Selling products on Amazon with Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) requires the use of barcodes. Knowing and understanding Amazon’s barcode requirements is essential for successful selling on their platform.
This post provides a detailed explanation of barcode types, including UPC/EAN barcodes, FNSKU barcodes, and ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers). By familiarizing yourself with these barcodes, you can ensure your products meet all criteria to get selling in no time.
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Barcode Requirements for Amazon FBA
Barcodes are an important part of selling on Amazon with Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). In order to list products on Amazon and send them to Amazon warehouses for fulfillment, a product must have a unique barcode identifier, known as a GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number. These unique identifiers come in several types, such as:
- UPC/EAN
- ASIN
- FNSKU
- ISBN
Since it’s essential to understand the barcode requirements for Amazon FBA to successfully sell products on their platform, let’s discuss each of these unique identifiers (barcodes) in detail.
UPC/EAN Barcodes
The most common GTIN is the 12-digit barcode known as a UPC or EAN. A UPC/EAN (Universal Product Code/European Article Number) is a barcode used to identify products for sale on the global market. It is used by retailers to scan items at checkout, as well as track inventory and sales data. The first six digits are the company prefix, followed by five digits that uniquely identify the product, and then one final digit which acts as a check-digit for accuracy.
To obtain these codes, product manufacturers purchase them from an organization called GS1, or Global Standards 1. They provide manufacturers with unique numbers that they can use for printing barcodes on their products.
One thing to know is most manufacturers already have UPCs assigned and printed on their products, so if you’re reselling products sourced from a distributor or manufacturer, you won’t have to worry about procuring UPC codes from GS1.
Once you have your UPC code in hand, applying it to your product packaging is relatively straightforward. You can print barcode labels using a thermal transfer printer capable of printing on direct thermal labels. Once printed, simply affix the label onto your product package and you are ready to go.
ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Number)
An ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is a unique 10-character alphanumeric code used to identify products on Amazon. ASINs are assigned by Amazon when a product is added to their catalog.
It’s important to note that while a product can only have one ASIN, it can have several FNSKU’s to differentiate between product conditions, for example.
FNSKU Barcodes
An FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is an identifier assigned by Amazon when you create a product listing. This code helps track inventory within their fulfillment centers and may need to be printed on each individual unit sent to their warehouses.
If Amazon won’t allow tracking of a product by UPC, or if the product doesn’t already have a UPC barcode, sellers need to put an FNSKU barcode onto the product before sending it to Amazon.
How do you know if Amazon will require putting an FNSKU barcode on your product, even if it already has a UPC barcode? A quick way to tell is with the leading character of the FNSKU. If the FNSKU begins with the letter “B”, you won’t have to put an FNSKU barcode label on. If the FNSKU begins with the letter “X”, however, you will have to put an FNSKU barcode label on the product.
If you do have put an FNSKU barcode on, make sure it covers any existing UPC/EAN barcode. This ensures that the FNSKU barcode won’t be confused with a UPC barcode when scanning at fulfillment centers. Finally, double check to ensure barcode type accuracy before shipping out any orders; incorrect labeling could lead to delays in processing times.
To print FNSKU barcodes, follow these steps:
Find and copy the ASIN of the product
Navigate to the “Shipments” page of Seller Central
From the “Shipments” drop-down menu, select “Scan & Label”
In the text field, put the ASIN you copied earlier and hit “Enter” on the keyboard
From the list of products that comes up, click the “Download label” button
Open the file and print the label to your thermal label printer.
ISBN Barcodes
ISBN’s, or International Standard Book Numbers, are a 10 or 13 digit identifier used in the book industry. Even though it’s a special identifier used only for books, I include it here because Amazon was once just a book seller, and many sellers start their Amazon selling journey with used books like I did.
Once upon a time, Amazon allowed the commingling of books, meaning books weren’t tracked back to the individual seller, so you didn’t have to apply any other barcodes to the book before sending to FBA. Today, however, any book you send to Amazon will have to have an FNSKU barcode applied over the existing ISBN barcode. This allows Amazon to track books sold by individual sellers.
What are the Requirements for Amazon FBA Labels?
Amazon FBA barcode labels are required for all products that you wish to sell on Amazon through their Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) program. These barcode labels must be affixed to each item prior to shipping them into an Amazon fulfillment center.
I’m going to list Amazon’s label requirements below, or you can find them here.
Label placement requirements
When you’re ready to put barcodes on your products, make sure to:
- Put the correct barcode on each item.
- Cover all other barcodes, except for Transparency authentication code labels.
- Make sure barcodes are scannable after any prep is completed.
- Don’t put the barcode on a corner of the product.
- Allow a quarter of an inch between the edge of the label and the edge of the packaging.
- Ensure each item in a case pack has an Amazon barcode and that any barcodes on the case have been removed.
Important: Failure to follow label placement requirements can cause processing delays and may result in unplanned prep service fees.
Printer requirements
Printing labels in your seller account is best done with thermal printers. You can also use laser printers but don’t use inkjet printers as the barcode may smudge and become unreadable.
Tip: Amazon fulfillment centers currently use the Zebra GX430t thermal label printer.
Each label must be readable and scannable for 24 months. The following guidelines will help ensure that the label you print will not smudge or fade:
- Periodically test your Amazon barcodes by scanning them.
- Use a printer with a print resolution of 300 dots per inch or greater.
- Periodically test, clean, and replace your label printer heads.
Label paper requirements
All Amazon barcodes must be printed in black ink on white, non-reflective labels with removable adhesive. Dimensions must be between 1 x 2 inches and 2 x 3 inches (1 x 3 inches or 2 x 2 inches, for example).
For laser printers, Seller Central supports the following label sizes:
- 21 labels per page (63.5 mm x 38.1 mm on A4)
- 24 labels per page (63.5 mm x 33.9 mm on A4, 63.5 mm x 38.1 mm on A4, 64.6 mm x 33.8 mm on A4, 66.0 mm x 33.9 mm on A4, 70.0 mm x 36.0 mm on A4, 70.0 mm x 37.0 mm on A4)
- 27 labels per page (63.5 mm x 29.6 mm on A4)
- 30 labels per page (1 inch x 2 5/8 inches on US letter)
- 40 labels per page (52.5 mm x 29.7 mm on A4)
- 44 labels per page (48.5 mm x 25.4 mm on A4)
If your printer attempts to scale the PDF print area when you print your labels, make sure that the printer scaling is set to None or 100%.
*** If you have an Amazon Seller Central account, you can also find Amazon’s barcode requirements page here.
FAQs in Relation to Amazon FBA Barcode Requirements
Are Barcodes Required for Amazon FBA?
Yes, barcodes are required for Amazon FBA. All products must have a valid UPC, EAN, ASIN, or FNSKU barcode in order to be sent to Amazon’s warehouses for fulfillment.
Be sure that all items sent into an Amazon fulfillment center include a barcode label that contains the same product identifier as what is used in the listing information. This helps ensure accuracy and efficiency when processing orders and stocking shelves within their warehouses.
How Many Barcodes Do I Need for Amazon FBA?
Each product you plan on selling with Amazon FBA needs its own barcode. Additionally, some categories, like books, require additional codes such as an FNSKU barcode to cover ISBN barcodes. When in doubt, contact Amazon directly for specific information about barcode requirements for your particular product(s).
What Types of Barcodes Does Amazon FBA Use?
A product sold using Amazon FBA can use an existing UPC or EAN code or Amazon-assigned FNSKU barcodes or ASIN barcodes. When you’re creating your shipment plan to send products to Amazon, you will be instructed on what type of barcode to use.
Conclusion
To ensure that your products are properly identified and tracked by Amazon, it’s important to understand their barcode requirements. UPC/EAN barcodes, FNSKU barcodes, and ASINs all play a role in keeping your products properly identified in the Amazon ecosystem. By following these requirements, sellers can be sure their products will move through the fulfillment process smoothly and get to customers quickly.
Want to see my list of the best thermal label printers for Amazon FBA? See this page.
Need to buy thermal labels that meets Amazon’s requirements? See this post.