What to Sell on Amazon From Home

Amazon gives home-based sellers access to an enormous customer base without building a website. The hard part is choosing what to sell, because Amazon's fees and competition punish poor product choices.

Business models on Amazon

Model	How it works	Pros	Cons
Private label	Your own brand on products made by a manufacturer	Brand control, higher margins	Upfront inventory, product development
Wholesale	Buy branded products in bulk, resell	Proven demand	Competition on the same listings
Retail arbitrage	Buy discounted items in stores, resell	Low entry cost	Hard to scale, brand restrictions
Online arbitrage	Same, sourcing online	Done from home	Margins can be thin
Handmade	Sell your own crafts via Amazon Handmade	Unique products	Production time
Books	New or used books	Easy entry	Lower prices

What makes a good Amazon product

Small and light

Smaller, lighter items have lower fulfillment and storage fees.

Durable

Fragile items lead to damage, returns and bad reviews.

Priced with room for fees

Amazon's referral fees are commonly around 8% to 15% depending on category, plus fulfillment fees if you use FBA. Low-priced items can leave little profit.

Steady demand

Products people buy year-round are easier to manage than highly seasonal ones.

Room to improve

Read competitors' negative reviews. If customers keep complaining about the same issue, an improved version has an advantage.

Not dominated by giant brands

Categories where big brands own the top results are hard for newcomers.

No restrictions

Check whether the category or brand requires approval.

These are starting points; the specific product and angle matter more than the category.

How to research products

Browse bestseller lists and "movers and shakers" for categories.
Use product research tools that estimate sales, revenue and competition.
Read reviews to find improvement opportunities.
Check search demand for keywords.
Calculate fees with Amazon's revenue calculator.
Order samples before committing to inventory.

Know the fees

Selling plan: Individual at $0.99 per item sold or Professional at $39.99 per month (US)
Referral fees: a percentage of the sale price, varying by category
FBA fees: fulfillment and storage, based on size and weight
Advertising: Sponsored Products and other ads are often needed to get visibility
Returns and related costs

See Amazon pricing strategy for how to price with fees in mind.

Getting started

Set up your account: see how to set up an Amazon seller account.
Choose your model and first product.
Create an optimized listing with great photos and clear bullet points.
Decide on FBA or self-fulfillment.
Launch with a small inventory order and modest advertising.
Track profit per unit, not just sales.

Common mistakes

Ignoring fees until after ordering inventory
Choosing products dominated by major brands
Underestimating advertising costs
Ordering too much inventory upfront
Using images or brand names you do not have rights to

For advertising on Amazon, read why Amazon ads have a higher conversion rate. For dropshipping questions, see Amazon dropshipping 101.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to sell on Amazon?

Amazon's Individual plan charges $0.99 per item sold, and the Professional plan costs $39.99 per month in the US. Referral fees by category and fulfillment fees also apply.

Is FBA better than fulfilling orders myself?

Fulfillment by Amazon handles storage, shipping and customer service and helps with Prime eligibility, but adds fees. Fulfilling yourself can be cheaper for some products but takes time.

What products are restricted on Amazon?

Some categories and brands require approval, and some products are prohibited. Check Seller Central's category and product restriction pages before sourcing.

Sources and further reading

sell.amazon.com/pricing

Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.

What Should I Sell on Amazon to Make Money From Home?