Get FREE Training Workshop from John Crestani
John Crestani has been recognized by Forbes, Business Insider, Entepreneur.com, and dozens of other publications for his success online. More importantly, he’s helped thousands of everyday people from around the world create success for themselves as well.
What is the average commission rate for Amazon affiliates?
The average commission rate for Amazon affiliates depends on the product category. Amazon Associates (the affiliate program) uses a tiered commission structure, where different product categories offer varying rates. While the rates can change over time or with special promotions, here is an overview of the typical commission rates for various categories:
Amazon Affiliate Commission Rates by Category (as of 2024)
| Product Category | Commission Rate |
|---|---|
| Luxury Beauty | 10% |
| Fashion (Clothing, Shoes, Accessories) | 7% – 10% |
| Home & Kitchen | 3% – 7% |
| Health & Personal Care | 4% – 8% |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | 1% |
| Toys & Games | 3% |
| Books (Physical & Kindle) | 4.5% |
| Video Games & Digital Games | 1% – 10% |
| Pet Supplies | 3% |
| Sports & Outdoors | 3% – 8% |
| Amazon Devices | 4% |
| Music (Amazon Music & Audible) | Flat fee (usually $3 – $5 per new subscription) |
| Digital Products (Kindle, etc.) | Flat fee for subscriptions or bounties |
| Amazon Prime | Flat fee (usually $3 – $5 per new sign-up) |
Average Commission Rate Overview:
- Low Commission Rates (1% – 3%): These tend to apply to categories like grocery items, video games, consumer electronics, and digital music. Products in these categories may have higher prices but the commission rates are relatively low.
- Moderate Commission Rates (3% – 7%): This range applies to categories like home & kitchen, sports & outdoors, pet supplies, and toys & games. These categories often offer products with a broad appeal and stable demand.
- Higher Commission Rates (7% – 10%): Fashion, luxury beauty, and certain health & personal care items tend to offer higher commission rates, making them more lucrative for affiliates in those niches.
Key Points:
- Digital Products (like Kindle eBooks, Audible memberships, and Amazon Music) typically offer flat fees for affiliate referrals rather than percentage-based commissions. These can range from $3 to $5 per signup, which is a great opportunity for recurring income.
- Higher-Priced Items: While higher-priced items (like electronics) may have a lower commission rate (e.g., 1% to 4%), they can still generate significant revenue due to the higher price points, resulting in larger commission checks.
- Subscription Services: Products like Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible often provide recurring commissions or bounties for every new subscription sign-up, which can contribute to ongoing income.
Average Commission Calculation:
Based on the above, the overall average commission rate for Amazon Associates tends to be around 4% to 6% across all categories, though this can vary significantly depending on what you are promoting.
If you’re focusing on higher-margin categories (like fashion or beauty), you can expect to see commission rates at the higher end of this range. However, the higher-priced electronics and physical goods categories, while popular, often offer lower commission rates but can still lead to substantial earnings due to the large purchase prices.
