FNSKU Labeling After Amazon Ended Its Label Service

Amazon no longer labels FBA inventory in the US. Since January 1, 2026, prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments are no longer available in the US marketplace. Every unit bound for US FBA that needs an Amazon barcode has to arrive already labeled, whether it goes straight to a fulfillment center or through Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD).

The per-label fee and the option to let Amazon sticker units at check-in went with it, and Amazon is no longer an accepted choice for who labels a US shipment. Polybagging, bubble wrap and the rest of Amazon's US prep service ended on the same date; our guide to the discontinued FBA prep service covers that side.

What happens if units arrive unlabeled

US FBA shipments created after the change without proper prep and labeling aren't eligible for reimbursement if units are damaged or deemed untraceable. The label is what ties a physical unit to your listing, so an unlabeled unit that goes missing is a loss you absorb.

Check whether you need FNSKU labels at all

An FNSKU is the Amazon barcode that marks a unit as yours. For inventory shipped on or after March 31, 2026, brand owners with the Brand Representative role in Amazon Brand Registry don't need Amazon barcode stickers on products that already carry a manufacturer barcode. Resellers need Amazon barcodes even when the product has a UPC, and products without a manufacturer barcode need them either way. Our UPC article explains the change.

If your units do need FNSKU labels, someone has to apply them before the shipment leaves. You have three options.

Label units yourself

You print FNSKU labels for each SKU from Seller Central, or generate the barcodes with our free barcode maker, and stick one on every unit before it ships. You'll need:

• A thermal label printer and labels in a size Amazon accepts. See which label size works best for FBA and how to set up a Zebra printer on a Mac.
• Time to label every unit and place each label where Amazon's rules require. Our FBA label requirements guide covers placement and the common mistakes.

This works when you have a handful of SKUs and the inventory already passes through your hands. The cost is your time, and it grows with every unit you send.

Have your supplier label before shipping

Amazon itself said most sellers now handle labeling on their own, through their manufacturing partners or through third-party service providers. If your goods come from a factory, you can send the FNSKU label files with the order and have units labeled before they leave. That adds no extra stop on the way to Amazon. The catch is that a labeling mistake surfaces at Amazon, far from anyone who can fix it, so ask for photos of labeled units before the shipment goes out.

Use a prep partner

A prep center or 3PL receives your inventory, labels each unit, handles any other prep the product needs and sends it on to Amazon. Prep partners usually charge per unit, and your inventory makes one extra stop. In exchange, labeling stops being your job, and polybagging or bundling happens in the same pass. This route makes sense when labeling has become a real drain on your time, or when your products need prep beyond a label.

Simpl Fulfillment applies FNSKU labels as part of Amazon FBA prep, along with polybagging and bundling, and ships the prepped units to Amazon from our warehouse in Austin, TX.