Amazon FBA prep means preparing your goods so that the Amazon fulfillment center can receive them without rework. This includes a readable FNSKU label on every unit, suitable packaging, appropriate dunnage and shipping cartons that comply with Amazon's weight and size limits. Mistakes in these areas lead to fees, delays or rejected shipments.
What does Amazon FBA prep mean?
With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon stores your goods and ships them to your customers. For this to work, every unit must be clearly scannable and securely packed at receiving. The preparation for this, meaning labeling, packaging and boxing, is your job as the seller. This work is called prep.
Amazon sets the requirements in Seller Central and adjusts them regularly. They partly differ between marketplaces, for example between Europe and the USA, and between product categories. The information in this article describes the usual requirements. Check the current requirements in Seller Central before every shipment.
The most common reasons for rejected FBA shipments
Most problems at receiving can be traced back to a few causes:
- Missing or unreadable FNSKU label: The unit cannot be assigned to your inventory.
- Visible manufacturer barcodes next to the FNSKU label: The scanner captures the wrong code.
- Unsuitable packaging: Liquids leak, glass breaks, loose parts fall out.
- Wrong dunnage: Loose fill such as packing peanuts is not allowed at Amazon.
- Cartons that are too heavy or too large: The cartons exceed Amazon's limits for weight or side length.
- Missing carton labels or wrong quantities: The contents do not match the shipment created in Seller Central.
Depending on the error, Amazon carries out the prep for a fee, rejects individual units or delays check-in. Each of these cases costs money and sales days because the goods become available later.
Applying FNSKU labels correctly
The FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is Amazon's own number that assigns a unit in the FBA warehouse to your seller account. Amazon generates it when you create a product for FBA. You print the labels in Seller Central.
Rules for the label
- Every sellable unit needs its own label.
- The label sits on a flat, clearly visible surface, not over edges or curves.
- Other scannable barcodes on the unit, such as EAN or UPC, are completely covered.
- Print with a thermal or laser printer on white, removable labels so that the barcode is sharp and the customer can remove the label later.
- Test the first labels of each print run with a barcode scanner.
Manufacturer barcode instead of FNSKU
For some products, Amazon allows you to use the manufacturer barcode instead of an FNSKU label. In that case, however, your goods can be stored together with identical goods from other sellers. If you want to avoid this, for example with branded goods or sensitive products, use FNSKU labels. You can see which setting applies to your account in Seller Central.
Packaging by product type
Amazon distinguishes prep requirements by product characteristics. The most important groups:
- Liquids: Secure the closure, for example with tape or a second seal, and pack the unit in a sealed bag.
- Fragile items such as glass or ceramics: Wrap individually in bubble wrap or pack in a sturdy box that survives a drop from a low height without damage.
- Textiles and clothing: Pack in poly bags so that they stay clean and dry.
- Small items: Pack in bags so that they do not get lost in the warehouse.
- Sharp items: Cover edges and points completely.
- Sets and multipacks: Bundle firmly, for example with a sealed bag or a band, and mark with a note such as "Sold as set, do not separate".
- Items with an expiration date: Show the date clearly on the outside of the unit so that it is recorded at receiving.
Poly bags
Poly bags must be transparent and strong enough not to tear during transport. Above a certain opening size, Amazon requires a suffocation warning. You will find the exact requirements for material thickness, size and wording of the warning in Seller Central. The barcode must be scannable through the bag. If it is not, stick the FNSKU label on the outside of the bag.
Dunnage, cartons and weight limits
Dunnage
Dunnage prevents items from shifting in the carton and getting damaged. Suitable materials include:
- Bubble wrap
- Air pillows
- Full sheets of packing paper
- Foam sheets
Loose fill such as packing peanuts, shredded paper or foam strips is not allowed. It contaminates the warehouse and makes unpacking more difficult.
Shipping cartons
- Use sturdy, six-sided cartons with intact flaps.
- Remove or cover old labels and barcodes on used cartons.
- Stick the FBA carton label on a side surface, not over a seam or tape.
- Each carton gets its own label, even if the contents are the same.
- Fill empty spaces so that the contents do not shift when shaken.
Weight and dimensions
Amazon limits the weight and side length of shipping cartons. In the European marketplaces, standard cartons are generally limited to a maximum of 23 kg and a maximum side length of 63.5 cm at the time of writing. Heavy cartons of 15 kg or more must also be marked as heavy. Exceptions apply to oversized single items. Since Amazon can change these values and they vary by marketplace, check them in Seller Central before every shipment.
Step by step: how to prepare an FBA shipment
- Check products: Clarify the prep requirements for each item in Seller Central, including whether it is classified as dangerous goods.
- Create the shipment: Create the shipment in Seller Central and specify quantities and the ship-from address. Amazon may split a shipment across several fulfillment centers.
- Print labels: Print FNSKU labels in the correct quantity and apply them.
- Pack: Pack each unit according to the requirements for its product type.
- Box: Pack the units into shipping cartons, fill empty spaces, and weigh and measure each carton.
- Report carton contents: Enter the contents of each carton in Seller Central. If this information is missing, Amazon may charge fees for manual processing.
- Apply carton labels: Print the FBA carton labels and the carrier's labels and stick them on.
- Ship: Small shipments go as parcels, larger ones on pallets as groupage freight or partial truckload. For pallet deliveries, the freight forwarder usually needs a delivery appointment at the fulfillment center.
Pallet deliveries are subject to their own requirements for pallet type, height and load securing, which you will also find in Seller Central. How to pack pallets securely is covered in our article Packing and securing pallets.
Do FBA prep yourself or outsource it?
With few items and small quantities, doing your own prep is very manageable. As your product range grows, so does the effort: label printers, packaging material, space and trained staff must be available, and every new Amazon requirement has to be implemented.
A prep service provider receives your goods, inspects them, labels and packs them and delivers them to Amazon. This is particularly worthwhile if:
- your goods come from abroad and have to be received in Germany anyway,
- you supply other channels in addition to Amazon, such as your own online store,
- you do not want to store your entire stock at Amazon and prefer to control replenishment in a targeted way.
How to serve Amazon and other channels from one warehouse is described in our article Multi-channel fulfillment. The cost items a fulfillment provider typically charges are covered in Calculating fulfillment costs.
Amazon FBA Prep with FulFra
FulFra offers Amazon FBA Prep and FBA transport. Our own warehouse is located in Lehrte near Hannover. For fulfillment at FulFra, there are no setup fees, no minimum contract term and no minimum volumes. You can see the transport price for pallets or groupage freight to an Amazon fulfillment center in Germany immediately in the price calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FNSKU and EAN?
The EAN identifies a product regardless of the seller. The FNSKU is Amazon's internal number that assigns your units in the FBA warehouse to your seller account.
Can I use used cartons?
Yes, if they are sturdy and undamaged and all old labels and barcodes have been removed or completely covered.
What happens if my goods are not prepared correctly?
Amazon can carry out the prep for a fee, reject individual units or delay check-in. How Amazon proceeds in each case is set out in the current guidelines in Seller Central.
How heavy can an FBA carton be?
In the European marketplaces, generally up to 23 kg, with exceptions for oversized single items. Check the current limit in Seller Central before you pack.
Would you like to outsource FBA prep and transport to Amazon? Describe your product range in the fulfillment request.