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Amazon FBA Inbound Shipment & Handling Guide
Creating an FBA shipment is a core part of selling on Amazon FBA. A clean process avoids inbound delays and extra fees.
The complete shipment creation workflow:
1. Before creating the shipment, confirm:
• Confirm the product already has an FBA listing on Amazon with an FNSKU
• Confirm the product already carries its FNSKU label and the Made in China label
• Confirm the packaging meets FBA requirements
2. Open the shipment creation page:
• In Seller Central → Inventory → Manage Your FBA Inventory → select a product → Send/Replenish
• Or Seller Central → Amazon Logistics → Shipments → Create Shipment
3. Enter the shipping details:
• Ship-from address: the actual address of the warehouse the goods leave from
• Packing type: choose "Individual products" or "Case-packed products" (mixed)
• Product quantity: enter the quantity to ship for each SKU
• Packing details: enter the dimensions and weight of each box
4. Choose the shipping method:
• Small parcel delivery (SPD): best for small shipments
• Less than truckload (LTL): best when you are shipping several pallets
• Full truckload (FTL): best for large-volume shipments
5. Confirm and print the labels:
• Print the FBA box labels (one or two per box)
• Print the FNSKU labels (one per product)
• Book the delivery slot (if you are using an Amazon partnered carrier)
Estimated inbound timeline:
• After the shipment is created: immediately
• Express shipping once dispatched: 2-5 days (domestic) / 3-7 days (international express)
• Ocean freight to port: 13-16 days (US West Coast) / 40-53 days (US East Coast via the Panama Canal) / 28-32 days (Europe via Suez, 38-46 around the Cape)
• Amazon check-in to listed: 3-10 business days (peak season can stretch it to two weeks)
• Total from dispatch to sellable: 5-15 days by express; about 16 days by sea to the US West Coast; 40-53 days by sea to the US East Coast
• Peak season (Q4): add 7-10 days to any sea routing. Multi-destination shipment plans: Amazon requires every leg to be received within 30 days of the first leg, so pairing a US West Coast leg (~16 days) with a US East Coast leg (~53 days) leaves a ~37-day gap and risks an inbound defect fee — send US East Coast stock as a separate plan
Strict labeling and packaging requirements are the entry threshold for FBA inbound. Failing to meet them can get a shipment rejected or trigger extra fees.
FNSKU label requirements:
• Size: 2.25" × 1.25" (57mm × 32mm)
• Print quality: crisp and scannable, never blurry or damaged
• Placement: on a flat surface of the product's outer packaging, not across a seam or closure
• Cover-up: if the product already has a UPC barcode, the FNSKU label must cover it
• Quantity: one FNSKU label for every individually sellable unit
• Label stock: white adhesive thermal paper or laser-printed paper
Box label requirements:
• Size: printed on A4 (or 8.5" x 11")
• Contents: FBA shipment ID, box number, ship-from address and ship-to address
• Placement: one or two per box on the side of the carton, never over the seal line
• Watch out: never cover the barcode on the box label with clear tape
• Multi-box shipments: box numbers must run consecutively (1 of 10, 2 of 10 ...)
Product packaging requirements:
• Every individual unit must carry its own scannable barcode
• Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap and mark them "Fragile"
• Put protective caps on the sharp edges of pointed items
• Seal liquid products in a leak-proof bag before packing
• Powder products must carry a dust warning label
• Battery products must carry a battery label and follow dangerous goods shipping rules
Made in China labelling requirements:
• United States: every product must be marked "Made in China" or "Product of China"
• Europe: mark it "Made in PRC"
• Japan: mark it "Made in China" in Japanese
• Placement: somewhere clearly visible on the product or its packaging
• Tip: print the country-of-origin label together with the FNSKU label to save labour
After a shipment is received you may run into quantity discrepancies, damaged goods and other problems. A systematic process resolves them quickly and limits the loss.
Common types of inbound discrepancy:
• Quantity discrepancy: the quantity Amazon recorded does not match the quantity you shipped
• Product discrepancy: the ASINs received do not match the ASINs you shipped
• Condition discrepancy: the product was flagged as unsellable (damaged, expired and so on)
• Location discrepancy: the shipment was split across different FBA warehouses
How to handle a discrepancy:
1. Confirm the shipment status: on the shipment page, look at the received quantity and the discrepancy figure
2. Gather the evidence: keep your dispatch records, the logistics tracking proof and the packing list
3. Submit an investigation request: shipment page → shipment discrepancy enquiry → submit an investigation
4. Track the investigation: investigations usually take 5-14 days to complete
5. Accept or appeal the outcome: if you are not happy with the outcome you can submit more evidence and appeal
How to prevent inbound discrepancies:
• Photograph everything before dispatch (product, packaging, the packing process)
• Weigh every box on an accurate scale and record the weight
• Keep the packing list and the logistics invoice
• Make the box count on the labels match the actual number of boxes
• Use an Amazon partnered carrier
• Use tamper-proof seals on shipments going to FBA
Common reasons a shipment is refused:
• The label cannot be scanned (blurred, damaged or stuck in the wrong place)
• Packaging that does not comply (oversized, damaged or using banned packing materials)
• Dangerous goods without the required labelling or MSDS paperwork
• Overweight: a box over 50 lb (22.7 kg) without a Team Lift label
• Oversized: any side longer than 25 inches (63.5 cm)
• No delivery appointment, or a late one (LTL/FTL shipments need one booked)
Optimizing your FBA inbound process lifts efficiency, cuts cost and reduces the error rate.
Inbound speed optimisation:
• Amazon partnered carrier: using Amazon's own partnered carriers gets your shipment processed first
• Book ahead: book the inbound slot 7-14 days ahead for LTL/FTL shipments
• Ship off-peak: stay out of the pre-peak congestion in October and November
• Standardise the packaging: use standard-sized boxes and a standard packing method
• Pre-label the FNSKUs: label at the factory before dispatch, so nothing has to be fixed once the goods arrive
Controlling inbound cost:
• Warehouse split strategy: use Amazon's Inventory Placement Service to optimise where your stock lands
• Placement consolidation fee: consolidating into one warehouse costs extra - $0.30 per standard-size unit, $1.30 per oversize unit
• Box size optimisation: keep each box between 25-40 lb (11-18 kg) to avoid overweight charges and wasted volume
• Economical packaging: use lightweight materials to cut shipping cost
• Ship full containers: for large volumes choose FCL rather than LCL
Inbound automation tools:
• Amazon Send to Amazon: the new inbound tools, which streamline creating multi-box shipments
• Amazon Global Logistics (AGL): one-stop cross-border logistics plus inbound
• ERP systems: automatically generate packing lists, box labels and FNSKU labels
• 3PL providers: professional third-party logistics firms handle labelling, packing and dispatch in one place
Inbound performance metrics to track:
• On-time shipment rate: target above 95%
• Inbound put-away time: target under 5 days
• Inbound discrepancy rate: target under 1%
• Inbound rejection rate: target under 0.5%
• Freight cost share: target under 15% of total logistics spend
The right tools and services simplify the whole FBA inbound process, improve efficiency and cut errors.
Amazon's own inbound tools:
• Send to Amazon: the new inbound creation tool streamlines multi-box shipments. It works in the browser and in the app, and you can create shipments, print labels and book deliveries in bulk.
• Amazon Global Logistics (AGL): a one-stop cross-border logistics service that manages everything from factory pickup in China through to FBA check-in. It offers both FCL and LCL.
• Amazon partnered carrier: carriers that work with Amazon get priority processing at the warehouse. The fee runs slightly above market rate, but it takes the hassle out of it.
Third-party inbound service providers:
• GoodCang / WINIT / 4PX: first-leg logistics inside China plus overseas warehousing plus labelling and packing, all in one. Suits sellers who have no warehouse of their own in China.
• ShipBob / Flexport: logistics, storage and delivery combined. Suits sellers who already ship at some scale.
• Inspection services: independent inspection firms such as SGS, Intertek and BV check your goods before dispatch, so what arrives at the warehouse is up to standard.
ERP integration:
• Use an ERP (such as Lingxing, Captain or Jijia) to manage FBA shipment creation, inventory sync and logistics tracking automatically
• The ERP generates packing lists and box labels for you
• Monitor shipment status in real time (created → dispatched → received → listed)
• Calculate FBA fees automatically and produce a profit analysis
© 2026 Ylishi Tools - the in-depth Amazon seller guide series
Data sources: The official Amazon US fee schedule (Amazon Seller Central) and the Amazon Logistics (FBA) fee rate pages.
Calculation logic: Calculated from Amazon's published FBA fee rules for storage, fulfillment and return processing. Actual fees vary with product dimensions, weight and season.
Reference links:
• Amazon FBA fee schedule
• Amazon FBA fulfillment fee rates
Disclaimer: These results are for reference only; the actual fees charged in Amazon Seller Central govern.
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