How to Prepare Your Products for FBA Shipping

After creating your listings on Amazon, it is time to start shipping your products into Amazon FBA. You need to make sure that your products are “FBA ready” and meet the requirements to avoid any extra fees or penalties. Some products may also require specific preparation so they arrive at Amazon fulfillment centers in the best condition. If you don't want to prepare the products yourself, you may be able to have Amazon do it for you for a per-item fee. Follow this guide to ensure that your products are packaged and shipped correctly to Amazon.

Item and Packaging requirements

Item Requirements‍

Each product must have an exterior scannable barcode or label that is easily accessible. This is the product identifier that Amazon will scan when checking in your products. There are three kinds of barcodes for identifying products:

• Manufacturer barcodes (eligible barcodes include UPC, EAN, JAN, and ISBN)
• Amazon barcodes (such as FNSKU labels that start with an X). These must be applied to all products that are not tracked using the manufacturer barcode.
• Transparency authenticity code (brand owner only, may be required to help prevent counterfeit products). These are item-level authentication stickers that help protect brand owners and customers from non-authentic.

You must remove, cover, or render un-scannable any extra existing scannable barcodes on the outside of shipping boxes or products that are not the product identifier. This prevents the incorrect barcode from being accidentally scanned during the receiving process.‍

Item Packaging Requirements

Loose Items - Each unit must be contained within a single, secure package. Amazon does not accept units that would require them to assemble multiple pieces. Units that are not contained in secure packaging, such as loose sleeves or pouches, must be bagged or secured with a non-adhesive band or removable tape. Footwear, regardless of material, must be packaged with no shoe material exposed, either in shoe boxes or in poly bags with a suffocation warning.

Sold as Set - Units that are sold as sets must be marked as sets on their packaging. Add a label to the unit that clearly states that the products are to be received and sold as a single unit. For example, "Sold as set," "Ready to ship," or "This is a set. Do not separate." This will help prevent Amazon from incorrectly receiving the inventory.

Provide a unique ASIN for the set if the individual units in the set already have an ASIN. For bundled sets, the barcodes on the individual units must not face outward or the barcodes must be covered. This helps ensure that fulfillment center associates scan the barcode for the pack, not the barcode for the individual units inside.

Boxed units – The unit must be six-sided and must have openings or a lid that will not easily open on its own. If the box can easily open on its own, use tape, glue, or staples to keep it closed. It also must not collapse when medium pressure is applied to any of the sides. If the boxed unit has perforated sides or openings, the product must pass a 3-foot drop test, consisting of one drop on each side, and one drop on a corner. If the product does not pass the drop test, it must be placed in a poly bag with a suffocation warning.

Poly-bagged units – Some products will require to be poly-bagged in order to prevent leaks or spills from damaging other items in the shipment (such as liquids and powders), to protect items from dust or dirt, or to prevent loose items from being separated. Poly bags used to protect units must meet the following requirements:

• Poly bags with a 5-inch opening or larger (measured when flat) must have a suffocation warning, either printed on the bag or attached as a label. Failure to apply a suffocation warning may lead to the items being re-bagged. The warning should be printed or placed in a prominent location and in a legible font size for the size of the bag. Print size of this warning should conform to the following table:

• The thickness of the bag must be at least 1.5 mil (thousandth of an inch).
• The poly bag must be transparent.
• The poly bag must have a barcode (such as a UPC or EAN) or X00-label that is scannable through the bag or have an X00- or ASIN label on the outside of the bag.
• Poly bags must be completely sealed.
• The poly bag or shrink wrap must not protrude more than 3 inches past the dimensions of the product.
• Adult products must be packaged using black, opaque poly bagging or shrink wrap

Bubble Wrap – Bubble wrap may be required for products that are fragile or for heavy/dense items that could damage other items during transit. Products with bubble wrap must meet the following criteria:

• Tightly wrapped and taped shut so the product cannot fall out
• Labeled with a scannable barcode on the outside
• Able to pass a 3-foot drop test on a hard surface without the contents breaking. A drop test consists of five drops:

• Flat on base
• Flat on top
• Flat on longest side
• Flat on shortest side
• On a corner

​Over-boxing – Products may require over-boxing when there are safety concerns about shipping and handling. Over-boxing involves placing a prepared or packaged product in a box for added protection, even if the product is already boxed. For products over 10 lb, use double-wall corrugated boxes for over-boxing.

Over-boxing is required for the following types of products:

• Sharp items that could puncture packaging materials
• Fragile items that failed a 3-foot drop test after bubble wrap was applied or that could be damaged during shipping and handling
• Hazardous liquids in glass containers over 4.2 oz
• Vinyl records

​Hanger removal – When shipping in clothing, normal-sized hangers must be removed. Mini-hangers for baby clothes are allowed. The following items cannot be shipped on any kind of hanger:

• Accessories
• Bras
• Hats
• Shorts
• Socks
• Hosiery
• Sweaters
• Swimwear
• Underwear

​Tape - Products with this requirement need additional taping beyond what might normally be used to seal a box or poly bag or secure bubble wrap around an item.

Extra taping may be required if the item:

• Might fall out of its packaging if the container is not taped shut
• Might leak if the lid is not taped in place
• Is not fully sealed within the container
  

​Case-packed products – Products shipped via Case-Pack must meet the following requirements:

• All products in a box must have matching SKU and condition and must have been packaged together by the manufacturer.
• All boxes with the same product must contain equal quantities of that product in each box. For example, a case pack of 24 units must always contain 24 units.
• The case pack limit is 150 units per case.
• While receiving this type of shipment, the fulfillment center scans one unit from the box and the box is placed in inventory. There is no need to scan every unit because they are all the same.
• In some cases, a manufacturer or distributor may package more than one case pack into a larger box. These larger boxes do not qualify as a case pack and must be separated at the appropriate case-pack level.
  

Expiration dates – Products that will expire must have their expiration date be displayed in the format MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY. If the expiration date is printed in a different format, a sticker with the correct format must be applied, covering the original expiration date.

• Expiration-dated products must include the expiration date on the outer box in 36-point or larger font and on the individual units. Lot numbers alone are insufficient.
• Expiration-dated products that require additional preparation, such as poly-bagging or bubble wrap, must have labels with expiration dates applied to the outside of the product prep or packaging to ensure that the expiration date is accessible for Amazon associates during the check-in process.
• Perishable items are not allowed.

Prep may be required - Some products may require prep depending on the category or product. The prep categories are as follows:

• Baby products: includes plush toys and other products for children 3 and under, such as teddy bears, pacifiers, and baby bottles.
• Sharp: includes items that have sharp edges or are pointed, such as knives, scissors, and some tools.
• Fragile/glass: includes items that can break or shatter, such as glassware, china, and picture frames.
• Apparel on hanger: includes dresses, coats, and baby clothes.
• Apparel, fabric, plush, and textiles: includes products made of cloth or textiles, including apparel not on hangers, blankets, and linens.
• Small: includes products smaller than 2⅛ inches on the longest side, such as jewelry, key chains, and flash drives.
• Adult: includes products displaying potentially offensive material, including explicit magazines and movies.
• Liquids (nonglass): includes liquids or gels of more than 16 oz in plastic bottles or jars, such as liquid soap, sprays, and lotions. Treat liquids in glass bottles or jars as fragile.
• Powder, pellets, and granular: includes powders, scented home products, and powdered detergents.
• Perforated packaging: includes display case-packed items such as candy displays or granola bars.
• Sold as Set: includes bundled items, multi-packs, toy sets, and cases of bottled drinks.
• No prep needed: includes case-packed items that do not have perforated packaging and are sold as a single unit inside a case.

Shipping Packaging Requirements

Packaging your shipment correctly is crucial to making sure your inventory reaches Amazon safely and that it's optimized for entry into their fulfillment centers. The following requirements apply to all boxes shipped to Amazon fulfillment centers whether by small parcel delivery, less than truckload (LTL), or full truckload (FTL) shipping.

• Use a rigid, six-sided box with flaps intact.
• Use a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return information.
• Each box you include in the shipment must have its own unique FBA Box ID label printed from your Shipping Queue.
• Each pallet requires four FBA Pallet ID labels, one on the top center of each side. Each box on the pallet also requires its own unique FBA Box ID label.
• When shipping multiple case packs in a larger box, apply the unique FBA Box ID shipping label on the outside of the primary box.
• If you are reusing boxes, remove all old shipping labels, barcodes, or markings.
• Cover existing barcodes with opaque tape or use a black felt-tip marker to render the barcode unscannable by crossing out the barcode. This prevents the incorrect barcode from being accidentally scanned during the receiving process.
• Wrap all items separately.
• Use adequate packaging material.
• Use strong tape designed for shipping.
• Use 2 inches of cushioning between each of your items and the inside of the box.
• After you pack your box, shake it gently. The contents should not move when shaken.
• Using boxes with dimensions measuring at least 6 x 4 x 1 inches and weighing at least 1 lb can reduce delays in receiving.
• Do not use point-of-sale containers. Point-of-sale containers are part of the product you are selling and typically contain one single unit. (For example, a coffee maker shipped and sold in its original container.)
• Do not use open boxes typically used for display purposes. (For example, open front boxes or boxes without tops.)
• Do not use pallet-sized boxes
• Don’t use string, straps, or over-wrap (plastic or paper).
• Do not bundle multiple boxes together.

Box Dimensions - Boxes containing multiple items (standard or oversized items) must not exceed 25.0 inches on any side. Boxes that contain a single oversize item that do not fit the above dimension limitations must comply with the following requirements:

• A box may exceed the 25.0 inches if it contains a single oversize unit that measures longer than 25 inches. If this is the case, then the box must only contain one single oversized item and must not be significantly longer than the item dimensions. Boxes that are excessively large relative to the oversize units may be subject to restriction of shipping privileges, additional fees, or refusal at a fulfillment center. For all the boxes, we recommend you to exceed 2 inches of cushioning on all the sides.
• Boxes may exceed 50 lb, but must not weigh more than 65 lb. If this is the case, the box must not exceed 25.0 inches on any side.
• Any box that weighs more than 50 lb must contain "Team Lift"/"Heavy Package" safety label displayed on top and sides of each heavy-weight box (5 labels in total).
• Box dimension policies are strictly enforced. Sending oversize boxes to the fulfillment center may lead to blocking of future shipments.
  

Box Weight -Weigh and measure boxes and pallets accurately and ensure that the correct values are provided for every shipment. All cartons must also meet these weight requirements:

• Boxes must not exceed the standard weight limit of 50.00 lb, unless they contain one single item that exceeds 50.00 lb.
  

• For a single item that exceeds 50.00 lb, attach a label that clearly indicates Team Lift on the top and sides of the box.
• For a single item that exceeds 100.00 lb, attach a label that clearly indicates Mechanical Lift on the top and sides of the box.
  

• Boxes containing jewelry or watches must not exceed 40.00 lb.
• UPS allowances for larger box dimensions and weight do not apply to boxes containing multiple standard-size items.
• Box weight policies are strictly enforced. Sending overweight cartons to the fulfillment center may lead to the blocking of future shipments.
  

​Packing materials - Using appropriate packing material ensures your shipment quickly moves through the fulfillment center receiving process. Amazon recommends using the following packing materials:

• · Bubble Wrap
• · Full sheets of paper (heavy-weight kraft paper is best)
• · Inflatable air pillows
• · Polyethylene foam sheeting
  

​Amazon does not recommend using the following packing materials:

• All types of packing peanuts, including those made of biodegradable material or corn starch
• Foam strips
• Crinkle wrap
• Shredded paper
• Thermocol chips
• Styrofoam
  

Following these guidelines will ensure that your products and packaging are FBA ready and avoid receiving delays and any extra fees. The faster your products are received, the faster you can start selling.