How to Ship Products to Amazon FBA Warehouse
Before You Ship: Prep Requirements
Amazon requires specific preparation for different product types to protect them during warehouse storage and shipping to customers. Poly bagging is required for products with multiple loose parts, fabric items, products in non-sealed packaging, and anything that could be damaged by dust or moisture. The poly bag must be at least 1.5 mil thick, and bags larger than 5 inches on any dimension must have a printed suffocation warning. Bubble wrapping is required for fragile products like glass, ceramics, and electronics that could break during warehouse handling. Over-boxing (placing the product in an additional box) is required for items with easily damaged retail packaging.
Check Amazon's specific prep guidance for your ASIN by searching for your product in the Prep Guidance page in Seller Central. Amazon tells you exactly which prep requirements apply to each product. If you skip required prep, Amazon may prep the product at their warehouse and charge you $1.00 to $2.60 per unit depending on the prep type. Doing your own prep is almost always cheaper. Prep supplies cost $0.05 to $0.30 per unit when you buy poly bags, labels, and tape in bulk from packaging suppliers.
Step-by-Step Shipping Process
Navigate to Inventory, then Manage FBA Shipments, then Create Shipping Plan. Select your ship-from address (your home, warehouse, or prep center). Add the products you are shipping and the quantity of each. Amazon's system checks your selling eligibility and inventory limits for each product. Once you confirm the products and quantities, Amazon assigns one or more destination fulfillment centers. Amazon may split your shipment across 2 to 4 different warehouses. You can pay for the Inventory Placement Service ($0.30 per standard item) to send everything to one warehouse, though Amazon may still redistribute inventory later.
FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) barcodes are unique identifiers that link each unit of inventory to your specific seller account. Print FNSKU labels from Seller Central using Avery 5160 label sheets (30 labels per sheet) or a thermal label printer for faster output. Apply one FNSKU label to each unit, positioning it to cover the manufacturer's UPC barcode. If the UPC barcode remains visible, Amazon's warehouse scanners may link your inventory to the wrong seller account. Labels must be scannable, so print at high quality and do not place labels on curved surfaces where the barcode would distort.
Use sturdy corrugated boxes that can withstand shipping without crushing. Standard-size shipments have a maximum box weight of 50 pounds and maximum dimensions of 25 x 25 x 25 inches. Individual items over 50 pounds ship as single-item boxes. Pack products snugly with void fill (packing paper, air pillows, or bubble wrap) to prevent shifting during transit. Do not use packing peanuts, as Amazon's fulfillment centers prohibit them. Each box should contain products from a single shipment plan. Print box content labels from Seller Central and apply them to the outside of each box so Amazon's receiving team knows what is inside.
Amazon's partnered carrier program offers discounted UPS shipping rates through Seller Central. Print shipping labels directly from your shipping plan at rates that are typically 30% to 50% below retail UPS pricing. For small shipments (1 to 5 boxes), partnered UPS rates are usually the cheapest option. For larger shipments, compare Amazon's partnered rates against your own UPS, FedEx, or USPS accounts. LTL (Less Than Truckload) freight is available through Amazon's partnered carrier program for pallet-sized shipments of 150 pounds or more, with further cost savings for high-volume sellers. Print your shipping labels, apply them to each box (one label per box), and drop off at a UPS location or schedule a pickup.
Monitor your shipment status in Seller Central's Shipping Queue. Status progresses through Shipped, In Transit, Delivered, Checked In, and Receiving. Delivered means the carrier dropped off your boxes at the fulfillment center. Checked In means Amazon has scanned your boxes into their system. Receiving means Amazon is processing individual units and adding them to your available inventory. The time from Delivered to full Receiving typically takes 3 to 7 business days, though during peak season (October through December) it can extend to 2 to 3 weeks. Your products become available for sale as they are received, so a 500-unit shipment might have 200 units available after 3 days and all 500 available after 5 days.
Common Shipping Mistakes to Avoid
Sending inventory without FNSKU labels or with incorrect labels creates stranded inventory that sits in Amazon's warehouse without being linked to your listing. Fixing stranded inventory requires opening a case with Seller Central support and can take days or weeks to resolve. Always verify that your FNSKU labels match the correct product before applying them.
Exceeding box weight limits results in Amazon refusing receipt or charging additional handling fees. Weigh every box before shipping and ensure none exceed 50 pounds. Using boxes that are too large for their contents leads to shifting during transit, which can damage products. Using boxes that are too small creates pressure on products and may cause the box to burst. Match box size to your product volume and use appropriate void fill.
Shipping to the wrong fulfillment center delays check-in and may result in your inventory being redirected at your expense. Verify the destination address on every shipping label against the shipping plan in Seller Central. Each box in a multi-box shipment may go to a different fulfillment center, so label carefully and double-check addresses before carrier pickup.
Saving Money on Inbound Shipping
For international shipments from China or other manufacturing countries, a freight forwarder handles the entire logistics chain from factory to Amazon's warehouse. Freight forwarders arrange sea freight or air freight, handle customs clearance and duty payment, and deliver to the assigned fulfillment centers. Sea freight costs $4 to $8 per kg and takes 25 to 40 days. Air freight costs $6 to $12 per kg and takes 5 to 10 days. For a first order of 300 to 500 small items, air freight is often worth the premium because you get to market faster. For reorders where timing is less critical, sea freight saves 40% to 60% on shipping costs.
Consolidating shipments reduces per-unit inbound costs. Shipping 1,000 units is significantly cheaper per unit than shipping 200 units because fixed costs (customs brokerage, documentation, minimum carrier charges) are spread across more units. If you sell multiple products, time your reorders to ship together in a single freight shipment rather than separately. This applies to both international and domestic shipping.