Your next shipment to Amazon has to arrive labeled, bagged and boxed to Amazon’s rules, and Amazon won’t fix it for you anymore. Since January 2026, every unit you send to FBA in the US must arrive ready.
That’s where an FBA prep center comes in. An FBA prep center gets your inventory ready for Amazon’s fulfillment centers, so your team doesn’t have to.
In this guide, you’ll learn what FBA prep involves, what changed in 2026, how prep centers charge, how a prep center compares with doing it yourself, and how to choose one. If you buy wholesale from US suppliers, it’s written with you in mind.
Quick answer: An FBA prep center is a warehouse that receives your inventory, labels, bags, wraps and bundles it to Amazon’s requirements, then ships it to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Since January 2026, Amazon no longer offers prep in the US, so every unit must arrive ready.
Table of contents
FBA prep at a glance (2026)
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| What changed | Amazon stopped offering its prep and item-labeling services for US FBA shipments from January 1, 2026; sellers prep themselves or use a prep center |
| What prep covers | FNSKU labels, polybagging with suffocation warnings, bubble wrap, boxing, bundling and sets, carton labels and shipment packing |
| Risk of skipping it | Units not prepped to Amazon’s rules lose eligibility for lost or damaged inventory reimbursement and can be refused, repackaged or charged fees |
| How prep centers bill | Per unit, with add-ons for bundles, bubble wrap and oversize items, plus receiving, storage and outbound shipping to Amazon |
| Who needs one | Wholesale sellers buying from US suppliers, sellers relabeling for a new listing or seller account, sellers whose deliveries arrive on pallets, and sellers based outside the US |
| Alternatives | DIY prep, a 3PL that preps and holds reserve stock, or Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) for products that qualify |
What is an FBA prep center?
An FBA prep center is a warehouse or 3PL that prepares your products to meet Amazon’s packaging and labeling requirements before they go to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Many offer FBA prep and ship as one service. Here’s how it works:
- Inventory arrives from your supplier, distributor or manufacturer.
- The prep team checks it against your packing list and counts it.
- Each unit is prepped: labeled, bagged, wrapped or bundled as needed.
- Units are packed into cartons with Amazon box labels.
- Cartons ship to the fulfillment centers in your shipment plan.
The most common task is applying an FNSKU label. FNSKU is Amazon’s barcode that ties a unit to your seller account, so Amazon knows whose item it is.
Prep centers come in two kinds. A prep-only center moves stock through quickly. A 3PL that also preps can hold reserve stock and ship to other channels, such as Walmart, Shopify or wholesale buyers.
Why FBA prep matters more in 2026
On July 28, 2025, Amazon announced that it would stop offering prep and item-labeling services for US FBA shipments from January 1, 2026. Shipments created before that date kept the service. Since then, every unit has to arrive at Amazon ready.
Amazon’s announcement covers all inventory sent to US FBA, including stock that arrives through Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD), Amazon Global Logistics, Amazon SEND and the Supply Chain Portal.
In practice, you can no longer pay Amazon to label or bag units when they reach the fulfillment center. You prep them yourself, or you use a partner that does it for you.
Getting it wrong is costly. Units that don’t meet Amazon’s prep guidelines aren’t eligible for reimbursement if they’re lost or damaged. Non-compliant shipments can also be refused or charged fees, which delays your stock reaching the shelf and can leave you out of stock.
What FBA prep services include
FBA prep services cover every step that turns a supplier delivery into stock Amazon will accept. Here’s what a full-service prep center typically handles, from the first label to the truck:
- FNSKU labeling: Amazon’s barcode on each unit that needs one, placed over the manufacturer or supplier barcode. This is the most common job for wholesale products bought from US suppliers.
- Relabeling: new FNSKU labels after a listing change, rebranding, a move to another seller account or a labeling error, for example private-label products from a US manufacturer sold under a different listing.
- Polybagging: clear bags with a printed suffocation warning for apparel, soft goods and small parts, so items stay clean and together.
- Bubble wrap and protective packaging: bubble bags or wrap for glass, liquids and other fragile items that could break in transit.
- Bundling and sets: “Sold as set” or “Do not separate” labels, so Amazon treats a multipack as one unit.
- Boxing and opaque bags: cover for adult products or other items that shouldn’t be visible in transit.
- Inspection: unit counts, damage checks, and recorded expiry dates and lot numbers where they apply.
- Carton packing and labeling: box contents, FBA box ID labels, and cartons kept within Amazon’s weight and size limits.
- Shipping to Amazon: small parcel or LTL (less-than-truckload) freight to the fulfillment centers in your shipment plan.
Amazon FBA prep requirements vary by product type, so check Seller Central for each product before you send it, or ask your prep center to confirm them.
How much does FBA prep cost?
Your FBA prep cost depends on the tasks each unit needs and what else is billed.
- How prep centers bill: a per-unit fee for each prep task, add-ons for bundles, protective packaging and oversize items, plus receiving, storage and outbound freight to Amazon. Many have monthly minimums.
- ASTORAGEHUB rates: FNSKU labeling is $1 per unit, polybagging $0.50 per unit and bubble-bag packaging $0.50 per unit, with no minimum payments. No storage is charged when inventory comes in for prep and goes straight to Amazon. Storage applies only to stock kept for future replenishments: $0.65 per cu ft per month, prorated daily. Full rates are on our pricing page.
- What changes the price: how many tasks each unit needs (label only, or label and bag), product size and fragility, the number of SKUs, and how clean your inbound shipments are.
- Costs to ask other providers about: storage after a free period, minimums, special projects, rush fees and shipping markups. It helps to know how warehouse pricing works before you compare quotes.
Example (illustrative): 1,000 wholesale units that need FNSKU labels cost $1,000. If 300 of them also need polybags, add $150, for $1,150 in total, about $1.15 per unit, plus outbound freight to Amazon. If 400 units stay in reserve, storage is charged only on their cubic feet, prorated by the day.
FBA prep center vs doing it yourself
| DIY prep | FBA prep center | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Supplies and your time; no per-unit fee | Per-unit fees, plus freight to Amazon |
| Space and equipment | Your own space, label printer and supplies | Commercial warehouse and equipment included |
| Speed | Depends on your schedule | Set turnaround once stock arrives |
| Error risk | Rests with you | Shared with a trained team; check who pays for mistakes |
| Scaling for Q4 | Limited by your hours and space | Extra staff and space at peak, if booked early |
| Best for | Low volume, few SKUs, deliveries in boxes | Growing volume, many SKUs, deliveries on pallets |
DIY works well while volume is low, you sell a handful of SKUs and deliveries arrive in boxes you can handle yourself. You keep full control and pay no per-unit fees.
A prep center usually starts to make more sense at one of these turning points:
- Deliveries arrive on pallets, not boxes. This is the most practical turning point: you now need commercial space and equipment such as a pallet jack or forklift.
- Suppliers won’t deliver to a residential address.
- You’re based outside the US.
- You need a commercial address for specific verification requirements.
- Your time is worth more elsewhere. As volume grows, hours spent labeling are hours not spent sourcing or selling.
Using a 3PL for FBA prep and reserve storage
A 3PL that offers Amazon FBA prep can do more than move stock through.
- Wholesale flow: products from US distributors and manufacturers arrive in cases or on pallets with their own barcodes. The 3PL receives them, applies FNSKU labels where required, packs and labels cartons, and ships to Amazon, typically within 24–48 hours. No storage is charged on stock that goes straight through.
- Relabeling: private-label products from a US manufacturer can be relabeled for a different listing or seller account before they go to FBA.
- Reserve stock: keep a few weeks of supply in FBA, hold the rest at the 3PL and replenish in batches; storage applies only to what stays, which cuts your FBA storage fees.
- One stock pool: the same reserve inventory can ship to Walmart, Shopify or wholesale buyers.
- Imported inventory: private-label goods from overseas factories usually arrive already labeled for FBA, because labeling at the factory is cheaper. Prep is then the exception: relabeling after a listing change, rebranding or a labeling issue. Near the LA and Long Beach ports, a 3PL can also handle container unloading and storage.
Example (illustrative): a wholesale seller buys 40 SKUs from three US distributors. Deliveries arrive on pallets at the 3PL, where they’re received and counted. Each unit gets an FNSKU label over the manufacturer barcode, and 1,000 units are packed, carton-labeled and shipped to Amazon within two days. Instead of sending everything to FBA, the seller keeps four weeks of extra stock in reserve storage at the 3PL for the next replenishment.
FBA Prep in 24–48 Hours.
ASTORAGEHUB labels and preps your inventory for Amazon, with Seller Central integration and no minimums, and stores reserve stock for your next replenishment.
How to choose an FBA prep center
Use this checklist to compare any Amazon prep center you’re considering:
- Location: a commercial address your suppliers will deliver to, close to them and with good routes to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Shorter trips mean lower freight costs.
- Turnaround: how fast stock is prepped and shipped after it arrives, promised in writing rather than only on the website.
- Accuracy and error handling: who pays if a label is wrong or Amazon charges a fee because of a prep mistake.
- Integrations: a Seller Central connection, inventory visibility and shipment tracking, so you can see every unit without chasing emails.
- Pricing: a full rate card, any minimums and the storage rate after any free period, so there are no surprises on your first invoice.
- Capacity in Q4: whether it can take your peak volume, and from when you must book.
- Other channels and storage: whether it can hold reserve stock and ship non-Amazon orders, such as Walmart, Shopify or wholesale orders.
Ask each provider for a sample quote based on one of your real shipments, so you can compare like for like. If a provider can’t answer these questions clearly before you sign, expect the same gaps once your inventory is in their building.
FAQ – FBA prep centers
An FBA prep center receives your inventory, labels, bags, wraps and bundles it to Amazon’s rules, packs and labels the cartons, and ships them to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Many also inspect stock on arrival, checking counts, damage, expiry dates and lot numbers before anything leaves for Amazon.
Not in the US. Amazon stopped offering prep and item labeling for FBA shipments from January 1, 2026. Shipments created before that date kept the service, but every shipment created since must arrive fully prepped, either by you or by a prep partner working on your behalf.
It can be refused or charged fees, and units that don’t meet prep guidelines aren’t eligible for lost or damaged inventory reimbursement. Problems at check-in also slow down how quickly your stock becomes available for sale, which can cost you sales during busy periods.
Most FBA prep centers charge per unit, with extra for bundles, bubble wrap and oversize items, plus receiving, storage and shipping to Amazon. Some also set monthly minimums, so ask for a full rate card and a sample quote based on one of your real shipments.
At low volume, with deliveries in boxes, it can be. Once deliveries arrive on pallets, you need commercial space and equipment such as a pallet jack or forklift, and a prep center usually makes more sense. Until then, doing it yourself saves you per-unit fees.
Many can. At ASTORAGEHUB, stock that is prepped and sent straight to Amazon isn’t charged storage; storage applies only to reserve stock kept for later replenishments. That lets you keep fewer units in FBA and send more in batches as you need them.
SIPP, or Ships in Product Packaging, is an Amazon program for products whose own packaging can ship to customers without an extra Amazon box. SIPP products still need FNSKU labels, and not every product qualifies, so check eligibility and packaging requirements in Seller Central before you rely on it.
Conclusion
Since Amazon stopped prepping inventory for sellers, every unit you send to FBA has to arrive ready. A prep center takes that work off your team: it labels, bags, bundles and packs your products to Amazon’s rules and ships them in. If you buy from wholesale suppliers or sell on other channels, a 3PL that preps and holds reserve stock lets you keep FBA lean and replenish it on your schedule. Whether you prep in-house or hand it off, the goal is the same: stock that checks in quickly and stays eligible for reimbursement.
FBA Prep in 24–48 Hours.
ASTORAGEHUB labels and preps your inventory for Amazon, with Seller Central integration and no minimums, and stores reserve stock for your next replenishment.
About the Author
