Shipment packaging requirements

Following these instructions helps ensure shipments arrive undamaged and ready for intake to our fulfillment centers:

• Use a rigid, six-sided box with flaps intact.
• Use a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return information.
• Each box you include in the shipment must have its own unique FBA shipment label printed from your Shipping Queue.
• Each pallet requires four labels, one on the top center of each side. Each box on the pallet also requires its own label.
• When shipping multiple case packs in a master carton, apply the unique shipping label on the master carton.
• If you are reusing boxes, remove all old shipping labels or markings.
• Wrap all items separately.
• Use adequate packaging material.
• Use strong tape designed for shipping.
• Use 2 inches of cushioning between each of your items and the inside of the box.
• After you pack your box, shake it gently. The contents should not move when shaken.
• Using boxes with dimensions measuring at least 15.5cm x 10cm x 2.5cm and weighing at least 0.5 Kg. (but no more than 63.5 on any 1 side and under 22 kg total) can reduce delays in receiving.

Avoiding the following also helps ensure shipments arrive ready for intake to Amazon fulfillment centers:

• Do not use point-of-sale containers typically used for display purposes (for example, open- front boxes or boxes without tops).

  

• Do not use pallet-sized boxes (also known as "gaylords").

  

• Don’t use string, straps, or over-wrap (plastic or paper).
• Do not bundle multiple boxes together.
• When reusing boxes, remove old shipping labels or markings.
• Remove irrelevant barcodes from the outside of cartons when reusing boxes to ship different products.

Picking the right-sized box for what you are shipping is important. If the container is too large, you will need to fill it up with enough packaging material so that the box will not collapse if heavier boxes are stacked on top during shipping.

Acceptable standard boxes:

• Regular slotted carton (RSC)
• B flute
• ECT-32 (edge crush test)
• 90.71 kg/sq. inch (burst strength)

Use a minimum of 2 inches of appropriate packing material around each item and the same amount in between your products and the walls of the box. If your items are being shipped in the manufacturer's case pack, the 2 inches of packing material is not necessary.

Using appropriate packing material ensures your shipment quickly moves through the fulfillment center receiving process and protects our associates from potential safety issues.

Use these:

• Bubble Wrap
• Full sheets of paper (heavy-weight kraft paper is best)
• Inflatable air pillows
• Polyethylene foam sheeting

Do not use these:

• All types of packing peanuts, including those made of biodegradable material or corn starch
• Crinkle wrap
• Shredded paper
• Styrofoam

Breaking down the material benefits

Bubble Wrap or small cell bubble sheeting provides surface protection as well as shock absorption. It can also be wrapped around almost any product, regardless of shape or size.

Paper, specifically kraft paper intended for packing applications, can be used to fill empty space in your shipping box. For best results, use kraft paper with a minimum basis weight of 27 kg to ensure that it is thick enough to provide protection.

Inflatable air pillows use air pressure to secure and hold products in place inside the shipping container, and provide an air barrier of cushioning. They generally come in a strip of air pillows that you can easily use as lightweight dunnage to fill the empty space in your box.

Polyethylene foam sheeting is thin, soft, resilient, and provides surface protection and cushioning properties. This type of packaging is good for protecting lightweight items.