Overview

Properly labeling products before sending them to Amazon's fulfillment centers is one of the most fundamental requirements for FBA sellers. Getting labels wrong can result in misrouted inventory, additional fees, or even rejected shipments. Amazon provides video tutorials on its Seller Central Help Hub covering the essentials of product labeling and special prep requirements for items with expiration dates.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Every FBA unit needs a scannable label — Amazon fulfillment centers rely on barcode labels to receive, store, and ship your products. Without a proper label, your inventory cannot be processed.
• FNSKU labels are the standard — The Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) barcode is Amazon's unique identifier that ties a product directly to your seller account and listing.
• Label placement matters — Labels must be placed on a flat surface of the product packaging where they can be easily scanned. Covering existing barcodes (like the manufacturer UPC) is required to prevent scanning errors.
• Expiration-dated products have extra rules — Items such as food, supplements, and cosmetics that carry expiration dates must follow additional prep and labeling guidelines to ensure customers receive products with adequate remaining shelf life.
• Amazon offers a labeling service — If you prefer not to label items yourself, Amazon's FBA Label Service will apply FNSKU labels for a per-unit fee, though this adds to your fulfillment costs.

How FBA Product Labeling Works

When you create a shipment in Seller Central, Amazon generates FNSKU barcode labels specific to each product in your inventory. These labels must be printed and affixed to every individual unit before the products are shipped to a fulfillment center. The FNSKU barcode connects the physical item to your listing and account, which is especially important for commingled inventory avoidance. Sellers typically print labels on standard 30-up adhesive label sheets (1" x 2-5/8" labels, such as Avery 5160). Each label includes the FNSKU barcode, product title, and condition. The labels must be scannable, so print quality matters — smudged or wrinkled labels can cause receiving delays.