Effective for shipments created on or after January 1, 2026, Amazon no longer prepares or labels your products inside its FBA warehouses. You handle prep yourself, or you use a third-party prep center.
Per Supply Chain Dive's reporting on Amazon's seller announcement:
“The company said the change, which will take effect at the start of 2026, is due to improvements in sellers' packaging capabilities.”
Amazon's statement, in its own words:
“The vast majority of Amazon sellers now handle their own packaging, including prep and item labeling, either on their own, through their own manufacturing partners or through third-party service providers.”
Industry response has been direct. Charles Williams, senior manager of marketplace operations at the omnichannel agency Blue Wheel, called it “one of the most significant operational shifts Amazon has made in recent years.” Reddit's /r/FulfillmentByAmazon thread “So… Amazon just dropped FBA prep” ranks top-10 on the relevant SERPs.
Most affected proportionally. In-house prep was a real cost cushion. Either accept ~$1–$2/unit on a third-party prep service or build a kitchen-table prep workflow at home. Many small sellers also qualify for Amazon's Ships in Product Packaging program for already-retail-ready items.
Sweet spot for third-party prep. Volume is enough to negotiate per-unit pricing under the listed rate. Multi-channel sellers should look at hybrid prep + 3PL providers; FBA-only sellers should look at pure FBA prep specialists for the per-unit pricing edge.
Likely already using third-party prep or your own warehouse — Amazon's in-house service rarely served your volume cleanly. Some large sellers will accelerate moving to full 3PL relationships now that the in-house option is closed.
Amazon's own seller guidance describes packaging, labeling, and inspection requirements per category. Workable if you have low SKU count, simple products, and physical space. Bottleneck risk on scale — once you're past 500–1,000 units/month, your time is worth more than the per-unit prep savings.
A small focused prep shop charges $1–$2 per unit for standard prep and handles inspection, labeling, polybag, kitting, and inbound FC routing. Most US prep centers turn shipments around in 24–72 hours. We maintain a verified directory — every listing re-checked within the last 30 days.
Eligible items shipped to Amazon FBA in their retail packaging can be exempted from many prep requirements. Eligibility depends on package durability, SKU labeling, and category. Best for items already manufactured retail-ready (consumer electronics, books, certain CPG).
The six questions a verified prep center should answer plainly:
Small Michigan-based Amazon prep center operating since 2005. Smaller team; markets fast turnaround and direct phone/email access to operators. Offers custom quotes for specific packaging and preparation needs.
California-based FBA prep center oriented toward importers, with container unloading and large-scale handling for shipments coming through West Coast ports. Has monthly volume minimums; best fit for high-volume importers, especially China-to-US.
Orange County, California prep center running a three-step receive/prep/ship process. Handles inspection, FNSKU labeling, packaging, and compliance checks. Port-adjacent location is a practical advantage for importers shipping through Southern California.