Calculate a restocking fee and your refund from the item price using a typical 15% fee or your own rate, or find the percentage from the fee charged.
Restocking Fee Formula
Variables:
- RF is the Restocking Fee ($)
- PP is the returned-item subtotal ($): price per identical item × quantity
- RP is the restocking percentage (%)
To calculate the restocking fee, multiply the item price by the restocking percentage, then divide by 100. For example, if a $350 item is subject to a 15% restocking fee, the fee is $52.50. Confirm the applicable rate and eligibility for that purchase.
Restocking Fee Rates: Major Retailers
Restocking fee policies vary significantly across retailers. The selected policy summaries below were checked on October 22, 2026. Confirm the current item, seller, condition, timing and location exceptions before relying on a fee estimate.
| Retailer | Fee Rate | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Best Buy | 15% on specified categories; $45 on eligible activatable devices | Unopened-product and listed-location exceptions apply; check the specific categories and exclusions. |
| Amazon (3rd-party sellers) | Varies by return window, condition and category | Original-condition returns within policy are generally fee-free; other cases differ. Membership alone does not establish a blanket exemption. Check seller fee guidance. |
| B&H Photo | Minimum 15% possible if return conditions are unmet | May instead refuse the return; nonreturnable categories and packaging requirements apply. See B&H returns. |
| Adorama | Minimum 15% possible if return conditions are unmet | Condition, packaging and category rules matter; some opened items are nonreturnable. See Adorama returns. |
| Wayfair | Check item/order terms | Confirm eligibility and return-shipping quote in the current return terms; no general percentage is assumed here. |
| AutoZone / O’Reilly | Check item-specific policy | Original condition, receipt, timing and installed/used restrictions matter. See AutoZone and O’Reilly; no shared fee schedule is assumed. |
Return Questions by Product Category
| Product Category | Fee basis to confirm | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Electronics | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Furniture | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Auto Parts | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Mattresses | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Clothing / Apparel | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Industrial / B2B Equipment | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
| Video Games / Opened Software | Seller and item-specific terms | Confirm return eligibility, condition requirements and any quoted deduction before purchase. |
When to Check or Dispute a Deduction
A posted policy does not settle every legal right. Review the return, warranty and applicable consumer-law remedies in these circumstances; the outcome depends on the transaction:
- The item arrived defective or damaged; report the issue and follow the applicable remedy procedure
- The retailer shipped the wrong item; request correction under the applicable policy and law
- Delivery occurred after the promised date; check the specific delayed-order or cancellation rights
- The fee was not disclosed as required by applicable rules; keep the purchase and policy records
- A claimed fee cap is in dispute; verify the applicable law rather than assuming a universal 50% limit
- A membership benefit may apply; check the actual seller and return terms rather than assuming every fee is waived
State-Specific Rules
Disclosure duties and refund remedies vary by jurisdiction and transaction. These selected examples are not an exhaustive legal rule. Check applicable law and the seller’s terms; FTC shopping guidance explains what return and fee terms to review.
| State | Rule |
|---|---|
| California | Covered limited/no-return policies must be clearly displayed under Civil Code 1723, subject to exceptions. See California AG refund guidance. |
| New York | Covered sellers must conspicuously post refund terms and dollar/percentage fees; online notice rules also apply. See GBL 218-a. |
| Connecticut | DCP describes conspicuously posted refund policies and restocking fees, including warehouse-return fees. See Connecticut refund guidance. |
| Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina | These are listed purchase-location exceptions in Best Buy’s return policy, not a statement that every listed state universally prohibits every retailer’s fee. |
Restocking Fees and Buyer Behavior
A hypothetical 15% fee on a $2,000 item is $300, before any separate shipping deduction. Compare the stated return terms before purchase. The applicable rate and refund depend on the actual transaction.
