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Amazon FBA packaging & labeling Guidelines

One of the numerous restrictions and guidelines that the Amazon platform has for its sellers is the packing requirements for the items. Depending on the method they select for order fulfillment, Amazon gives sellers a variety of packaging alternatives. 

The seller must know that Amazon has the right to reject, return, or repackage any merchandise that does not adhere to packing guidelines. Additional non-compliance fines may be charged to the seller.

The packaging must display the following information, which is required:

    • Seller’s registered business address
    • Phone number or e-mail address
    • Barcode, i.e., the EAN or FNSKU

Packaging and labeling for Amazon FBA require certain standards to be met. Failure to abide can result in fines or suspension of selling privileges. To ensure compliance and avoid potential issues, here are some tips about do’s and don’ts for Amazon FBA.

Tips for packaging that the amazon seller needs to use for shipping

  • Standard box
    • When you’re shipping an item, it needs to fit the box correctly and follow basic dimension guidelines.
    • Amazon will only allow you to ship an item weighing 50 lbs. or less via FBA.
    • If your product weighs more than 50 lbs. (this includes the weight of packaging materials), you should add another “Team Lift” sticker onto every corner of the package.
    • For items weighing more than 100 lbs., “Mechanical Lift Marking” needs to be used on either side of the box.
    • Standard boxes accepted by Amazon:
      • 200BH (burst strength box)
      • Regular Slotted Carton (RSC)
      • ECT-32 Box
      • B-flute
  • Blister Packs

For smaller objects that require cleaning and sterilization, blister packs are widely used.

  • Bubble Wrapping Bag

For items that are fragile and prone to damage during the fulfillment process or products that are too heavy and might damage other products during transportation, Amazon recommends using bubble wrap packaging for extra protection. This will help prevent your products from being damaged during fulfillment and transportation, ensuring that your customers receive their orders in perfect condition.

    • Soft bubble-wrapping bags are another type of packaging frequently used for Amazon FBA shipments. A bubble-wrapped product should always be packed in a polybag or a box.
    • Bubble wrap bags are not usually offered by Amazon for use in shipments.
    • Poly Bags

Poly bags are perfect for packing and shipping items with non-rigid shapes such as bundles of wires, pairs of shoes, and backpacks. When preparing your FBA shipment, make sure you take into account the requirements for using poly bags. They can provide a secure and cost-effective solution for your products, ensuring they reach your customers in perfect condition.

    • Poly bags can be used to package items that don’t fit a fixed structural pattern.
    • A suffocation warning label must be printed on or labeled on the bag.
    • Bags should be transparent with a thickness of at least 1.5 millimeters and the content inside should not be larger than what would fit inside.

Amazon FBA label requirements

When working with Amazon, every product packaging label must adhere to its rules. If a seller’s shipments are not labeled correctly, Amazon may charge fees to fix the shipments. Once they arrive at their warehouses, they will assess and assign packing fees to the seller’s account.

    • FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) label:
      • Amazon identifies a product as being specific to the seller that supplied it to the Amazon fulfillment centre using an FNSKU.
      • FNSKUs have to be distinct and only apply to one product. This avoids confusion between products offered by several sellers but having the same UPC.
      • A new FNSKU must be assigned to each product variant by sellers who sell similar items with only minor variations in size, shape, or color.
    • Carton’s labeling:
      • A carton label will be created for the seller when they schedule an FBA shipping through Amazon Seller Central.
      • Boxes must be marked “heavy-weight” if they weigh between 15 and 30 kg.
      • The maximum weight Amazon allows for in cartons is 30kgs.
      • The labels must be printed by thermal or laser printers.
    • Labeling pallets
      • Each pallet must be labeled with the seller’s name, Origin and Destination addresses, and, if applicable, a PO box.
      • All pallets must contain identical items when shipping in bulk.
      • The weight of the pallet must not exceed 500 kg.
      • Pallets must be stretched and wrapped in clear plastic. If a pallet is damaged, it may be rejected by Amazon.

Requirements for Amazon Packaging (FBA) by Product Type

    • “Sold as a Set” Products:
      • Every product that contains a mixture of similar units must be wrapped as a “Sold as Set.”
      • Units need to be clearly labeled as a set and sealed so they won’t be separated. Include a label on the item that indicates “Do Not Separate” or “Sold as a set”.
    • Items sold in box units:
      • It must have six sides.
      • Any side of every box must be able to resist medium pressure.
      • If the box can open on its own with ease, a tape or staples or glue must be utilized to keep it sealed.
      • It should pass a 125-cm (49.2″) drop test, consisting of one drop on each side and one drop on a corner. If the product fails the drop test, it must be wrapped in a plastic bag with a suffocation warning.
    • Polybagged Units:
      • Poly bags with a 5″ or larger opening are required to have a suffocation warning written on them. This warning may be affixed as a label or printed on the poly bag itself.
      • The warning should be printed or placed in a prominent location and a legible font size for the size of the bag.
      • The bag must have a minimum thickness of 1.5 mils (0.0254 mm).
      • The poly bag needs to be clear(transparent) and include a barcode that can be quickly scanned.
      • The poly bag shrink-wrap cannot extend more than 3″ beyond the product’s dimensions.
    • Case-Packed Items:
      • Equal amounts of the same product must be present in each box for boxes containing the same product.
      • 150 units are allowed in a case pack.
      • Each item in a box must have the same SKU, be in perfect condition, and have been packaged as a unit by the manufacturer.
      • Any scannable barcodes on the case’s exterior should be hidden or taken off. Barcodes that can only be read by the items in the case are acceptable. Because of this, the case won’t be received as a unit.

Item Expiration date

    • Items that have an expiration date must have them printed in a font size of 36 points or greater on both the main box and the individual units.
    • Expiration dates must be written out using the DD-MM-YYYY or MM-YYYY format. Failing to use this format can lead to confusion and misunderstandings when it comes to expiration dates.
    • As long as each ASIN has only one expiration date, more than one ASIN can be shipped in the same box. Visit Expiry dates on FBA items for further details.

Non-Amazon marketing materials

Amazon does not accept non-Amazon marketing materials. This includes pre-priced labels, pamphlets, price tags, and any other material that does not have the Amazon label.

Safety Measures

    • When packaging products, use safety knives with covered blades. By doing this, it is less likely that sharp goods like blades will inadvertently be left in boxes and cause harm to an Amazon employee or consumer.
    • Every polythene bag must have a sticker warning of the risk of suffocation if the opening is greater than 12 cm.

So, how may StaffCloud.net be of assistance to you?

At StaffCloud.net, we understand that managing your staff and resources can be a complex and difficult process. That’s why we offer a range of tools and services to help you streamline and simplify this process, allowing you to focus on what matters most: the success of your business.

  • At Staffcloud.net, we are experts in providing top-notch customer service, managing Amazon orders, verifying shipments, and creating shipment labels with efficiency and accuracy. Our experience in inventory management ensures that your orders are handled efficiently and that your customers receive the best service possible. 
  • Our skilled image editing experts offer a wide range of options for product photo editing and enhancement.
  • StaffCloud offers complete support for new items and product setups. Our experts verify ASINs, eliminate barcode errors and optimize listings; all to make sure that you are running a successful business.
  • For your convenience, StaffCloud also manages bulk product uploads and updates.
  • To avoid stock outs and maximize product availability, we accurately reorder and update inventory levels for clients. Create channels with vendors and drop-shippers to get inventory updates at predetermined intervals.
  • We offer a Complete suite of services to list and maintain your products in Amazon Seller Central and Vendor Central.

If you have any queries or doubts, we would be pleased to help. Call us at +91-9326811779 or send an email to support@staffcloud.net.

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