{"id":53744,"date":"2026-09-08T10:28:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopthemedetector.com\/blog\/what-is-a-restocking-fee\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T10:31:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:31:48","slug":"what-is-a-restocking-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopthemedetector.com\/blog\/what-is-a-restocking-fee\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Restocking Fee? Standard Percentages, Examples & Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

A restocking fee is a charge a seller keeps from a return refund to cover the cost of putting the item back into sellable inventory. It usually runs 10% to 25% of the item\u2019s price, with 15% the most common rate in general retail. If a store charges one, it must disclose the fee in the return policy before the sale.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Restocking fees exist because a returned item is rarely worth its full sale price by the time it lands back in the warehouse. Sealed inventory can go straight back on the shelf; opened, worn, or partially used goods lose value and eat into margin. This guide walks through the standard rates by industry, worked examples for the most common percentages, when a restocking fee is legally allowed, and how to set one that customers will actually accept.<\/p>\n

Standard Restocking Fee Percentages by Industry<\/h2>\n

There is no single legal rate. Sellers set their own restocking fees, but categories cluster around predictable ranges based on how much the item\u2019s resale value drops once the box is opened.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Industry<\/th>\nTypical Restocking Fee<\/th>\nWhy<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Electronics \/ open-box<\/strong><\/td>\n15% to 25%<\/td>\nOpened packaging drops resale value sharply; item now sells as \u201cused\u201d or \u201crefurbished\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Furniture \/ large items<\/strong><\/td>\n15% to 20%<\/td>\nHandling, freight, and reinspection eat into margin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fashion \/ apparel<\/strong><\/td>\n0% to 10%<\/td>\nStandard practice is free returns; competitive pressure keeps fees low or absent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beauty \/ personal care<\/strong><\/td>\n15% or non-returnable<\/td>\nOpened items usually cannot be resold at all for hygiene reasons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wholesale \/ B2B<\/strong><\/td>\n15% to 30%<\/td>\nLarger order sizes; buyers accept restocking fees as standard trade practice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Books & media<\/strong><\/td>\n10% to 15%<\/td>\nLow margin on the item plus damage risk in transit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Custom or made-to-order<\/strong><\/td>\nOften non-returnable, or 25%+<\/td>\nThe item cannot be resold to another customer at any price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Two rates cover most everyday transactions. A 15% restocking fee is the most common general-retail figure and covers the typical cost of returns processing on a moderately priced item. A 20% fee is more common in consumer electronics, where a sealed box carries a meaningful premium over an opened one.<\/p>\n

Restocking Fee Examples: What You\u2019d Actually Owe<\/h2>\n

The fee is a straight percentage of the item\u2019s price (not shipping, not tax). Here is what the four most common percentages come out to on typical order values.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item Price<\/th>\n10% Fee<\/th>\n15% Fee<\/th>\n20% Fee<\/th>\n25% Fee<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
$50<\/strong><\/td>\n$5.00<\/td>\n$7.50<\/td>\n$10.00<\/td>\n$12.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$100<\/strong><\/td>\n$10.00<\/td>\n$15.00<\/td>\n$20.00<\/td>\n$25.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$250<\/strong><\/td>\n$25.00<\/td>\n$37.50<\/td>\n$50.00<\/td>\n$62.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$500<\/strong><\/td>\n$50.00<\/td>\n$75.00<\/td>\n$100.00<\/td>\n$125.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$1,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$100.00<\/td>\n$150.00<\/td>\n$200.00<\/td>\n$250.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Worked example.<\/strong> A shopper buys a $250 fitness tracker, opens the box, decides they would rather have a different model, and returns it within the seller\u2019s 30-day window. If the store\u2019s return policy states a 15% restocking fee, the shopper receives $212.50 back on the item and the seller keeps $37.50 to cover repackaging, quality inspection, and the drop in resale value now that the box is open. Original shipping costs are handled separately and vary by store.<\/p>\n

Want to check your own number against a specific price and percentage? Our restocking fee calculator<\/a> runs the math for any combination.<\/p>\n

Are Restocking Fees Legal?<\/h2>\n

In the United States and most other jurisdictions, restocking fees are legal as long as the seller discloses them in advance. The rule is straightforward: the customer needs to know the fee exists before they pay, so the disclosure has to appear in the return policy the customer can see on the product page or at checkout.<\/p>\n

Three situations where a restocking fee is not enforceable, even with disclosure:<\/p>\n