Amazon labeling and FNSKU requirements

Amazon FBA shipments need labels at up to three levels: an FNSKU on each product unit, an FBA carton label on each box, and — if you palletize — pallet labels on each pallet. Getting these applied correctly at origin is the surest way to avoid a refused delivery or extra warehouse fees.

An FNSKU (Fulfillment Network SKU) is the barcode Amazon uses to identify a product as unique to you, the seller. Every product sold through FBA needs one on each individual unit. You can either apply an FNSKU label to each unit or register with Amazon so your manufacturer's own barcode satisfies the requirement.

Unit labels sit on the product itself. They are not Amazon labels unless you have registered that barcode as the FNSKU unit label.

Amazon generates FBA carton labels when you complete the shipment web form in your Seller Central account. Each carton needs the correct label so it reaches the right fulfillment center.

Send the FBA carton labels to your supplier so they can label at origin — this is the smoothest path. If your plan is split across multiple fulfillment centers, you will have multiple FBA shipment IDs, each with its own label; make sure your supplier applies the right label to the right box (see Multiple FBA locations in one shipment).

If your supplier does not apply the original FBA carton labels, they must at least mark each carton with the Amazon SKU or the product name exactly as listed in Seller Central when shipping FCL or transloading. We can only apply FBA labels at our warehouse when the master cartons are marked this way — if the cartons are unmarked and you ask us to label them, you will be asked to accept liability for any mismatch.

If your final-mile method requires palletizing (Amazon-partnered LTL, or our own LTL), pallet labels are applied to each pallet. When cargo is palletized at origin, the pallet labels must be applied there too. When we palletize at our destination warehouse, we download, print, and apply the pallet labels for you — which is why we need limited access to your Seller Central account (see Why we need Seller Central access). Palletizing done at our warehouse appears on your invoice as a Warehouse Value Add fee.

Follow Amazon's placement rules on every carton:

• The full label must be visible and scannable.

• No other barcodes should be visible on the carton, so old or duplicate barcodes must be covered.

• Place labels on a flat side of the carton, not over a corner or an edge.

• Every box needs its own carton label.

For a full pallet, add four pallet labels — one centered on each of the four sides.

Your supplier can label at origin as long as they have the correct Amazon labels and understand the placement rules. Labeling at origin is preferred: fixing or redoing labels at destination costs extra time and money. If you label at origin, the shipment should also be palletized at origin. Where origin labeling is not possible, we can label at our warehouse under the conditions above.

Send us — or your supplier — the FBA carton labels once your plan is created. If we palletize, we pull the pallet labels from your Seller Central account and apply them after palletizing. Marking cartons correctly at origin keeps your cargo moving and avoids liability waivers and rework fees.

• Shipping to Amazon FBA, end to end

• Amazon palletization rules

• Individual vs case-packed products

• Why we need Seller Central access

• Multiple FBA locations in one shipment