Overview

Amazon requires sellers to bag certain products before shipping them to FBA fulfillment centers. Understanding these bagging requirements is essential for avoiding preparation defect fees and ensuring your inventory is processed smoothly. This reference covers which products need bagging, the specific packaging standards Amazon enforces, and the suffocation warning rules that apply to poly bags.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Bagging is mandatory for specific product types — Items that could be damaged by dust, contain loose parts, are very small, have strong scents, or feature adult content must all be bagged before arriving at Amazon's warehouses.
• Non-compliance triggers fees — If your products don't meet Amazon's bagging requirements, you'll be charged a preparation defect fee, which cuts directly into your margins.
• Poly bags must meet minimum thickness — All bags used must be at least 1.5 mil (one and a half thousandths of an inch) thick to provide adequate protection.
• Suffocation warnings are legally required on larger bags — Any bag with an opening of five inches or more when laid flat must carry a printed or labeled suffocation warning.
• Adult products need opaque packaging — Items classified as adult content must be sealed in non-transparent bagging with an external barcode or ASIN sticker visible on the outside.

Which Products Require Bagging

Several product categories trigger Amazon's bagging requirement. Powders, granular products, and pellets must be bagged to prevent spillage. Fabric items, textiles, and apparel need bags to protect against dust and damage during warehouse handling. Liquid products, including those in spray bottles, require bagging to contain potential leaks — and if the product is prone to leaking even inside a bag, Amazon may also apply a cap seal for additional protection. Small items that could easily get lost in a fulfillment center should be bagged for visibility. Sets or bundles with multiple components need bagging to keep all parts together. Scented products must be enclosed to prevent odor transfer to nearby inventory. Dangerous goods classified as hazmat liquids have an additional requirement: the bag or heat shrink-wrap must fully enclose the entire product with no open ends.