Amazon FBA shipping
Amazon FBA shipping from China
From your supplier's loading dock to an Amazon fulfilment centre, prepared to Amazon's rules so nothing is turned away at receiving.
- Modes
- Sea, air and express
- Prep
- FNSKU labels · carton labels · pallets
- Terms
- DDP, delivered to FBA
Updated
Why FBA shipments get refused
Amazon fulfilment centres receive enormous volumes and are strict about what they accept. Shipments that don't meet the requirements can be refused, delayed, or accepted with non-compliance fees charged to your seller account. Most of the problems start in China, at the packing stage:
- Missing or unscannable FNSKU labels on units
- Carton labels missing, duplicated, or stuck on the wrong carton
- Cartons over the weight or size limits without the right warning labels
- Mixed SKUs packed in a carton declared as single-SKU
- Pallets over the height limit or built on the wrong pallet type
Checking these before a container is sealed costs very little. Fixing them once the goods are in the US means a detour through a prep warehouse, relabelling fees, and a missed delivery appointment.
Amazon's carton and pallet rules to plan around
Amazon revises its inbound requirements from time to time, so always confirm the current rules in Seller Central. These are the ones that most often catch out sellers shipping from China:
| Requirement | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| Carton weight | 50 lb (22.7 kg) per carton; heavier cartons need a "Team Lift" label |
| Carton size | 25 inches (63.5 cm) on any side, for standard-size products |
| Pallet type | 40 × 48 inch wooden pallets in good condition |
| Pallet height | 72 inches (183 cm), including the pallet |
| Labels | FNSKU on every unit, an FBA label on every carton, and pallet labels on all four sides |
How we prepare an FBA shipment in China
You create the shipment plan in Seller Central
Send us the FBA shipment ID, the carton labels and the destination fulfilment centre. If Amazon splits the shipment across several centres, we handle each destination separately.
Goods arrive at our Dongguan warehouse
From one supplier or several. We count cartons against your packing list and check units for FNSKU labels.
Labelling and pallet build
We apply FNSKU and carton labels where the supplier hasn't, and build pallets to Amazon's specification for ocean shipments.
Photo report before departure
You see the labels, carton condition and pallet build before anything leaves China.
Shipping and US customs
By sea or air on DDP terms. Your seller account never has to deal with customs.
Delivery appointment
In the US, the carrier books a delivery appointment with the fulfilment centre and delivers against your FBA shipment ID.
Sea or air for FBA?
The right mode depends on how fast your product sells and how much stock you already have at Amazon.
- Sea (LCL or FCL) for regular restocking you can plan six to eight weeks ahead. By far the cheapest per unit.
- Air freight for launches, or when a best-seller is about to run out. Around a week door to door.
- Split shipments — fly a small batch to cover the next few weeks of sales while the bulk follows by sea. The usual approach for sellers who've been caught out by a stockout before.
Allow for Amazon's own receiving time as well. In busy periods, especially October to December, fulfilment centres can take a week or more to check inventory in after delivery.
Storage limits and 3PL warehouses
Amazon limits how much inventory each seller can send in, and charges more for stock that sits for a long time. Rather than sending a full container straight into FBA, many sellers keep stock at a US 3PL warehouse and send smaller replenishments to Amazon as capacity allows. We can deliver to a 3PL, to FBA, or split one shipment between them.
See also: how DDP shipping works and China to USA transit times.
FAQ
Amazon FBA shipping: common questions
The questions importers ask us before the first booking. If yours is not here, ask us directly — a real coordinator replies, not an auto-responder.
Can you ship directly from China to Amazon FBA?
Yes. We collect from your supplier, prepare the cargo to Amazon’s requirements, ship it on DDP terms and deliver it to the fulfilment centre on your shipment plan.
Do you apply FNSKU labels?
Yes. FNSKU labels can be applied at our Dongguan warehouse if your supplier hasn’t done it, along with carton labels and pallet labels.
What if Amazon splits my shipment across several fulfilment centres?
Each destination is handled as its own delivery, with its own labels and appointment. We quote the split shipment as a whole.
Who is the importer of record for an FBA shipment?
Not Amazon — Amazon will not act as importer of record. On a DDP shipment our brokerage partner takes that role, so you don’t need your own customs bond.
How long does it take to get stock from China into FBA?
Typically four to seven weeks by sea to a West Coast fulfilment centre, including Amazon’s receiving time, and around one and a half to two weeks by air.