FNSKU labels vs. manufacturer barcodes for Amazon FBA
Updated
This guide is for brands and resellers abroad who send inventory to Amazon FBA in the U.S. It explains when each unit needs an FNSKU label and when a manufacturer barcode is enough, how to print and place labels so they scan, and what changed in 2026 now that Amazon no longer labels units for you.
Two kinds of barcode on an Amazon unit
Every unit you send to an Amazon fulfillment center is identified by scanning one barcode. That barcode can be one of two things:
- A manufacturer barcode: a UPC, EAN, JAN or ISBN printed on the packaging. It identifies the product itself, wherever it is sold, and is the same on every unit of that product regardless of who owns it.
- An Amazon barcode (FNSKU): a code Amazon generates in Seller Central for your listing. It ties the unit to you as the seller and to that specific listing. You print it as a sticker and apply it to each unit.
The difference matters because a manufacturer barcode says what the product is, while an FNSKU also says whose it is. For years, that distinction decided whether your units could be mixed with identical units from other sellers. In 2026 Amazon changed the rules, and the question you need to answer for each SKU is now simpler: are you the brand owner, and does the product carry a manufacturer barcode?
Seller Central shows the barcode type set for each listing. Check it for every SKU before you print anything, because the setting decides which code Amazon expects to scan at receiving.
FNSKU or manufacturer barcode: which one you need
Amazon's announcement on the end of commingling sets out three cases for inventory shipped on or after March 31, 2026 (Amazon Seller Forums announcement):
| Your situation | Barcode Amazon expects | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Brand owner with the Brand Representative role in Brand Registry, product has a manufacturer barcode | Manufacturer barcode (no Amazon sticker needed, subject to the category rules below) | You can ship units with their printed UPC or EAN, if the listing's barcode setting matches |
| Reseller or distributor without the Brand Representative role | Amazon barcode (FNSKU) on every unit | Applies even when the product already has a manufacturer barcode |
| Any seller, product has no manufacturer barcode | Amazon barcode (FNSKU) on every unit | Common for private label goods made without a GS1 barcode |
| A set, bundle or multipack sold as one listing | The barcode of the set's own listing only | Component barcodes must not be scannable (see the section on sets) |
One caution on categories. Amazon's seller guide to prep and labeling, dated July 7, 2026, still says Amazon barcodes are required for some products, naming used products, media, restricted or dangerous goods, and consumable or topical products, and says brand-registered sellers may be eligible for an exemption (Amazon FBA prep, packaging and labeling guide). The commingling announcement does not mention these categories. If your product is food, a supplement, a cosmetic or anything else in those groups, check the barcode eligibility shown for the SKU in Seller Central before you skip FNSKU stickers.
Two questions come up often with overseas brands:
Your U.S. distributor sells your product on Amazon
If a distributor or importer sells your goods on Amazon under its own seller account and does not hold the Brand Representative role, it is a reseller under these rules and needs FNSKU stickers on every unit. Agree in advance who applies them and where, because a factory run with no stickers means labeling in the U.S.
You are the brand owner but choose FNSKU anyway
Using manufacturer barcodes is an option for eligible brand owners, not an obligation. Some brand owners keep FNSKU labels for specific reasons, for example when the same retail barcode is used for a single unit and for a pack listing, or when the printed barcode on older stock does not match the listing. If you switch a listing's barcode setting, make sure units already in transit carry the code that matches.
The end of commingling in 2026
Commingling meant that Amazon could fill an order with an identical unit from the nearest inventory in its network, even if another seller owned that unit, as long as both were tracked by the same manufacturer barcode. For brand owners, it was the main reason to put FNSKU stickers on every unit: a sticker kept their stock separate from units sent in by other sellers.
In a Seller Forums announcement posted in late 2025, Amazon said commingling practices would end for inventory shipped on or after March 31, 2026. Amazon gave its reason as most sellers keeping enough inventory close to customers to offer fast delivery without it (Amazon Seller Forums announcement). The same announcement updated who may use manufacturer barcodes, as set out in the table above.
What this means for you:
- Brand owners enrolled as Brand Representatives can skip the sticker on eligible products with a manufacturer barcode. That removes a labeling step, which is a real saving when you ship thousands of units from abroad.
- Resellers lose the option of manufacturer barcodes and need FNSKU stickers on every unit, including on products with a printed UPC.
- Everyone still needs exactly one scannable code per unit, matching the listing. The change is about which code, not about relaxing label quality.
The new barcode rules apply to inventory shipped on or after March 31, 2026. As of October 2026, check the barcode setting for each SKU in Seller Central before each shipment, because a setting that does not match the code on the units causes receiving problems.
FNSKU label size, printing and placement
Amazon's seller guidance on prep and labeling, dated July 7, 2026, gives these requirements for item labels (Amazon FBA prep, packaging and labeling guide):
- Size: 1 to 2 inches tall and 2 to 3 inches wide.
- Printing: a laser printer, with 300 DPI recommended for best results.
- Condition: Amazon does not accept damaged or photocopied labels. Print each sheet from the label file, do not copy a printed sheet.
- Placement: on a smooth, flat surface, away from corners, edges and curves, where the label will not wrap around a fold.
- Outer packaging: if the unit needs extra packaging such as a poly bag or bubble wrap, the label goes on the outside of that packaging so it can be scanned without opening anything.
Print from the label file Seller Central generates for each listing, on label stock that matches one of the sizes it offers. Do not edit the file or scale it down to fit a smaller sticker: a shrunken barcode is a common reason a label will not scan.
Practical placement tips
- Pick one position for each SKU and use it on every unit, so whoever labels and whoever checks the units look in the same place.
- Round bottles and tubes: place the label lengthwise along the flat body, not around a curve. If there is no flat area, a bag with the label on the outside can solve it; our FBA prep requirements guide covers bagging rules.
- Textured, glossy or coated boxes: test a label first. Some finishes stop labels from sticking, and a label that peels in transit is a missing label at receiving.
- Test scan a sample from each print run with a phone scanner app or a handheld scanner before labeling the whole batch.
Covering old barcodes
When a unit carries an FNSKU, the scanner must not be able to read any other barcode on it. For a product that needs no extra packaging, Amazon's guidance says to cover the original UPC, EAN or ISBN so it cannot be scanned by mistake (Amazon FBA prep, packaging and labeling guide). If the unit is bagged or wrapped, the FNSKU goes on the outer packaging, and you should make sure the code underneath cannot be read through a clear bag. A scanner that reads the wrong code can receive the unit against the wrong listing, or not at all.
- Cover completely. The simplest method is to place the FNSKU label directly over the manufacturer barcode. If the label is smaller than the printed code, use an opaque blank label to cover the rest.
- Check every side. Many retail boxes carry a barcode on two panels, and multipacks often show the barcodes of the individual units through clear film.
- Leave Transparency codes alone. If your product is enrolled in Amazon's Transparency program, its Transparency code must not cover, or be covered by, any other label.
- Avoid marker pen on unit barcodes. Crossing out a barcode with ink is not reliable on a retail unit; part of the code can still scan.
Relabeling over an old code is one of the most frequent jobs on imported goods, because packaging designed for another market often carries a code that does not match the U.S. listing. Abanro's labeling service covers the old code and applies the correct label, with labeling only from $0.45 per unit (see all starting prices).
Labeling sets, bundles and multipacks
A set is any group of items sold to the customer as one unit: a gift box of three teas, a two-pack of the same shampoo, a kit of a device plus accessories. At Amazon, the set is one listing and is received as one unit, so it needs one scannable barcode of its own.
- Create the set as its own listing. The set gets its own identifier and, where it needs one, its own FNSKU. Never reuse the barcode of a single component for the set.
- Make the components unscannable. Package the set so the individual barcodes are covered or face inward and cannot be read through the packaging. If the receiving team can scan a component, the set can be received as a single item.
- Mark the outside. Amazon's guidance asks for a label such as "Sold as set", "Ready to ship" or "This is a set, do not separate" on the outside (Amazon FBA prep, packaging and labeling guide).
- Hold it together. Use a bag, a shrink wrap or a box so the set cannot come apart in a tote. The packaging rules for this are in our prep requirements guide.
Sets are where factory packing and Amazon requirements most often disagree. A factory packs components neatly in one carton; Amazon needs each set already assembled. If your sets are built in the U.S., Abanro's kitting and bundling service assembles, bags and labels them, with bundles from $1.25 per set of two (pricing).
Amazon no longer labels units for you in the U.S.
Before 2026, a seller could choose Amazon as the party that applies item labels and pays a per-unit fee. That option is gone. Amazon announced in July 2025 that from January 1, 2026, prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments are no longer available in the U.S. marketplace. The change covers inventory sent directly to FBA and inventory routed through Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD), Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), Amazon SEND and Supply Chain Portal, and Amazon is no longer an accepted value for the prep or label owner in its inbound systems (Amazon Selling Partner API changelog).
What happens to units that arrive without the right label
- Refusal, return or repackaging: Amazon's seller guidance says packaging that does not meet requirements may be refused, returned or repackaged at the seller's expense (Amazon FBA prep, packaging and labeling guide).
- Reimbursement and fees: check the current FBA prep and reimbursement policies in Seller Central. Amazon can treat poorly prepped or unlabeled units differently when they are damaged or lost, and inbound defect fees change from year to year.
- Delays: units that cannot be matched to a listing take longer to become available for sale, even when they are eventually received.
For a seller abroad, a refused or returned unit is far more expensive than for a domestic seller: the goods are already past customs, and the only practical fix is a U.S. partner who can relabel and send them again. Getting the label right before the units reach Amazon is the cheaper path.
Send us your SKU list and the barcode setting for each listing. We check the codes, cover old barcodes, apply FNSKU labels and send the units on to Amazon.
Get a labeling quoteCommon labeling mistakes
- Two scannable codes on one unit. The FNSKU is applied, but the UPC on the back panel is left uncovered.
- A barcode setting that does not match the units. The listing says manufacturer barcode, the units carry FNSKU stickers, or the reverse.
- Similar SKUs mixed up. Two colors or sizes in look-alike packaging get each other's labels. Label one SKU at a time and clear the table between SKUs.
- Labels under the bag or wrap. The label is applied to the product and then covered by a poly bag or bubble wrap, so the scanner cannot read it.
- Photocopied or low-quality labels. Faded thermal labels, copies of copies, or labels resized to fit a small sticker.
- Sets received as singles. A component barcode is visible through the packaging and gets scanned instead of the set's label.
- Assuming a reseller can use the UPC. Since March 31, 2026, sellers without the Brand Representative role need Amazon barcode stickers.
A labeling plan for shipments from abroad
Labels can be applied at the factory, at a prep center in the U.S., or partly in both places. The right choice depends on how stable your listings are and how much risk you can accept.
- Confirm the barcode type for each SKU in Seller Central, and whether you hold the Brand Representative role.
- Decide where labels go on. Factory labeling saves U.S. handling when listings are final. U.S. labeling lets you correct a barcode, a set or a listing change after the goods arrive, without shipping anything back.
- Send label files, not printed samples, to whoever applies them, with the position on the unit marked on a photo.
- Keep the packing list SKU by SKU, so units can be checked against the right label on arrival.
- Plan the cartons too. Item labels are only half of what Amazon scans; carton labels, box content information and pallet rules are covered in our guide to Amazon FBA box and pallet requirements.
Hypothetical example. A kitchenware brand abroad ships 1,200 units of three SKUs to the U.S. It is the brand owner with the Brand Representative role, and two SKUs carry EAN barcodes printed on the box. The third, a new gift set, has no barcode of its own.
The two SKUs with EANs can go to Amazon on their manufacturer barcodes, so they need no stickers, only a check that the listing's barcode setting matches. The gift set is its own listing and needs an FNSKU on the outside, with the barcodes of the products inside covered and a "Sold as set" label. The brand has the sets assembled and labeled in the U.S., where the labels can be checked against the listing before the shipment is created.
Abanro receives shipments from abroad at its facility in Orange County, California, near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, checks the units against your packing list, and applies labels as part of Amazon FBA prep before forwarding to the fulfillment centers in your plan. If your goods are still abroad, our guide to sending inventory to Amazon FBA from overseas shows where labeling fits in the whole route.
This guide is general information based on Amazon's published requirements as of October 2026. Amazon updates its rules regularly, so confirm the current requirements in Seller Central before each shipment.
Sources and further reading
- Commingling practices will end effective March 31, 2026 (Seller Forums announcement, late 2025), Amazon
- FBA prep, packaging, and labeling: a beginner's guide (July 7, 2026), Amazon (sell.amazon.com)
- US FBA prep and labeling services to end January 1, 2026 (July 28, 2025), Amazon Selling Partner API changelog
Sources checked on