To pack and ship merchandise to Amazon may appear simple at first look, however it really requires cautious analysis, considerate planning, and exact execution to maintain your stock transferring and out of limbo.
It’s not all about sealing up a field and slapping on a label. Amazon has guidelines and it pays to observe them to the letter, if you wish to keep away from hitches and lacking out on gross sales.
Let’s break down the fundamentals of the Amazon pack and ship course of so that you just’ll be 100% positive that your merchandise are the place they must be with out delays and guesswork.
FBA vs FBM
Earlier than you pack and ship your first unit, it’s worthwhile to understand how your success mannequin impacts the whole lot from field prep to barcode placement.
Amazon FBA
Achievement by Amazon (FBA) is the popular methodology for a lot of sellers. You ship your stock to Amazon’s success facilities, the place they handle choosing, packing, and delivering every order to buyers.
FBA is environment friendly, scalable, and allows you to faucet into Prime delivery perks with out managing logistics in-house.
Fulfilled by Service provider (FBM)
Fulfilled by Service provider (FBM), utilized by 43% of sellers, places the packing and delivery course of squarely in your shoulders. You handle your individual stock, deal with success from your house, workplace, or third-party warehouse, and deal immediately with returns and customer support.
Information tells us that 92% of Amazon sellers use FBA in some type and 57% rely solely on FBA. Alternatively, 34% use a hybrid of each FBA and FBM.
Whereas each fashions contain choose, pack, and ship duties, the distinction is in who’s doing them:
- FBA streamlines logistics however comes with strict compliance guidelines and prep work.
- FBM affords better management over your operations however requires constant, hands-on involvement.
FBA Necessities
Whether or not you’re utilizing lower than truckload (LTL) or full truckload (FTL) delivery, or presumably nonetheless attempting to determine between LTL vs FTL, be sure to perceive these necessities earlier than you pack and ship something:
Packaging Necessities and Guidelines
- Packing containers have to be sturdy, clear, and freed from branding unrelated to the product.
- Weight restrict. Every field should not exceed 50 lbs until a single unit weighs extra.
- Packaging field dimensions limits. Packing containers shouldn’t measure greater than 25 inches on any aspect until you’ve acquired particular approval from Amazon.
- No blended SKUs. Every field ought to comprise just one SKU until clearly marked as blended.
- Amazon could require poly bagging for unfastened or spillable gadgets, bubble wrap for fragile gadgets, and taping for merchandise with opening lids or flaps.
- Amazon prohibits using show bins, akin to these with open entrance sides or these with out high covers.
- Amazon prohibits using gaylords or delivery bins that match the precise dimensions of a pallet.
Amazon affords prep and labeling providers. Nonetheless, it’s essential to notice that the platform is stopping this service beginning January 1, 2026.
Labeling Necessities
- Each unit wants a scannable FNSKU label. This label tells Amazon what to promote and who it belongs to.
- Labels have to be positioned flat, with out protecting barcodes or seams.
- Every field additionally wants an Amazon cargo label generated in the course of the Ship to Amazon workflow.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failing to fulfill FBA’s prep and packaging requirements may result in:
- Stock being refused or disposed of
- Cargo delays
- Strikes in your account efficiency metrics
Use the “Ship to Amazon” Workflow
In the event you’re utilizing Achievement by Amazon, studying how you can pack and ship your stock by Amazon’s Ship to Amazon workflow is important.
This instrument replaces the older cargo creation course of and simplifies the best way sellers construct their FBA delivery plan, label merchandise, and e book carriers. Right here’s a walk-through of the way it works:
Select the Stock You’re Sending
Entry your Transport Queue in Vendor Central. Within the “Shipments” dropdown menu, choose Ship to Amazon to view all of your energetic FBA listings.
Subsequent, select the merchandise you need to add to your cargo. From the “Shipments” dropdown, click on Ship to Amazon. This may carry up your record of energetic FBA SKUs.
At that time, select the merchandise you plan to incorporate within the cargo. You’ll additionally choose whether or not you’re sending particular person items or utilizing manufacturer-packed circumstances (case-packed).
In the event you’re delivery particular person items, you’ll undergo a sub-step the place you affirm how these items can be packed. That is the place Amazon choose pack and ship expectations start.
Verify Transport Particulars
At this stage, you’ll:
- Enter the amount of items you’re sending for every SKU, then set up these gadgets into delivery bins in line with your packing plan.
- Verify that each one items are prepped and labeled in accordance with Amazon’s present requirements.
With Amazon not offering prep or labeling providers for FBA shipments within the U.S. beginning January 1, 2026, you’re totally answerable for making certain every unit is appropriately ready earlier than delivery.
In the event you’re dealing with labeling your self (or through a third-party service), ensure that to observe all FNSKU label necessities:
- Each product variation (measurement, colour, situation) should have a singular FNSKU.
- The label ought to be simple to scan and utilized to a flat, even floor on the product.
- Any producer barcodes have to be eliminated or lined to stop scan errors.
Failing to observe these necessities can lead to delays, rejected stock, or a further FBA choose and pack charge, if Amazon must step in for unplanned providers (the place nonetheless relevant).
Print Field Labels
As soon as your merchandise are prepped, packed, and assigned to bins, Amazon will generate a field label for each. The Amazon FBA delivery label consists of very important cargo data and monitoring codes.
- Labels ought to be printed on 8.5″ x 11″ paper and positioned on flat surfaces of the field, by no means on seams or edges.
- Make sure the Amazon delivery label is clearly seen and simple to scan when the cargo arrives on the success heart.
Present Service and Pallet Particulars (for Pallet Shipments Solely)
In the event you’re delivery pallets, you’ll must:
- Verify the variety of pallets
- Point out for those who’re utilizing an Amazon-partnered provider or a non-partnered freight service
- Present pallet dimensions and weight
Selecting an Amazon partnered provider could make this step extra environment friendly, significantly for LTL shipments.
Print Pallet Labels
For partnered LTL shipments, Amazon will present 4 pallet labels per pallet. Print and connect them securely on all sides of the pallet for clear visibility.
Present Monitoring (if Not Utilizing a Partnered Service)
In the event you opted for a non-partnered provider, you’ll be answerable for coming into monitoring particulars manually. This is applicable to each small parcel and pallet shipments.
How FBM Sellers Pack and Ship to Prospects
In the event you’re utilizing FBM, which means you’re answerable for your entire choose, pack and ship course of from begin to end. To do it proper:
- Use sturdy packaging that protects your merchandise in transit.
- Embrace a packing slip if attainable, and by no means add advertising and marketing inserts.
- Print delivery labels utilizing Amazon Purchase Transport or a trusted provider.
- Add monitoring promptly to maintain your account in good standing.
Many FBM sellers streamline success by outsourcing to select pack and ship providers or utilizing third-party delivery software program.
Frequent Errors and Keep away from Them
A survey discovered that quick delivery is among the many high essential elements amongst U.S. web shoppers:
That mentioned, your success high quality immediately influences whether or not prospects select your itemizing over one other. In the event you mislabel a unit, overfill a field, or delay restocking due to prep errors, you threat:
- Slower supply instances
- Missed Prime eligibility
- Poor monitoring knowledge
- Elevated returns
Listed below are some frequent errors sellers make when packing and delivery merchandise to Amazon, together with sensible tricks to keep away from them:
Skipping or Incorrectly Finishing the Inbound Cargo Plan
Some sellers rush by or skip crucial components of the inbound cargo plan, akin to confirming portions, prep sorts, or labeling choices. This could result in incorrect routing, delayed check-ins, or items being mislabeled or rejected.
- keep away from it. Fastidiously overview every part of your Ship to Amazon workflow. Use a guidelines to confirm appropriate SKU portions, applicable prep directions, and correct labeling for each merchandise.
Inserting A number of SKUs in One Field With out Correctly Labeling It as Combined
Together with completely different SKUs in the identical delivery field with out indicating that it accommodates blended contents can confuse Amazon’s receiving workforce, resulting in delays, stock errors, and even cargo rejection.
- keep away from it. In the event you’re delivery completely different SKUs in a single field, choose “blended SKU” in your cargo plan and label the field accordingly. Higher but, maintain SKUs separated until completely mandatory.
Improper or Lacking FNSKU Labels
Every unit should have a singular, scannable FNSKU. Making use of it incorrectly or skipping it can lead to misrouted stock and check-in delays.
- keep away from it. All the time place FNSKU labels on flat surfaces. Cowl or take away producer barcodes.
The Lowdown
To pack and ship your merchandise to Amazon the correct method means stopping delays and delivering a stellar buyer expertise. The bottom line is compliance, consistency, and staying forward of shifting insurance policies, just like the phase-out of Amazon’s prep and labeling providers in 2026.
And if all of this seems like a logistical maze? That’s the place AMZ Advisers are available. From compliance to advertising and marketing and different essential sides of your small business, out Amazon promoting consultants can take the stress off your plate.
Creator
Carla Bauto Deña is a journalist and content material author producing tales for conventional and digital media. She believes in empowering small companies with the assistance of revolutionary options, akin to ecommerce, digital advertising and marketing, and knowledge analytics.