Overview

When selling multi-pack products on Amazon, sellers must correctly configure both the Universal Product Code (UPC) and Item Package Quantity (IPQ) to ensure accurate listings and avoid catalog errors. Getting these settings wrong can lead to listing suppression, customer confusion, and even account health issues. This guide breaks down the rules for manufacturer-created and seller-created multi-packs.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Multi-packs require unique UPCs — A multi-pack listing on Amazon is only permitted for manufacturer-created packs that come with their own distinct UPC. You cannot reuse the single-unit UPC for a bundle you assembled yourself.
• IPQ must be set correctly — The Item Package Quantity field tells Amazon how many individual units are contained in the package. Setting this incorrectly leads to pricing errors and confused buyers.
• Non-manufacturer packs need their own ASINs — If you create a multi-pack that the original manufacturer does not sell, you must first check whether an ASIN already exists for that configuration. If it does, match to it. If not, create a new ASIN with its own unique UPC.
• Variation restrictions apply — Non-manufacturer-created multi-pack ASINs cannot be listed as variations of a manufacturer-created multi-pack ASIN. They must stand alone or match an identical existing detail page.
• IPQ is set via flat file or XML templates — Sellers configure the IPQ value through Amazon's listing templates by locating the IPQ field and entering the correct unit count.

How UPC and IPQ Work Together

Every product on Amazon needs a UPC, and multi-packs are no exception. The key distinction is that a pack of two items and a single item are treated as entirely different products in Amazon's catalog, each requiring their own UPC. The IPQ value then tells Amazon's system how many individual units the customer receives when they purchase one of that ASIN. For example, if a manufacturer sells a 2-pack of Product X with UPC 000123456789, the IPQ would be set to 2, while the single unit of Product X with UPC 000123456788 would have an IPQ of 1. This pairing of UPC and IPQ ensures that pricing, inventory counts, and fulfillment all work correctly.