Amazon FBA Shipment Creation Guide (2026)
Step-by-Step in Seller Central
Complete guide to creating Amazon FBA shipment plans in 2026. Learn how to set up SPD and LTL shipments, handle FC splits, print box labels, and avoid the most common shipment errors.
Step 1: Start Your Shipment in Seller Central
Navigate to Inventory → FBA Inventory → Send/Replenish Inventory. Select the products you want to ship. You can add multiple ASINs to one shipment. Enter the quantity for each unit you're sending. Amazon will calculate the shipment destination(s) based on their inventory distribution algorithm.
Step 2: Set Up Your Shipping Plan Type
Amazon offers two primary shipment types:
SPD (Small Parcel Delivery): For shipments under 150 lbs total, using individual cartons shipped via FedEx, UPS, or USPS.
LTL (Less-Than-Truckload): For larger shipments, typically palletized. Requires scheduling with Amazon's partnered carriers.
Step 3: Handle FC Splits
Amazon frequently assigns inventory to multiple fulfillment centers (FCs). This is called a split shipment. You must ship to each FC separately with its own box labels. Amazon's Inventory Placement Service allows you to consolidate to one FC for an additional fee — useful for heavy or expensive items where split shipping costs exceed the placement fee.
Step 4: Enter Box Content Information
For each carton, you must specify: the ASINs inside, the quantity of each ASIN, the carton weight and dimensions. Amazon uses this information to update inventory records when your shipment is received.
Step 5: Print and Apply Box Labels
After entering box content information, download and print the Amazon FBA box labels. Each carton gets a unique label with its own barcode. Apply the label to the largest flat surface of the box, free from folds or seams. Do not use the same box label more than once.
Step 6: Ship and Track
Schedule pickup or drop-off with your carrier. Enter tracking information in Seller Central. Monitor your shipment status in Manage FBA Shipments. Typical FC receiving time: 3-5 business days after delivery.
The Two Decisions That Set Your Cost
A shipment plan looks like data entry, but two choices inside it determine what the shipment costs, and both are made before you print a label.
1 · Who preps the units. Amazon ended its US FBA prep and item labelling services on 1 January 2026. The plan will still ask, but "Amazon prep" is no longer an answer that saves you work — units arriving unprepared are refused or handled under unplanned-services terms at your cost.
2 · Whether you split the shipment. Amazon's inbound placement fee falls when you send to the multiple fulfilment centres it nominates rather than consolidating to one. Splitting costs more in freight and less in fees; the right answer depends on your unit economics, not on a rule of thumb. Our placement fee guide works the trade-off through with numbers.
SPD or LTL — the Threshold That Matters
| Small Parcel (SPD) | Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit of handling | Individual cartons | Palletised freight |
| Typical fit | Up to roughly 10–15 cartons | Beyond that, or anything heavy |
| Labels needed | One carton label per box | Carton labels plus pallet labels |
| Booking | Automatic in Seller Central | Requires a carrier and a delivery appointment |
| Common failure | Carton over weight or size limit | Missing appointment; pallet built too tall |
The switch is not only about carton count. A single heavy carton can exceed small-parcel limits on its own, and a pallet that arrives without a booked delivery appointment can be turned away at the gate — a failure that has nothing to do with your labelling.
Getting the Box Numbers Right
Seller Central asks for the weight and dimensions of every carton, and those numbers do real work: they set the freight quote, feed the placement fee calculation, and get checked on arrival.
- Weigh the packed carton, not the empty one. Obvious, and still the most common source of a discrepancy.
- Measure the longest points. Bulges from tape or overfilled corners count.
- Do not round down. An understated carton that measures larger on arrival can trigger a reconciliation.
- Keep box contents consistent. Mixed SKUs in one carton are allowed but must be declared accurately; guessing here is what causes receiving discrepancies weeks later.
We record weights and dimensions at the bench during prep, so the numbers submitted are measured rather than estimated.
Labels: Three Different Things
- FNSKU — on the unit, one per sellable item, every other barcode covered. Details in the barcode requirements guide.
- Carton label — on the outside of each box, generated during shipment creation. A box without one gets held even if every unit inside is perfect.
- Pallet label — for LTL only, four per pallet, one on each side.
All three are printed at 100% scale. Scaling is the single most common labelling failure, and it is silent: the label looks fine and simply does not scan on a moving belt.
What Delays a Shipment After You Submit It
- No delivery appointment for LTL. The carrier must book one; the fulfilment centre will not accept a walk-in.
- Carton contents do not match the plan. Receiving stops and the shipment waits on a reconciliation.
- A restricted item in the box. Anything on Amazon's restricted list, or ours, needs clearing before it ships. Ours is published.
- Expired or reused labels. Shipment IDs are specific to a plan; last month's labels are not valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose SPD or LTL?
Small parcel suits roughly up to 10–15 cartons; beyond that, or with heavy cartons, LTL on pallets is normal. LTL also needs a booked delivery appointment, which small parcel does not.
Does Amazon still offer to prep my units?
No. Amazon ended its US FBA prep and item labelling services on 1 January 2026. Units must arrive prepared, or they are refused or handled under unplanned-services terms at your cost.
Why does Amazon want me to split the shipment?
Inbound placement fees are lower when inventory goes to the fulfilment centres Amazon nominates. Splitting adds freight cost and reduces fees; whether it is worth it depends on your unit economics.
What weight should I enter for each box?
The weight of the packed carton, measured rather than estimated, with dimensions taken at the longest points. Understated numbers can trigger a reconciliation on arrival.
Can I reuse carton labels from a previous shipment?
No. Labels carry a shipment ID specific to that plan. Reused labels route inventory to the wrong shipment and are one of the harder errors to unwind.
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