Private Label Packaging and FBA Labeling Requirements in 2026

What changed for FBA packaging and labeling in 2026?

Two Amazon policy changes in 2026 moved labeling and preparation work from Amazon to sellers. On January 1, 2026, Amazon ended its FBA prep and item labeling services in the United States, so it no longer applies labels, bags products or bubble-wraps items for you. On March 31, 2026, Amazon ended stickerless commingled inventory, which meant that units sharing a barcode were no longer pooled with other sellers' identical products. Together, these changes mean every unit that arrives at a fulfillment center must already be labeled correctly, protected properly and compliant, or it can be delayed, repackaged at your cost or marked as defective.

For private label sellers this is both a risk and an opportunity. Poor labeling can strand inventory and stop sales. Good packaging and clean labeling protect your product and support the brand you are building, which we cover in our brand building guide.

What are the two layers of packaging you have to plan?

Every private label product has two kinds of packaging, and each has different goals.

• Retail packaging. The box, bag or sleeve the customer sees. It protects the product, carries your brand and communicates value and required information.
• Inbound shipping packaging. The master cartons and pallets that carry your units to Amazon. These must follow Amazon's carton, weight and labeling rules so receiving goes smoothly.

Plan both together at the supplier briefing stage. Changing carton dimensions after production starts can raise freight cost, and changing retail packaging dimensions can move a product into a more expensive fee tier, as explained in our profitability guide.

Which barcode should you use: FNSKU or manufacturer barcode?

The barcode tells Amazon which seller and listing each unit belongs to. After March 31, 2026 your choice has real consequences, so decide it before you design packaging.

If you use a manufacturer barcode, source it properly. Amazon expects barcodes registered through GS1, and cheap resold barcodes can cause listing problems. If you use FNSKU labels, make sure the factory or prep center prints the right label for the right product, because mixed-up labels create inventory errors.

What are the main FBA preparation requirements?

The table lists requirements that are commonly cited for standard private label items. Amazon updates its rules, and requirements differ by category, so always confirm the current details in Seller Central before you finalize packaging.

When does a product need a poly bag, and what must the bag carry?

Bagging protects soft or loose products from dirt and damage, and it is often required for items such as textiles, plush toys and small loose pieces. If the bag opening measures 5 inches or more, Amazon requires a suffocation warning printed on the bag or applied as a label, and the warning begins with the sentence that tells people to keep the bag away from babies and children to avoid danger of suffocation. Use the complete wording shown in Amazon's current requirements rather than copying a shortened version. Bags should be sealed, and the barcode must remain visible and scannable through the plastic. Because rules vary by category, check the prep requirements for your product type, and ask your supplier to test one bagged unit with a scanner before production.

How should you prepare cartons and shipments?

Cartons should protect the units inside, stay within Amazon's weight and size limits, and carry the shipment labels generated in Seller Central. Pack units tightly enough to prevent movement but not so tightly that boxes bulge. Avoid mixing different products in one carton unless your shipment plan allows it, and place labels where they scan cleanly and are not hidden by tape. Create your shipment plan before the cartons are packed, so you know the destination and the labels to print. If you ship through a managed route, our logistics and shipping service can coordinate carton labeling and delivery. Importers should also read our China to USA import guide, because carton data feeds customs filings.

How do you design retail packaging that sells and complies?

Retail packaging should do four jobs at once: protect, sell, inform and fit the fee tier you modeled. Use this checklist when you brief a designer or supplier:

• Protection. Choose materials that survive drops and compression without excess bulk.
• Size. Keep packaged dimensions and weight inside the fee tier in your profit model, since small changes can move a product into a costlier tier.
• Brand. Use your logo, colors and a clear benefit statement so the product looks like part of one brand.
• Information. Include usage instructions, warnings, materials and country of origin where required.
• Barcode placement. Leave a clean, flat area for the barcode so labels never cover important artwork.
• Unboxing. A tidy first impression supports reviews and repeat purchases.

Our custom packaging design service covers dielines, mockups and print-ready files.

Which compliance labels might your product need?

Beyond Amazon's own rules, many products must carry legal labeling. Requirements depend on the product, so confirm what applies to yours before printing:

• Country of origin. Imported goods generally must be marked with the country where they were made.
• Textiles. Fiber content, country of origin and manufacturer or importer identification are typically required on textile products.
• Children's products. These have safety testing, certification and tracking label requirements.
• Warnings. California requires specific warnings for certain chemicals, and many products carry choking, battery or usage warnings.
• Food and cosmetics. These categories have their own labeling and ingredient rules.

When in doubt, ask a qualified compliance professional, and keep copies of test reports and certificates, because Amazon can request them.

What should a supplier packaging brief include?

A written brief prevents most packaging errors. Send it with your specification and keep it in the purchase agreement. Include these items:

1. Final artwork files and the approved packaging sample.
2. Exact packaged dimensions and weight tolerances.
3. Barcode type, file and placement, with the label size and position.
4. Bagging requirements and the exact suffocation warning where it applies.
5. Carton size, units per carton, maximum carton weight and carton marks.
6. Country of origin and any other mandatory text.
7. A pre-shipment photo and scanning check before the goods leave the factory.

Where should labeling and prep be done?

Many sellers have the factory label units and use a prep center only to correct problems or handle special cases. Our FBA preparation service covers labeling, bagging and compliant shipment setup.

How do you verify packaging and labels before shipping?

Verify packaging at pre-shipment inspection rather than at your warehouse. Ask the inspector to scan barcodes on a sample of units, check that labels sit on flat surfaces and do not cover other barcodes, confirm bag thickness and warnings, run a drop test on packed units and cartons, and measure and weigh sample cartons. Our supplier verification and quality control checklist includes FBA-specific checks you can add to your inspection order. Also confirm that your sourcing terms cover labeling, as described in our private label sourcing guide.

What are the most common packaging and labeling mistakes?

• Assuming Amazon will still label or bag products as it did before 2026.
• Printing labels that do not scan through glossy or wrinkled bags.
• Covering the wrong barcode, or leaving an old barcode visible.
• Using the wrong FNSKU label for a variation.
• Designing packaging that pushes the product into a more expensive fee tier.
• Skipping the suffocation warning on large-opening bags.
• Letting cartons exceed weight or size limits.
• Not checking labels until the inventory is already at Amazon.

To see how packaging fits into a complete launch, read our private label launch case study. If you would like a partner to design packaging and prepare compliant shipments, HighRise Wholesale offers custom packaging and FBA preparation for Amazon FBA and Walmart WFS sellers.