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Your first shipment to Amazon’s fulfillment centers is where many new sellers lose time and money. Units arrive without the right labels, cartons break the size rules, or the shipment plan sends inventory to more warehouses than expected. Each mistake means delays, extra fees or stock that cannot be sold.
This guide walks through a first FBA shipment for the US store, step by step. We prepare shipment plans and labeling with our clients; dozens of them sent their first FBA shipment with us.
Before you start: what changed in 2026
Since January 1, 2026, Amazon no longer offers prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments in the US. Every unit must arrive already prepped and labeled, whether you ship directly or through programs like Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD). Shipments that arrive without proper prep and labels are not eligible for reimbursement if units are damaged or cannot be traced.
In practice, this means prep happens at your factory, your own warehouse or a third-party prep center, not at Amazon.
Step 1: Get your listings FBA-ready
- Create or confirm the listing for each product and set the fulfillment channel to FBA.
- Check that product dimensions and weight are correct. They decide your size tier, and therefore your fulfillment and placement fees.
- Check whether the product is a dangerous good (hazmat). Items such as batteries, aerosols or some cosmetics need extra review before they can be sent.
Step 2: Choose your barcodes
Each unit needs a scannable barcode that Amazon can match to your listing. You have two options:
- Amazon barcode (FNSKU): a label unique to you as the seller. This is the safest choice for most brands, because your units are never mixed with another seller’s.
- Manufacturer barcode (UPC/EAN): available for eligible products when you are the brand owner. It saves labeling work, but units are tracked by the manufacturer code.
FNSKU labels must be printed clearly, cover any other barcode on the package and stay readable after transport.
Step 3: Prep each unit
Amazon publishes prep requirements by product type. Common examples:
- Poly bags: for clothing, textiles and loose items, with a suffocation warning when the opening is large enough.
- Bubble wrap: for fragile items such as glass.
- Sets: items sold as a set must be bundled and marked “Sold as set” so they are not separated.
- Expiration dates: products with an expiry date must show it clearly on the unit and carton.
Doing this at the factory before export is usually the cheapest option and avoids a second handling step in the US.
Step 4: Pack cartons by the rules
- Follow Amazon’s limits on carton dimensions and weight; heavier cartons need team-lift labels.
- Provide box content information so Amazon knows what is in each carton.
- If you can, pack identical cartons (same product, same quantity per carton). This matters for placement fees, as the next step shows.
Step 5: Create the shipment and choose a placement option
You create the inbound plan in Seller Central’s Send to Amazon workflow. Amazon then offers placement options, which decide how many fulfillment centers your inventory goes to, and the inbound placement service fee for each:
- Minimal shipment splits: you send everything to as few locations as possible and pay the highest per-unit placement fee.
- Partial shipment splits: available for some size tiers; more locations, lower fee.
- Amazon-optimized shipment splits: you send to the locations Amazon chooses and pay no placement fee. This option typically requires at least five identical cartons or pallets per item, which is why carton planning matters.
The fee is charged per unit and depends on size and weight. Amazon updated the placement fee schedule on January 15, 2026. For 2027, Amazon has announced no change to placement rates, but standard-size inbound regions drop from three to two (East and West) from January 15, 2027.
How to decide: compare total cost, not the fee alone. Multiply your units by the per-unit fee for the minimal split, then compare it with the extra freight cost of shipping to several locations. Whichever total is lower wins, provided both options can arrive in time.
Step 6: Book transport and label the cartons
- Small parcel (SPD): individual cartons, typical for first shipments of smaller products.
- Less than truckload (LTL) or full truckload (FTL): pallets, for larger volumes.
You can use Amazon’s partnered carrier or your own carrier. Print the shipment and carton labels from Seller Central and attach one to each carton; for pallets, follow Amazon’s pallet labeling rules. If you ship from abroad, your freight forwarder brings the goods through customs and delivers them to the fulfillment centers in your plan.
Step 7: Track receiving and reconcile
After delivery, Amazon checks in your units. Receiving can take from a few days to a few weeks, especially in busy seasons. Compare received quantities with what you sent. If units are missing, open a case with your proof of delivery within the window Amazon allows. Problems such as late, missing or mislabeled shipments can also lead to inbound defect fees.
Common first-shipment mistakes
- Wrong product dimensions in the listing, leading to the wrong size tier and fees.
- Labels covering the wrong barcode, or the original barcode left visible.
- Cartons over the size or weight limit.
- Mixed cartons that rule out the Amazon-optimized split.
- Assuming Amazon will prep or label units on arrival.
- Shipping too late before a peak season and missing the sales window.
How we help
For our clients we prepare the shipment plan, quantities and labeling, compare placement options with freight quotes, and track the shipment until it is received. Inventory and FBA planning is part of our Amazon account management, and brands launching from abroad can see our Amazon US expansion service and our guide to selling on Amazon US from Europe or Turkey. Questions about your first shipment? Contact us.
FAQ
Does Amazon still label and prep FBA inventory in the US?
No. Since January 1, 2026, Amazon no longer offers prep and item labeling services for US FBA shipments. Units must arrive prepped and labeled.
How can I avoid the inbound placement fee?
Choose Amazon-optimized shipment splits when they are offered. They carry no placement fee but usually require at least five identical cartons or pallets per item and mean shipping to several locations, so compare the extra freight cost with the fee.
Should I use FNSKU or manufacturer barcodes?
For most brands, FNSKU labels are the safer choice because your units are tracked only as yours. Manufacturer barcodes save labeling work for eligible brand owners.
How long does Amazon take to receive a shipment?
Usually from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the season and the fulfillment center. Plan extra time before Prime Day and the holiday season.
Requirements and fees in this guide reflect Amazon’s US rules as of November 2026. Always check Send to Amazon and Seller Central Help for current rules before you ship.
