Amazon Affiliate Commission Rates by Category
What Amazon's own fee statement and Associates policies say it pays, category by category, and the rules that decide if a purchase earns anything.
- Section
- Amazon Associates
- Checked
The Amazon affiliate commission is a set of fixed rates. Amazon's fee statement lists one rate per product category. Its Associates policies then set the rules that decide whether a purchase earns anything at all. This page is a lookup of what those two documents say. Read them yourself before you rely on any number here, and check the date you read them.
What Amazon's fee statement says it pays
Amazon's fee statement gives each category a fixed rate. The statement also lists a rate for everything that does not fit a named category.
Commission rates by category
Here is what Amazon's fee statement lists.
- Luxury Beauty: 10.00%. Luxury Stores Beauty and Amazon Explore pay the same rate.
- The fee statement sets 5.00% for Digital Music, Physical Music, Handmade and Digital Videos.
- The fee statement sets 4.50% for Physical Books, Kitchen and Automotive.
- The fee statement sets 3.00% for Pets Products, Headphones and Beauty.
- The fee statement sets 2.50% for PC, PC Components, DVD and Blu-Ray.
- The fee statement sets 2.00% for Televisions and Digital Video Games.
- The fee statement sets 1.00% for Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Health and Personal Care.
- All Other Categories: 4.00%
Each rate belongs to its category. A sale in one category does not earn another category's rate.
Categories that pay nothing
Amazon's fee statement lists a rate of 0.00% for Gift Cards, Wireless Service Plans and Alcoholic Beverages. A purchase in those groups earns no commission.
The fine art cap
The fee statement names a cap for fine art. It limits Standard Commission Income on fine art to a maximum of $200 per Product.
What a qualifying purchase is
The rates only apply to a qualifying purchase. Amazon's Associates policies say that starts when a customer clicks a Special Link on your site to an Amazon site.
The link session has a limit. The policies say it ends after 24 hours or when the customer places an order, whichever comes first.
There is a longer path. The policies say a cart purchase counts if the order is completed within 89 days of the first click.
What Qualifying Revenue leaves out
Commission is not paid on the whole order total. Amazon's Associates policies say Qualifying Revenue leaves out shipping, gift-wrapping, handling, taxes and service charges.
When and how Amazon pays
Amazon's Associates policies say Amazon pays commission about 60 days after the end of each calendar month.
The policies offer payment by direct deposit, Amazon gift card, or check.
There is a floor. The policies say Amazon may hold your commission until it reaches the minimum in its payment chart. Look up that chart on Amazon's own pages, since the minimum is not printed here.
Purchases that do not earn commission
Some purchases earn nothing even with a working link. Amazon's Associates policies say purchases are not commissioned if the customer came from an ad you bought on a keyword with Amazon in it. So paid traffic on those keywords does not earn you commission.
What Amazon does not promise
Amazon's fee statement and policies are the only sources for these numbers. The rates can change, and Amazon can change the rules. Copy the fee statement and the policies on the day you join, and check them again when you plan your links. Do not rely on a rate you read months ago.