Overview

Error 5013 is a feed processing error that Amazon returns when a single message within a submitted feed exceeds the allowable data size. Sellers and developers who use inventory feeds, product listing feeds, or other bulk data submissions through Seller Central or the SP-API may encounter this error when individual records contain more information than Amazon's systems can process in one message. Understanding how to diagnose and resolve this error is essential for maintaining smooth feed-based operations.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Root Cause — This error fires when a single message entry in your feed payload contains more data than Amazon permits, causing the system to reject that particular message during processing.
• XSD Compliance — Amazon provides XML Schema Definitions (XSDs) for each feed type that define the structure, allowed fields, and data limits for feed submissions. Using the wrong XSD or including fields not supported by your feed type can inflate message size.
• Partial Feed Failure — Error 5013 typically affects only the individual message that exceeds the limit, not the entire feed. Other valid messages in the same feed submission may still process successfully.
• Common Triggers — Overly long product descriptions, excessive bullet points, large numbers of keywords, or including unnecessary optional fields are frequent causes of oversized messages.

How Feed Processing Works

When sellers submit data feeds to Amazon — whether through Seller Central's flat file uploads or programmatically via the Selling Partner API — each feed is broken into individual messages. Amazon validates every message against the appropriate XML Schema Definition (XSD) for that feed type. The XSD acts as a blueprint, specifying which fields are required, which are optional, and what size constraints apply to each data element. If any single message exceeds the data boundaries defined in the schema, Amazon rejects that message and returns Error 5013 in the feed processing report. The remaining messages in the feed continue to be evaluated and processed independently.

Common Causes and How to Fix Them

The most frequent reason sellers see Error 5013 is including too much text in fields like product descriptions, search terms, or bullet points. Amazon imposes character limits on these fields, and exceeding them can push a message over the allowable threshold. Another common cause is using an outdated or incorrect XSD version that doesn't match the feed type being submitted. Sellers should verify they are referencing the current XSD for their specific feed category by checking Amazon's official feed schema documentation. Additionally, including a large number of optional attributes — such as extensive variation data, multiple image URLs, or numerous keyword fields — can compound the message size. Trimming unnecessary optional fields and keeping text within documented character limits will typically resolve the issue.