher than historical rates. When evaluating whether to remove inventory, compare the removal fee against the cost of continued storage (including aged inventory surcharges) and the potential recovery from liquidation or sale.
How to Create a Removal Order
Through Seller Central
- Go to Inventory > Manage FBA Inventory
- Search for and select the items you want to remove (checkboxes)
- From the Actions dropdown, select Create Removal Order
- Choose the removal method:
- Return - ship back to your US address
- Dispose - Amazon removes the inventory
- Enter your shipping address (for returns) or confirm disposal
- Specify the quantity for each SKU
- Review the order details and fees
- Confirm the removal order
An Order ID is generated for tracking - keep this for your records.
Through the Removal Order File (Bulk)
For removing large numbers of items:
- Download the Removal Order template from Seller Central
- Fill in the template with SKU, quantity, and removal method for each item
- Save as a .txt file
- Upload through Inventory > Manage FBA Inventory > Upload Removal Order File
Tip: Test with a single product before uploading a large batch to verify the process works correctly.
Limit: A single removal order cannot process more than 50,000 items.
Automated Removal Settings
Amazon offers automated removal options that process inventory removal without manual intervention.
How to Set Up
In Seller Central, go to Settings > Fulfillment by Amazon > Automated Unfulfillable Removal.
You can configure:
- Automatic removal of unfulfillable (damaged, defective) inventory
- Removal method - return, dispose, or liquidate
- Frequency - how often Amazon processes automated removals
Why Use Automation
- Prevents unfulfillable inventory from accumulating storage fees
- Reduces manual monitoring workload
- Ensures timely removal before aged inventory surcharges apply
September 2025 Policy Changes
Two significant policy changes took effect on September 30, 2025:
1. Liquidation Became the Default
If a seller has no automated removal settings configured, Amazon now automatically liquidates unsold inventory that meets liquidation criteria. Previously, inventory would simply accumulate storage fees indefinitely.
- Sellers can still customize their removal preferences
- Active management of removal settings is now essential
2. Donations Became Mandatory
The FBA Donations Program cannot be turned off for eligible items. Amazon automatically routes qualifying inventory to charitable organizations.
- No additional fees beyond standard disposal rates
- Tax deduction certificates are available
- The program operates through Good360
What This Means for Sellers
You must actively manage your removal and liquidation settings. If you do not configure preferences, Amazon will liquidate inventory on your behalf. Review your settings in Seller Central under Settings > Fulfillment by Amazon.
Keep Your Inventory Healthy With AI
Feedvisor’s platform helps sellers optimize pricing and inventory velocity to minimize aged inventory surcharges and removal costs - keeping your FBA operations efficient and profitable.
Explore Feedvisor’s Solutions →Recommended Removal Report
The Recommended Removal Report identifies inventory that should be removed to avoid long-term storage surcharges.
Current Aged Inventory Thresholds
| Duration in Fulfillment Center | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| 271-365 days | $0.30/unit or $6.90/ft³ (whichever is greater) |
| 365+ days (15+ months) | $0.35/unit or $7.90/ft³ (whichever is greater) |
Note: The aged inventory surcharge threshold was reduced from 365 days to 271 days. Plan removal orders well before this threshold to avoid surcharges.
How to Access
Go to Reports > Fulfillment > Recommended Removals in Seller Central. The report shows:
- SKUs approaching age thresholds
- Current inventory levels and age
- Estimated surcharges if not removed
- Recommended removal quantities
Canceling a Removal Order
A removal order can be canceled as long as its status is Pending, Planning, or Processing.
How to Cancel
- Go to Manage Orders in your Seller Account
- Find the specific removal order by Order ID
- Click Cancel Order
Once the status changes to Shipped or Completed, cancellation is no longer possible.
Important: While items are pending removal, they are still technically in stock and can be purchased by buyers. Any items sold during this period are automatically deducted from the removal order.
Processing Times
Removal orders are not instant:
| Period | Expected Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Standard | 1-3 months |
| Peak season (Q4) | Can exceed 90 days |
| Free removal promotions | May be faster due to Amazon prioritization |
Fees are invoiced once when the entire removal order completes - not when the order is submitted.
Planning Around Processing Times
Because removal orders take weeks to months, plan ahead:
- Submit removal orders well before aged inventory surcharges apply
- Do not rely on last-minute removals to avoid storage fees
- Monitor removal order status in Seller Central
Common Errors
Out of Range Shipping Label
The return address specified is outside the accepted parameters. Removal returns require a US address - not territories, PO boxes, or other Amazon fulfillment centers.
SKU Errors
The SKU specified in the removal order is not found in the system, or the item is out of stock at the fulfillment center. Verify SKU accuracy and inventory availability before submitting.
Overload Error
A single removal order cannot process more than 50,000 items. Split large removals into multiple orders if necessary.
FAQs
What is a removal order?
A removal order is a request to Amazon to remove inventory from its fulfillment centers. You can have items returned to you, disposed of, liquidated through secondary markets, or donated to charity.
How much does it cost to remove inventory from Amazon?
Removal fees range from $0.84 per unit (small standard items) to $14.32+ per unit (oversize/special handling). These fees apply to both returns and disposals.
What is liquidation?
Liquidation is Amazon’s program for selling your slow-moving inventory through secondary markets. You typically receive 5-10% of the regular selling price. Since September 2025, liquidation is the default for unsold inventory if you have no automated settings configured.
Can I donate my inventory?
Yes. The FBA Donations Program donates eligible items to charities through Good360. Standard disposal fees apply. Tax deduction certificates are available. Since September 2025, donations are mandatory for eligible items and cannot be turned off.
How long does a removal order take?
Standard processing takes 1-3 months. During peak seasons (Q4), processing can exceed 90 days. Plan removal orders well in advance of any deadlines.
When do aged inventory surcharges start?
Aged inventory surcharges now begin at 271 days (reduced from 365 days). Items stored 271-365 days incur $0.30/unit or $6.90/ft³. Items over 365 days incur $0.35/unit or $7.90/ft³.
Can I cancel a removal order?
Yes, as long as the status is Pending, Planning, or Processing. Once items have shipped or been disposed of, cancellation is not possible.
Summary
FBA removal orders are essential for maintaining healthy inventory and avoiding excessive storage costs:
- Four options - return to seller, disposal, liquidation (5-10% recovery), and donation (tax-deductible)
- Fees range from $0.84 to $14.32+ per unit - significantly higher than historical rates
- Liquidation is now the default for unsold inventory (September 2025 change)
- Donations are mandatory for eligible items through the FBA Donations Program
- Aged inventory surcharges start at 271 days (reduced from 365)
- Processing takes 1-3 months - plan ahead to avoid surcharges
- 50,000 item limit per removal order - use bulk upload for large removals
- Automated removal settings available for unfulfillable inventory
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