Complete Guide to FBA Packaging Requirements

For ForwarderOne's review standards and route-selection methodology, see the methodology page. For author background, see Keven Chen.

FBA packaging requirements can look like a warehouse detail, but they affect whether Amazon can receive your inventory quickly. Sellers shipping from China should confirm the physical package, unit labels, carton labels and shipment data before pickup, not after the freight is already moving.

This page focuses on packaging and carton readiness. For sellable-unit labels, see the FNSKU labeling and FBA prep checklist. For the full freight handoff, use the China to Amazon FBA shipping checklist.

What changed for FBA packaging in 2026?

Amazon-bound inventory now needs a cleaner pre-pickup workflow. If a SKU needs prep or an Amazon barcode, sellers should not assume Amazon can fix it at receiving. The supplier, prep partner or freight partner should have final instructions before cartons leave the factory or warehouse.

• Confirm whether each SKU needs a manufacturer barcode, FNSKU label or other Amazon barcode.
• Send final unit-label PDFs and placement instructions before production cartons are sealed.
• Check category prep such as poly bags, suffocation warnings, bubble wrap, set labels, expiration dates, liquids, batteries or sharp-item protection.
• Lock carton count, box contents, weights and dimensions before FBA box labels are printed.
• Request photos of sellable-unit prep, carton labels and pallet labels before freight pickup.

Why do FBA packaging requirements matter?

FBA helps sellers outsource storage, fulfillment and customer delivery, but Amazon receiving is strict. Weak packaging, missing labels or mismatched box data can create rejection, delays, storage costs, rework and missed replenishment windows.

Here are the main reasons to pay attention to Amazon packaging before pickup:

• Amazon can reject, return or delay inadequate FBA shipments.
• Bad packaging can damage products during export, line haul or final delivery.
• Missing labels can break the link between the physical carton and the FBA shipment plan.
• Overpackaging wastes money and can create dimensional-weight or palletization issues.
• Poor packaging can create customer complaints and negative ratings after delivery.

Use the checklist below before the supplier releases cargo to the forwarder.

Important Rules of FBA Packaging Requirements

The following is the list of rules for cargo packaging that we believe is the most important ones in our operation:

• Use a six-sided rigid packing box with a complete lid. Your cargo will go a long way from your manufacturer to FBA warehouse. We sometimes see the cargo box does not even make it to the container.
• Each box in the shipment must have its own FBA shipment label (printed from the “shipment plan”).
• If your cargo is palletized, each pallet requires four labels, one on each side of the top center position.
• When using a large cardboard box to send multiple original packaging products to the Amazon fulfillment center, please affix a unique shipment label on the large cardboard box used to transport the product.
• If you use used boxes, remove all old shipment labels or other markings.
• Use strong adhesive tape specially designed for distribution. It doesn’t hurt to wrap a few more layers.
• After packing the box, shake it gently. When shaking, the contents of the box should not move.
• The goods packaged in a carton should normally only contain one PO order. If a carton contains goods from multiple PO orders, make sure that one carton can only involve at most 5 PO orders.
• The weight of the carton package is no more than 22.5kg (50 lbs). If the weight of a single piece of merchandise exceeds 22.5kg (50 lbs), post a clearly posted “Team Lift” label on the carton, indicating that a team is required to operate. For box exceeds 45kg (100 pounds), the label of “Mech Lift” needs to be clearly posted on the carton, indicating that the machine is required to operate.
• The weight of the carton containing jewelry and watches cannot exceed 18kg (40 pounds).
• The size of any side of the carton shall not exceed 63.5cm, unless the size of the single item sold exceeds 63.5cm.
• If the size of any side of the carton exceeds 63.5cm, then the carton needs to be placed on a 1m x 1.25m pallet, unless the size of the carton of a single product sold exceeds the size of the standard pallet.
• The carton and packaging materials (such as liners, fillers) must fully protect the goods during transportation. If packaging materials that are not accepted by the Amazon fulfillment center are used to package the goods, the goods will be rejected or additional packaging fees will be charged.
• Use large-sized cushions, such as air pillows, whole sheets of paper, foam paper or bubble film, and do not fill them with loose materials.
• Choosing the size of the carton is to ensure that the carton has the least free space after the goods are placed. Space utilization can also be maximized by packing multiple commodities in a carton (provided that the commodities are not damaged). The picture is an example of poor carton packaging.
• Carton boxes cannot be bound with packing straps, elastic bands, and adhesive tapes. Do not use large staples or nylon fiber tape because they pose a safety hazard to the warehouse colleagues.
• Multiple cartons that are to be sold as a bundle weighing more than 45 kg must be placed on a single pallet (one product for sale corresponds to one pallet).
• Carton goods sold in a single piece (such as furniture) weigh more than 45 kg and need to be palletized. Pallet-sized boxes (also called “Gaylord”) are not allowed.
• Do not use point-of-sale containers that are commonly used to display goods (such as front-open boxes or boxes without lids).

Packaging, labels and FBA prep are separate checks

Do not treat all Amazon requirements as one label task. A shipment can have correct outer cartons and still fail receiving if unit labels, box labels or product prep are wrong.

• Sellable-unit labels: UPC, EAN, ISBN, FNSKU or another Amazon barcode must match the SKU requirement in Seller Central.
• FBA box labels: carton labels identify the inbound shipment boxes and do not replace sellable-unit labels.
• Product prep: poly bags, suffocation warnings, set labels, expiration-date labels, bubble wrap and battery or liquid handling depend on the product category.
• Freight cartons and pallets: master-carton strength, carton weights, dimensions, pallet labels and old-label removal need to be checked before pickup.

If your supplier is applying FNSKU labels or product prep in China, request photo proof by SKU and carton before the pickup date. The FNSKU prep guide explains the label handoff in more detail.

Fail to comply with FBA packaging requirements, product preparation requirements, safety requirements, and restrictions may result in the Amazon fulfillment center rejecting, discarding, or returning your inventory, prohibiting you from sending shipments to the Amazon fulfillment center in the future. Amazon fulfillment center may also charge additional fees for pre-processing services or your non-compliance.

We recommend the following FBA packaging materials:

• Bubble film packaging
• Complete paper (preferably heavy kraft paper)
• Inflatable air pillow
• Polyethylene foam plastic board

Do not use the following packaging materials

• Various types of small pieces of packaging foam, including foam strips
• Wrinkled paper packaging
• Shredded paper
• Styrofoam

Finally, there is a practical suggestion for everyone. Use boxes with dimensions of at least 6 inches x 4 inches x 1 inch and a weight of at least 1 pound, but no more than 25 inches on any side and weighing less than 50 pounds to reduce reception delays!

At ForwarderOne, we try to make sure client cargo meets the visible freight and FBA handoff requirements before pickup. The seller still owns final Seller Central setup, label files and product-specific prep instructions, but a forwarder can help catch mismatches before freight is exported.

Quote-ready FBA packaging packet

Before requesting a freight quote, prepare supplier address, cargo-ready date, FBA shipment ID, destination fulfillment center, carton count, weights, dimensions, box-content data, unit-label PDFs, FBA box-label PDFs, product prep requirements and photos of the packed goods. This helps the forwarder compare DDP air, DDP sea or split-shipment options without guessing.

Sources checked

• Amazon SP-API changelog: US FBA prep and labeling services to end January 1, 2026
• Amazon SP-API: getPrepInstructions
• Amazon FBA unit labels PDF