Amazon FBA Carton Labeling Requirements for Shipping from China

Amazon FBA carton labeling requirements tell sellers how to mark every box they send to an Amazon fulfillment center. Amazon says that boxes without the required FBA box ID label may lead to blocked future shipments ("Shipping Label Requirements"). The same rules apply whether the cartons move by sea freight or by air. This guide explains the key terms, compares the main label types, and lists what export cartons from China need.

What Is an FBA Carton Label?

An FBA carton label is the FBA box ID label. Sellers print this label from their shipment workflow in Seller Central. The label links one physical box to one inbound shipment. Each box needs its own label, and this includes a box that comes straight from the manufacturer ("Shipping Label Requirements").

The carton label is not a product label. A product label, often called an FNSKU label, goes on each sellable unit inside the box. FNSKU stands for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit.

Core Labeling Rules for Each Carton

Amazon lists these main rules for box labels.

• Each box has its own FBA box ID label from the shipment workflow.
• The box ID label and the carrier label both sit on a flat side of the box. Their barcodes should not fold over edges or corners.
• Neither label is covered, so workers can scan and read both.
• A larger box with several case packs inside gets one box ID label on the outside. The case packs inside do not need their own box labels.
• A 2D barcode does not replace the box ID label. Amazon still requires the box ID label when sellers use 2D barcodes for box content information ("Shipping Label Requirements").

Weight also affects labels. Amazon's standard limit for one box is 50 lb, unless the box holds one oversize item that weighs more. A single item over 50 lb needs a "Team Lift" label on the top and sides of the box. A single item over 100 lb needs a "Mechanical Lift" label in the same places ("Shipping and Routing Requirements").

Carton Labels vs. Other FBA Labels

Sellers often mix up four kinds of labels. The table below shows how they differ.

A small parcel delivery (SPD) box carries a box ID label and a carrier label. A pallet shipment adds four pallet labels, one on the top center of each side ("Shipping Label Requirements"). The boxes on the pallet still keep their own box ID labels. So sellers who move larger loads by LTL freight need both kinds of labels.

"Made in China" Marks on Export Cartons

U.S. customs rules also apply to export cartons. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says every foreign article must show the English name of its country of origin. The mark must be easy to read. The law gives some exceptions ("Marking of Country of Origin").

The rules also cover containers. Under 19 CFR 134.22, the outer container must show the origin when the article itself is free from marking. A container with the name and address of a U.S. importer, distributor, or other U.S. company also needs an origin mark close to that address. The rule gives "Contents made in France" as an example ("19 CFR § 134.22").

FBA cartons often carry a U.S. warehouse address on their labels. This article does not judge whether the rule covers every FBA carton, so sellers should ask their customs broker. A team that handles customs clearance can also check the marks before the cargo ships.

Before the Cartons Leave China

Many sellers check and fix labels at a consolidation warehouse in China. Efan's China warehouse and consolidation service offers packing, repacking, labeling, and palletizing before the cargo ships to the U.S. Amazon can change its rules at any time, so sellers should check Seller Central before each new shipment.

Works Cited

"19 CFR § 134.22 - General Rules for Marking of Containers or Holders." Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/134.22. 

"Marking of Country of Origin on U.S. Imports." U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 22 May 2024, www.cbp.gov/trade/rulings/informed-compliance-publications/marking-country-origin-us-imports. 

"Shipping and Routing Requirements." Amazon Seller Central, Amazon.com Services LLC, sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/G200141510. 

"Shipping Label Requirements." Amazon Seller Central, Amazon.com Services LLC, sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/G200178470.