Aug 16, 2026 · 6 min read

Amazon Product Earnings Report CSV Explained

Your Product Earnings Report is the single source of truth for what Amazon actually paid you. The problem is it's a raw CSV with terse column names — so most affiliates never look at it. In 2026, with silent rate changes and the halo change on April 14, that file is also the only reliable way to see whether you were paid right. Here's what every part means and how to read it like a detective.

Where to get it

In Amazon Associates Central → Reports → Product Earnings Report, pick your date range and marketplace, then download the CSV. It's the raw item-level export — the same file an AmzLoss audit accepts directly.

What the columns mean

Exact headers vary slightly by marketplace, but you'll see the same core fields:

Order ID — the shopper's Amazon order identifier. One order can span multiple rows if it contains different products.
Order Date — when the order was placed. Important, because the commission rate that applies is the one for this date.
Item (ID) / ASIN — the specific product sold. Since April 14 you only earn on the exact ASIN you linked, so this column matters more than ever.
Product Title — the item name. Helps you match sales to the content that produced them.
Category — Amazon's commission category. The rate is looked up from this, so a miscategorised product is a red flag.
Quantity — how many units in that line.
Unit Price / Total Price — the price of one unit and of the line. Commission is calculated on the qualifying price after discounts and shipping.
Commission Rate — the percentage Amazon applied to this line. Compare it to the current rate for that category.
Fees — adjustments like referral-fee corrections. Negative values are normal (returns, fee changes).
Commission — what you earned on the line. Roughly total price × rate, adjusted for fees.

The one check that catches most problems

For every line, expected commission ≈ total price × commission rate for that category and order date. When a line clearly pays less than that, you've found a candidate. Common reasons in 2026:

The rate on the line is stale — older than the 2026 cuts.
The order predates the April 14 halo change but was settled after it.
The product's category in the report earns a lower rate than the category you promoted.
A fee adjustment reduced the line.

Negative lines aren't errors

Negative amounts are returns or fee reversals. A trustworthy check excludes them rather than counting them as underpayment. It also excludes ambiguous rows so it never falsely flags a legitimate transaction against you.

How to check the whole file in minutes

Download the CSV for the period you care about.
Run it through the audit. Our free earnings audit detects the columns automatically, compares each line against the applicable 2026 rate, separates returns and ambiguous rows, and lists the flagged lines plus a shortfall total. Nothing is uploaded — it runs in your browser.
Review by category. The audit groups flags so you can see which categories hold the biggest possible gaps.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I download the Product Earnings Report?

In Amazon Associates Central go to Reports → Product Earnings Report, choose your date range and marketplace, then click Download to get the CSV.

What does the Commission column mean?

It's the amount you earned on that line. For a straightforward order it should equal the total price multiplied by the commission rate for that category — and if it clearly doesn't, that line is worth checking.

Why do some lines have negative amounts?

Negative lines are usually returns, cancellations, or fee adjustments reversing a previous commission. They're expected, not errors.

Do the column names change between marketplaces?

Yes — exact headers can vary by marketplace and over time. That's why an audit detects columns automatically instead of assuming a fixed layout.

How do I check the report for errors?

Compare each line's commission against the correct rate for its category and order date, then total any gaps. An AmzLoss audit does this automatically, excluding returns and ambiguous rows.

Read your report like a detective

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