Reference · effective 2026
Referral fees, US vs Germany
The same product category, priced two different ways on two marketplaces. Where a rate tiers by price, the tier is charged on the portion of the price shown — not the whole order.
| Category | Amazon.com (US) | Amazon.de (DE) |
|---|---|---|
| Home & KitchenKüche & Haushalt | 15% | 15% |
| Clothing & AccessoriesKleidung & Accessoires | 5% ≤ $15 10% $15–$20 17% > $20 | 5% ≤ €15 10% €15–€20 15% > €20 |
| Beauty & Personal CareBeauty & Körperpflege | 8% ≤ $10 15% > $10 | 8% ≤ €10 15% > €10 |
| Consumer ElectronicsUnterhaltungselektronik | 8% | 7% |
| Electronics AccessoriesElektronisches Zubehör | 15% ≤ $100 8% above $100 | 15% ≤ €100 8% above €100 |
| ComputersComputer | 8% | 7% |
| FurnitureMöbel | 15% ≤ $200 10% above $200 | 15% ≤ €200 10% above €200 |
| Toys & GamesSpielzeug & Spiele | 15% | 15% |
| Sports & OutdoorsSport & Outdoor | 15% | 15% |
| Tools & Home ImprovementWerkzeuge & Heimwerkerbedarf | 15% | 13% |
| Pet SuppliesHaustierbedarf | 15% | 15% |
| Office ProductsBürobedarf | 15% | 15% |
| ShoesSchuhe | 15% | 15% |
| Luggage & HandbagsGepäck & Handtaschen | 15% | 15% |
| Baby ProductsBabyprodukte | 8% ≤ $10 15% > $10 | 8% ≤ €10 15% > €10 |
| Grocery & GourmetLebensmittel & Gourmet | 8% ≤ $15 15% > $15 | 5% ≤ €10 15% > €10 |
| Automotive & PowersportsAutomobil & Motorsport | 12% | 15% ≤ €50 9% above €50 |
| Large AppliancesGroßgeräte | 8% | 7% |
| JewelrySchmuck | 20% ≤ $250 5% above $250 | 20% ≤ €250 5% above €250 |
| WatchesUhren | 16% ≤ $1,500 3% above $1,500 | 15% ≤ €250 5% above €250 |
| BooksBücher | 15% | 15% |
| Amazon Device AccessoriesAmazon Gerätezubehör | 45% | 45% |
| Everything ElseAlles andere | 15% | 15% |
Three things this table does not show you
1. What the percentage is charged on
In Germany the referral fee is calculated on the VAT-exclusive amount, because your list price includes 19% VAT. A €29.99 listing produces a referral fee on €25.20. On Amazon.com there is no VAT inside the price, so 15% is charged on the full $29.99. Identical percentage, different base, different euro cost.
2. That the tier boundaries are cliffs, not slopes
Where a category uses whole-price tiers — clothing, beauty, grocery — crossing the threshold re-prices the entire order. On Amazon.com clothing, moving a listing from $20.00 to $20.01 takes the referral fee from 10% to 17%. That is roughly $1.40 of margin lost to a one-cent price change. On Amazon.de the same jump goes from 10% to 15%, a smaller cliff but still a cliff.
3. Where the two marketplaces disagree most
Watches are the widest gap in the table: the US schedule steps down to 3% above $1,500, while Germany steps down to 5% above only €250. At high price points the US is materially cheaper to sell on. Tools run the other way: 13% in Germany against 15% in the US, which is unusual and worth checking before you assume the US is always the cheaper marketplace.