Use an Amazon barcode to track inventory

Amazon systems are barcode-driven. Each unit you send to a fulfillment center requires a barcode so that it can be tracked throughout the fulfillment process.

Products that don't use a manufacturer barcode for tracking require an Amazon barcode. You can print Amazon barcodes from within your seller account and apply the barcodes yourself. If you don’t want to apply the barcodes yourself, you can sign up for the FBA Label Service and have Amazon apply the labels for you for a per-item fee.

For eligible products, you can use the manufacturer barcode to track your inventory. For more information, go to Use virtual tracking to commingle inventory.

Any item that requires an Amazon barcode but that arrives at a fulfillment center without one will be subject to an unplanned prep service fee. For more information, go to Unplanned services.

See our videos for additional information

• Your first FBA shipment: Labeling
• Inventory labeling requirements
• How to label products for Fulfillment by Amazon

Downloads

• Packaging and shipping inventory to Amazon (PDF)
• How to label products (PDF)

Print Amazon barcodes

You can print Amazon barcodes for your products from the Label products page when you create a shipment, or at any time from Manage Inventory.

If you use a thermal printer, labels are printed immediately. For laser printers, a PDF is generated that you can use to print labels using standard label paper.

To print Amazon barcodes from Label products, follow these steps:

1. Select the shipment that you want to work on from the Shipping Queue.
2. In the Items column, verify the number of each product that you want to send.
3. At the bottom of the page, click Print labels. For thermal printers, the labels will be printed automatically. For laser printers, a PDF will be generated for use with label paper.

To print Amazon barcodes from Manage Inventory, follow these steps:

1. Select the products in the left column.
2. Select Print item labels from the Action on selected drop-down menu.

Amazon barcode requirements

When printing Amazon barcodes onto labels, make sure that the printed labels include the following:

• Sufficient white space around the Amazon barcode and related text: (6 mm on the sides and 3 mm on the top and bottom)
• ASIN or FNSKU
• Product name
• Item condition

If you are the product manufacturer or brand owner and you want to print barcodes directly onto the product packaging, apply for your own GS1 standard UPC barcode.

Label placement requirements

When you are ready to place barcodes on your products, make sure that you do the following:

• Put the correct barcode on each item.
• Cover all other visible barcodes, except for any serial number barcodes or Transparency authentication code labels.
• Place the barcode on the outside of any prep materials.
• Do not place the barcode on a curve or corner of the package.
• Allow 6 mm between the edge of the label and the edge of the packaging.
• Ensure that each item in a case pack has an Amazon barcode and that any barcodes on the case have been removed.

Printer requirements

The tools in your seller account are optimized for thermal printers. You can also use laser printers. Do not use inkjet printers to print Amazon barcodes.

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 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 25.4 mm x 50.8 mm and 50.8 mm x 76.2 mm (25.4 mm x 76.2 mm or 50.8 mm x 50.8 mm, for example).

For laser printers, the tools in your seller account support 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%.

Common problems with inventory labels

The following problems related to product labels may appear in your Shipping Queue.

• Barcode label missing: The item arrived without a proper barcode.
• Unit mislabeled: The item arrived with a barcode that does not match the physical product.
• Barcode cannot be scanned: The barcode was smudged or smeared, or the label was placed around a corner or curve, making the barcode unscannable.
• Unit/shipment preparation errors: One or more of the items in your shipment arrived with labelling, packaging and prep, or shipping requirement errors.

For more information, go to Inbound performance summary.