Overview

Effective May 15 2024, Amazon will add per‑unit charges for its FBA preparation and labeling services. The new fees apply to sellers who rely on Amazon to bag, wrap, or affix barcode labels before inventory enters the fulfillment network. Because the added cost can erode margins on low‑priced items, sellers must reassess whether to keep using Amazon’s service, shift to an external prep center, or bring the work in‑house.

Key Points

• Fee rollout date — The updated prep and labeling price list becomes active on May 15 2024, giving sellers a short window to adjust their workflows.
• Barcode labeling charge — Each unit that Amazon labels with a FNSKU now incurs a flat fee (e.g., $0.30 per label for standard items).
• Packaging fees — New per‑unit rates apply to common prep tasks such as poly‑bagging ($0.15), bubble‑wrapping ($0.20), and taping ($0.10).
• Tiered pricing for volume — Sellers moving more than 10,000 units per month may qualify for a modest discount, but the baseline fees still affect all accounts.
• Cost‑benefit shift — The convenience of a single‑step “Amazon‑handles‑everything” model is now weighed against higher unit costs, especially for products priced under $10.

How the New Fee Structure Works

1. Enable labeling in your FBA settings — In Seller Central, navigate to Settings → Fulfillment by Amazon and turn on the “Amazon‑labeling” toggle. For example, a seller of silicone kitchen tools activates the option, allowing Amazon to apply barcode labels during inbound processing.
2. Select prep services per shipment — When creating a shipping plan, choose the specific prep tasks (e.g., poly‑bagging, bubble wrap) for each SKU. A seller shipping 5,000 units of scented candles might opt for bubble‑wrap only, triggering the $0.20 per‑unit charge for that service.
3. Amazon applies fees at receipt — Once the inventory arrives at a fulfillment center, Amazon automatically deducts the applicable prep and labeling fees from the seller’s account balance. If the same candle shipment includes both labeling and bubble‑wrap, the system records $0.30 + $0.20 = $0.50 per unit, which appears on the daily transaction report.