How to Prepare and Send Your First FBA Shipment

Sending stock to an Amazon fulfilment centre for the first time can feel complicated. There are product labels, preparation rules, carton details and carrier arrangements to manage, often in a workflow you have never used before.

The good news is that your first FBA shipment becomes much easier when you treat it as a sequence of small checks. This beginner-friendly guide explains how to prepare your stock, create the shipment in Seller Central, pack the cartons, print the labels and monitor delivery.

Amazon changes Seller Central screens and requirements from time to time. Always follow the instructions shown in your account for the product, destination and shipment you are creating.

1. Decide What to Include in Your First FBA Shipment

Start with a small, manageable quantity rather than sending every unit you own. A modest first FBA shipment lets you learn the process, identify preparation mistakes and understand how quickly Amazon receives stock without putting too much cash into storage.

Check that every product you plan to send has an active Amazon listing and is set to Fulfilment by Amazon. Make sure the title, variation, condition and quantity match the physical stock in front of you. Do not send damaged, incomplete or incorrectly packaged products.

Before creating the shipment, check:

• The SKU and ASIN match the intended product.
• The listing is active and eligible for FBA.
• The quantity is accurate.
• The product is permitted for sale and storage.
• Any expiry date leaves enough remaining shelf life under Amazon’s current rules.
• Restricted, dangerous-goods or compliance information has been completed where required.

Keep a simple stock sheet containing the SKU, product name, quantity sent and unit cost. This gives you an independent record if the received quantity later differs from the quantity dispatched.

Beginner tip

Choose one or two straightforward products for your first FBA shipment. Avoid mixing fragile, liquid, sharp, oversized and expiry-dated goods until you are comfortable with the basic process.

2. Prepare and Label Every Sellable Unit

Amazon must be able to receive, identify, store and ship every individual unit safely. The required preparation depends on what the item is made from, how it opens and whether it could leak, break, separate or expose a customer or fulfilment-centre worker to risk.

Inspect every unit before packing it. Packaging should be secure, clean and suitable for distribution. Loose sets should be fixed together and clearly presented as one sellable unit. Open packaging, exposed products and weak seals can cause delays or rejection.

Common preparation may include:

• Sealing liquids and leak-prone products.
• Protecting fragile items with suitable cushioning.
• Bagging products that need protection from dust or separation.
• Securing bundled items so the set cannot be split.
• Covering sharp points or edges.
• Making required expiry information visible and consistent.

Seller Central will tell you whether a manufacturer barcode can be used or whether an Amazon product label is required. If you print Amazon labels, place one flat and scannable label on each unit and cover other scannable barcodes where instructed. Never place a label around an edge, seam or curve that prevents easy scanning.

You may be able to select Amazon to perform certain preparation or labelling services for a fee, depending on the product and programme. Check the charges and eligibility shown during the workflow before choosing this option.

Important warning

Preparation rules vary by product type. Check the current Packaging and Prep Requirements inside Seller Central instead of relying on a generic checklist alone.

3. Create the Shipment in Send to Amazon

Amazon’s current inbound workflow is called Send to Amazon. In Seller Central, open the FBA inventory or shipment area and start a new Send to Amazon workflow. Menu names can change, so use Seller Central search if you cannot find it.

Select or create the packing template for each SKU. A template records how a product is packed, how many units are in a case, its dimensions and weight, and who is responsible for preparation and labelling. Measure actual packaged units rather than guessing.

Enter the number of units you are sending and confirm the ship-from address. This should be the location from which the carrier will collect the cartons. Review every SKU and quantity before confirming the next step.

The workflow may ask you to:

1. Choose the inventory and enter quantities.
2. Confirm preparation and product-labelling responsibilities.
3. Provide box-packing information.
4. Confirm a ship date and shipping mode.
5. Select an available carrier or arrange your own.
6. Review charges and print the required labels.

Amazon decides where the inventory should be sent. A shipment can sometimes be divided between destinations, or an inbound placement option may be offered with different charges. Read the destination and cost summary carefully before accepting it.

Save before moving on

Download or record the shipment ID, destination, unit quantities and estimated transport charge. If you have several cartons, number them on your own packing record so you know what went into each one.

4. Pack the Shipping Cartons Correctly

The outer shipping carton protects all the sellable units while they travel to Amazon. Use rigid, undamaged corrugated boxes that can withstand normal carrier handling. Avoid weak reused cartons, oversized boxes with excessive empty space and packaging that may collapse under weight.

Pack products so they cannot move freely. Use suitable void fill, but do not make it difficult for the fulfilment centre to unpack the shipment. Close every carton securely with strong packing tape.

During the Send to Amazon workflow, provide accurate box contents, dimensions and weight. Weigh the finished carton after it has been sealed. Measure the longest points of the actual packed box.

For each carton, check:

• The contents match the box information submitted to Amazon.
• Every sellable unit has the required preparation and product label.
• The box is within the current size and weight limits shown by Amazon.
• The carrier can accept the parcel.
• Old shipping labels and unrelated barcodes have been removed or covered.
• The seams are securely taped.

Do not combine units from a different shipment in the same carton. If Amazon assigns more than one fulfilment-centre destination, keep those shipments and their labels completely separate.

A practical packing record

Photograph the open carton, the sealed carton on the scale and the attached labels. Keep the photographs with your packing list and proof of collection. This simple record can be useful if a carton is delayed or units are not received as expected.

5. Print and Apply the Shipment Labels

Product labels identify individual sellable units; shipment labels identify the outer cartons. They are different and you may need both. Printing the correct product labels does not remove the need for the carton labels generated at the end of the workflow.

Download the box labels from Send to Amazon only after the carton details are final. Print them at full scale using a reliable laser or thermal printer. Check that the text and barcodes are sharp, complete and not faded.

Apply the required labels to a flat surface on each carton. Keep labels away from box seams, corners and tape that may be cut when the carton is opened. If two labels are supplied for a partnered-carrier parcel, follow the placement instructions shown in the workflow and make sure both belong to that carton.

Match every printed label to the correct box. When several boxes look alike, work on one carton at a time: check the carton number, attach its labels and mark it as complete on your packing sheet.

Seller Equipment You May Need

Final label check

Try scanning each barcode with an ordinary barcode app if available. This does not guarantee Amazon acceptance, but it can reveal obvious print-quality problems before the cartons leave your premises.

6. Dispatch and Monitor Your FBA Shipment

Confirm the shipment details before handing anything to the carrier. Check the destination, carton count, estimated charges and planned dispatch date. If you use an Amazon partnered carrier, follow the collection or drop-off instructions provided in Seller Central. If you use a non-partnered carrier, enter the requested tracking or freight information accurately.

Obtain proof of collection or a drop-off receipt showing the number of cartons. Keep it with your shipment record and carrier tracking details. Do not treat the carrier’s first scan as confirmation that Amazon has received the inventory.

The shipment status may move through stages such as shipped, delivered, checked in, receiving and closed. Cartons can be delivered before all units become available for sale, so allow Amazon’s receiving process to finish before assuming stock is missing.

Monitor three things:

• Carrier tracking for each carton.
• Shipment status in Seller Central.
• The number of units received against the number sent.

If there is a discrepancy, wait until the shipment becomes eligible for investigation, then follow the reconciliation process shown in Seller Central. Amazon may request evidence such as proof of purchase, a packing list or proof of delivery. Keep genuine, unedited records and provide only the documents requested.

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Final thoughts

Your first FBA shipment does not need to be large or complicated. Accuracy matters more than speed: confirm the listing, prepare every unit, enter honest box data, attach the right labels and retain a complete dispatch record.

After Amazon receives the stock, note what went smoothly and what slowed you down. Turn that into a repeatable packing checklist for your next FBA shipment. A simple documented routine reduces errors and makes larger replenishments much easier to manage.

Amazon’s requirements, charges and Seller Central workflow can change. This guide is general information, not a substitute for the current instructions and policies displayed in your Amazon seller account.

Further reading

• Amazon UK: Fulfilment by Amazon
• Amazon Seller Central: Packaging and Prep Requirements (sign in and search Help)
• Amazon Seller University: Send to Amazon workflow (access through Seller Central)

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