How to Package and Label Your Amazon FBA Product in 2023 | Step-by-step Guide
For Amazon sellers, using FBA services means Amazon will be in charge of inventory storage and order fulfillment. However, there still remains something that the seller needs to do: prepare the FBA products and ship them to the designated Amazon fulfillment centers. It is worth mentioning that Amazon has stipulated stringent packaging and labeling requirements for FBA shipments. If you intend to build an FBA business on Amazon.com, just read on. We will explore the ins and outs of how to prepare FBA products according to Amazon standards. So your shipments will be received by Amazon fulfillment centers in a rather smooth way.
- What is Amazon FBA?
- How to Create an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan?
- Why Should You Properly Prepare Your FBA Products?
- Amazon FBA Packaging Requirements [Most Comprehensive in 2023]
- Amazon FBA Labeling Requirements [Most Updated in 2023]
- Two Packing Types of Your Amazon FBA Products: Individual Products and Case-packed Products
- How Would You Benefit if You Use a Freight Forwarder to Handle FBA Prep for You?
1. What is Amazon FBA?
FBA refers to Fulfillment by Amazon, a service program introduced by Amazon to help sellers solve the challenge of storing inventory and fulfilling orders. Under FBA, Amazon will pick, pack, and ship the products from Amazon warehouses to the customers. What the seller needs to do is enroll their product in Amazon FBA, create a valid shipping plan on Amazon.com, and send the properly-prepped products to Amazon fulfillment centers. In doing this, FBA sellers can have full access to FBA services.
2. How to Create an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan?
By creating a shipping plan in the Amazon Seller Central, you will let Amazon know you are going to send your FBA inventory into their fulfillment centers. Follow the steps below to successfully make an Amazon FBA shipping plan:
- Log in to our Amazon Seller Central Account
- Select the "Inventory" tab
- Choose "Manage FBA Shipment" from the "Inventory" tab
- Click "Send to Amazon" from the new page
- Type in the address where the shipment comes from in the "Ship From" field
- Select your marketplace destination
- Fill in the "Packing Details" field
- Type in "Quantity to Send"
- Click "Ready to send"
- To get product barcode labels: Click "Confirm and Continue"
- Click "Print all SKU labels"
- Download the file
- Confirm shipping: select the shipping date, shipping mode, and shipping carrier, and then check the Amazon FBA warehouse code
- Print off box labels
3. Why Should You Properly Prepare Your FBA Products?
Barcode labels, as the product identifier, play an essential role in the Amazon order fulfilling system. When your FBA shipment arrives at Amazon fulfillment centers, Amazon warehouse employees will scan the barcode to prevent mistakes in inventory management and order processing.
What will happen to your non-properly prepped FBA products? It can result in some negative consequences, including refused shipments and returns. Or Amazon will charge you a per-item fee to repackage or relabel it.
In a word, if you want to avoid additional preparation fees, you need to strictly abide by the Amazon guidelines.
Showing compliance with Amazon packaging and labeling requirements can also reduce the risks of shipment damage during the product's journey. After all, an added layer of packaging means added protection. For Amazon sellers, products in optimal condition really play to their strength. Customer satisfaction will be hugely improved.
The check-in process at Amazon fulfillment centers is an indispensable part of making your product ready for purchase. Make sure you prep your products according to Amazon standards, so the check-in process will be facilitated.
4. Amazon FBA Packaging Requirements [Most Comprehensive in 2023]
Different product types and product specifications require different packaging materials. The prepping standards also differ. Below we will run you through how it works.
4.1 Basic Packaging Materials for FBA Products
Packaging materials that comply with Amazon standards include bubble wrap, poly bags, boxes, and tape. Products are usually packaged with poly bags and bubble wrap. And tape is used to seal the product packaging so the outer packaging won't come loose. And there remains the necessity of over-boxing if you want to prevent damage during shipping.
Poly Bags
Poly bags are durable and waterproof. The nature of poly bags decides that they can be used to protect items from dust, dirt, and moisture. Under Amazon packaging requirements, the poly bags you use should be transparent so Amazon warehouse associates are allowed to see the content within easily. Also, poly bags come in varying thicknesses and sizes. Pay attention to the kind that Amazon accepts: Amazon has stipulated that your poly bag should be at least 1.5 millimeters thick. Do not forget that your poly bag must be completely sealed. Or, the poly-bagged units will come loose during shipping. Be sure to check it in the last step of product packaging.
Bubble Wrapping
Bubble wrapping is of much use for its cushioning feature. It can help protect fragile products from shock, impacts, and scratches during shipping and handling. What's more, sharp, heavy, or dense products are required to be packaged with bubble wrapping so they will not cause damage to other products in the same unit.
Be sure to tightly cover the item with bubble wrap and then secure it with tape. The bubble wrap must be around the item compactly so it will not have the chance of slipping out. For your information, products with bubble wrap must be able to pass a 3-foot drop test without the item breaking.
Taping
In a bid to meet Amazon's requirements, all prepped products should be taped and secured. To be specific, the poly-bagged products, bubble-wrapped products, and the boxed products should all be sealed with tape. Boxes should be taped by seams. Poly bags without adhesive seals should be shut closed with tape. Bubble wrap should be taped well enough to secure items within.
Properly taped packaging will make it look neat. Not to mention that tape will help keep the packaging materials in place. Amazon recommends that selecting tape that is at least 2 inches wide and has a thickness of at least 1.6 mils.
Over-boxing
Over-boxing refers to placing the already packaged products inside a larger box. It will be required when there are safety concerns during transit. And next, we will show you which type of products will need over-boxing:
- ● 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
Except for getting added protection, you can make handling simplified through over-boxing. When you have to process multiple boxed products for one shipment, you can utilize over-boxing by consolidating these boxes into one large box. The number of individual packages that need to be transported will be reduced. However, you should be noted that the shipment weight and dimension will increase, and the shipping costs may be higher in this regard.
4.2 Packaging Requirements for Different Types of FBA Products
Baby Products
Prep required: Place the item in a transparent poly bag, seal it, and then apply the scannable barcode.
Sharp, Pointed, or Otherwise a Safety Concern
Prep required: Wrap the item in bubble wrap or place it inside a box to cover all exposed edges, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Fragile/Glass
Prep required: Wrap the item in bubble wrap or place the item inside the box, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Note: The prepped item must be able to withstand a 3-foot drop onto a hard surface without breaking.
Apparel, Fabric, Plush, and Textiles
Prep required: place in a transparent poly bag, seal it, and apply scannable barcodes.
Small Items (the Maximum Length of Any One Side is Less Than 2⅛ Inches.)
Prep required: Place the item in a transparent poly bag, seal it, and apply scannable barcodes.
Liquids (Not in Glass)
Prep required: Tighten the lid, apply a second seal, or place the container in a transparent poly bag, seal it, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Powders, Pellets, and Granular Materials
Prep required: Place the item in a transparent poly bag, seal it, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Items With Perforated Packaging
Prep required: if the box cannot withstand being dropped on a hard surface without perforating, place each box in a transparent poly bag, seal, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Items Sold as Set
Prep required: Seal the set using shrink wrap, poly bag, or box to keep items from being separated, affix a "Sold as Set" or "Ready to Ship" sticker, and then apply scannable barcodes.
Expiration Dated Products
Prep required: Expiration-dated FBA products should have labels applied to the outside of the product prep, and the labels should clearly display the expiration dates. The expiration date of the item must be displayed in the MM-DD-YYYY format with a font size of at least 36 pt. If the expiration date is printed in a different format, a scannable barcode with the correct format must be applied and must cover the original expiration date.
Note: Lot numbers are not sufficient to convey the message of the expiration date.
Food, Beverage, or Products Packaged with Food or Beverage (Except for Perishable Items)
Prep required: Apply the scannable barcode on the packaging.
Note: Perishable are not allowed. Non-perishable items must have an expiration date that is more than 90 days away from the time of being received by Amazon fulfillment centers.
Bundled Products
Prep required: Multi-packs can be bundled in boxes, poly bags, or by using shrink wrap. Affix the scannable barcode on the exterior of the packaging.
Note: Multi-packs must arrive at an Amazon fulfillment center already bundled.
Meltable or Otherwise Temperature-sensitive Products
Prep required: Apply the scannable barcode on the packaging. And for the duration of the product's shelf life, temperature-sensitive items must be able to withstand temperatures between 50 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: Products that require refrigeration or freezing are not allowed.
5. Amazon FBA Labeling Requirements [Most Updated in 2023]
Scannable barcode labels play a significant role in Amazon's inventory managing system. Every barcode is unique to a specific product, which allows your products to be identified and tracked. You will know whether the correct product is picked, packed, and shipped to the Amazon fulfillment centers.
Amazon warehouse associates will scan the barcode upon receiving it. So the inventory will go into Amazon's automated system, and the order processing and fulfilling will be accurate and efficient.
5.1 Three Barcode Types for Amazon FBA Products
Amazon uses three types of barcodes: manufacturer barcodes, Amazon barcodes, and Transparency barcodes. Next, we will run you through the requirements for using varying kinds of barcodes.
Manufacturer Barcodes
Manufacturer barcodes are allotted to a product by its manufacturer. They include UPC (Universal Product Code), EAN (European Article Number), GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), and ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Amazon requires manufacturer barcodes by default unless you change the label preference by yourself. If you opt to sell branded products (not the private label) that already have existing manufacturer barcodes on their packaging, you may not need to label something else on them.
What is worth mentioning is that different sellers may have products that carry the same manufacturer barcodes, and the policy of commingling by Amazon will probably cause adverse effects on your FBA business. If you want to prevent that from happening, you can convert the barcode setting to Amazon barcodes.
Amazon Barcodes/Amazon FNSKU Barcodes
If your product does not have a manufacturer barcode, you will be required by Amazon to obtain an Amazon FNSKU barcode. FNSKU stands for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit. Amazon FNSKU barcodes serve as identification codes because it is unique to every Amazon seller account and their specific product.
When you add a new product to your product catalog in the FBA program, Amazon will automatically generate a new and unique FNSKU for you. After you decide to use Amazon FNSKU barcodes, you'll need to download the file of FNSKU barcodes from Amazon, print it off, and cover the product's original barcode with the Amazon barcode. Here you have two viable methods to print and label FNSKU barcodes for your inventory: you can either pay Amazon to print and label products for a per-unit fee. Or, print and label your products all by yourself.
When should you apply Amazon FNSKU barcodes:
- ● You do not want your products to get commingled with other sellers' products
- ● You sell hand-made products
- ● You sell your own branded private-label products
- ● Products cannot be tracked via the manufacturer barcodes
- ● Products are in "used" condition
- ● Products do not have a scannable UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN
- ● Media products
- ● Restricted goods
- ● Dangerous goods
- ● Consumable goods
- ● Topical products
Transparency Barcodes
Transparency barcodes are used to protect brand owners and customers from counterfeiting. With Transparency barcodes, customers will know what they get from Amazon is genuine. Additional information about the product, including the manufacturing date and location, can be easily accessed by scanning Transparency barcodes. For Amazon sellers, if you feel inclined to build customer trust and loyalty, it is highly recommended that you place Transparency barcodes on the product's packaging. Actually, no one can resist the temptation of scanning to verify authenticity.
5.2 How to Print Out Labels for Amazon FBA Products?
To print out your Amazon FBA labels, you can follow these steps:
- First, log in to "Seller Central"
- Then, click on "Inventory" > "FBA Inventory" from the menu bar
- Scan your list of products and locate the item for which you want to print labels
- Click on "Edit" located on the right side of the selected product
- In the dropdown menu that appears, select "Print Item Labels"
- Next, choose the number of labels you need to print from the options provided on the right-hand side
- Click on "Paper/Sticker Type" and select your preferred printing format
- Finally, click on "Print Item Labels" to complete the process
5.3 How to Label Your Products Properly?
Amazon requires all labels to be placed exactly correctly. When affixing labels, you should pay attention to the following requirements:
- ● First, you need blank mailing labels that are correctly sized: one-to-two inches tall and two-to-three inches wide.
- ● Use black ink on non-reflective printing paper with adhesive backing.
- ● Use a thermal printer or a laser one and print at 300 DPI.
- ● Make sure the label is placed properly on the right units. And make sure the label is put on the outermost layer of the package. And seams, corners, edges, and curves should be avoided, or Amazon will refuse shipments with non-compliant packaging. Better allow for about 0.25 inch of space between the edge of the label and the edge of the packaging.
Each unit must have an exterior scannable barcode or a label that includes a scannable barcode. New barcodes should completely cover other existing barcodes, so it is the only scannable option on the packaging.
6. Two Packing Types of Your Amazon FBA Products: Individual Products and Case-packed Products
You will have to select the packing type of your shipment in Amazon Seller Central. And there are two choices available for your information: individual products and case-packed (case-packaged) products.
If the shipping box you are going to use contains different types of products of various conditions and quantities, you should select "Individual Products."
And you should opt for the packing mode of "Case-packed Products" when meeting the following criteria: your products are in the same condition with matching SKU numbers.
Under the mode of "Case-packed Products", each box must be uniformly packaged with equal quantities of the same product. And each item should be placed with its own label even if it is shipped inside a box, which serves as the preparation for being sold as an individual item. You need to be noted that case-packed products also can be sold as bundles or sets. In this scenario, each unit of case-packaged products should have an exterior label clearly stating that "Sold as set" or "This is a set. Do not separate".
7. How Would You Benefit if You Use a Freight Forwarder to Handle FBA Prep for You?
If you intend to start an Amazon FBA business, your time and energy will be consumed by selecting and deciding what to sell. Besides, prepping an error-free FBA shipment is another task on your part. As we mentioned above, non-compliant product packaging may lead to unwanted delays and even rejected shipments, and thus cause financial losses. To minimize the obstacles you may meet along the way, it is suggested that you find a professional freight forwarder to handle the product prep and shipping for you.
Once the manufacturing of your products is done, you may need to conduct a quality inspection. No worries. Some freight forwarders are able to provide one-stop FBA Prep services, including inspecting your products whenever there is a need. After the product quality is confirmed, you will be required by Amazon to label products accurately and package products correctly, so that your FBA products will be ready to ship to the designated Amazon fulfillment center. If you want to concentrate on selling and branding, just get a freight forwarder and let he/her take care of the process.
At Seabay Logistics, we have accumulated almost 20 years of experience in Amazon FBA Prep and Shipping. What we can do for you will help overcome the difficulty in FBA preparing, labeling, packaging, and delivering to Amazon warehouses. We will:
- ● Collect products from your manufacturer or supplier.
- ● Conduct product quality inspection when there is a need.
- ● Package and label your products strictly according to Amazon requirements.
- ● Ship the units to Amazon fulfillment centers on-time.
If you have a picture of the FBA business on your mind, just contact us and get a live Amazon FBA shipping quote. We are more than happy to help your Amazon business grow and thrive.
