For Amazon FBM sellers
Best packaging for Amazon FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) sellers
Amazon FBM sellers play by different packaging rules than DTC Shopify brands. Amazon's policies discourage marketing inserts, branded thank-you cards, and any packaging copy that asks for a review or pulls the buyer off Amazon. The packaging job is narrower: get the order to the buyer in a condition that won't trigger an A-to-z claim, with the shipping label flat and scannable, at a cost per order that survives Amazon referral fees plus your shipping spend. Branded unboxing isn't the goal — A-to-z compliance, label readability, and durable corrugated are.
Packrift sells unit-priced shipping supplies — corrugated boxes, poly mailers, bubble mailers, tape, and 4x6 thermal labels — through standard checkout. FBM sellers can right-size mailers and boxes to keep DIM weight down, choose a sturdy outer for marketplace handling, and re-order the same SKUs when the monthly supply mix repeats. (FBA prep, Amazon-branded boxes, and FNSKU labeling are different workflows that this page doesn't cover.)
Note: This page covers FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) shipping — orders you pack and ship yourself with your own carrier. FBA prep (poly bag suffocation labels, FNSKU labels, case-pack requirements) is a different workflow with stricter Amazon-side specs. If you're shipping into an Amazon fulfillment center, check the current FBA prep requirements before ordering.
Sturdy outer for Amazon handling
Amazon's carrier handoffs and last-mile sortation are rough. Use 32 ECT (or 200 lb test) single-wall corrugated as the FBM default for boxed items, and a 4 mil poly mailer or padded bubble mailer for soft goods. Underspeccing the outer is the most common reason A-to-z damage claims close against the seller.
Label-friendly surface
Amazon Buy Shipping and most third-party label tools print 4x6 thermal labels. The label needs a flat surface free of seams, tape ridges, and printed graphics — barcode scanners reject creased or low-contrast labels and that triggers carrier returns. Plain mailers and unprinted boxes scan cleanest.
Low-cost void fill & cushioning
Cushioning has to protect from sortation impact without adding DIM weight. Bubble wrap, kraft paper, or a single sheet of foam keeps fragile items intact for less than $0.10 per order at typical FBM volume. Skip the branded crinkle paper and tissue — Amazon discourages marketing inserts.
By FBM order volume
Pick the bundle that matches your monthly FBM ship volume. Move up a tier when you're re-ordering more than once a month, or when DIM weight on a single SKU is costing you more than $0.50 per order vs a right-sized box.
50–500 orders/month — Side / part-time FBM
Two box sizes that cover 80% of your SKUs in 32 ECT, a case of 4 mil poly mailers for soft goods, a case of carton sealing tape (2 mil), and a 500-pack of 4x6 thermal labels. Use the Mailer vs Box Selector to confirm whether your top SKU should ship boxed or mailed before you order a case.
500–2,000 orders/month — Full-time FBM
Step up to bulk box and mailer cases, add a third box size to reduce DIM weight on outliers, and move to fanfold thermal labels (1,000–2,000 ct) so the label printer keeps up. Run your top 5 SKUs through the DIM Weight Calculator — at this tier, $0.30–$0.50/order in DIM savings on a single SKU pays back the cost of a custom-cut box.
2,000–10,000+ orders/month — Multi-SKU FBM operation
Pallet quantities on boxes, mailers, and tape. At this tier, FBM sellers usually run a pack-station-per-SKU-family setup — one bench for boxed orders, one for mailer orders — with dedicated label printers on each. Use the Packaging Cost Calculator to set a target packaging cost-per-order against your Amazon referral fee + carrier rate, and request a bulk quote on your top 3–5 box SKUs.
Amazon FBM packaging FAQ
Can I include marketing inserts or thank-you cards in Amazon FBM orders?
Amazon's policies discourage inserts that ask for a review, redirect the buyer off Amazon, or include marketing copy unrelated to the order. A plain packing slip is fine. A branded thank-you card with a discount code or "leave us a 5-star review" message risks a policy violation. Most FBM sellers default to a plain pack — the brand experience belongs on the Amazon listing, not in the box.
What box weight (ECT) should I use for Amazon FBM?
32 ECT (or 200 lb test) single-wall corrugated is the FBM default and handles items up to about 30–40 lb. For heavier or fragile SKUs, step up to 44 ECT or double-wall. Underspeccing the box is the most common reason A-to-z damage claims close against the seller, and the cost difference between 32 ECT and a thinner box is usually less than $0.10 per box.
Where should the shipping label go on an FBM box or mailer?
One flat surface, free of seams and tape ridges, with no overlap onto an adjacent face. Avoid placing the label across the box flap seam or across printed graphics — barcode scanners reject creased or low-contrast labels and that triggers carrier returns. Plain unprinted boxes and mailers give you the cleanest scan rate.
Does Packrift sell FBA prep supplies?
This page is about FBM shipping, not FBA prep. Packrift sells the poly bags, bubble mailers, and corrugated boxes used in FBA prep workflows, but FBA-specific items like printed suffocation warning poly bags, FNSKU labels, and Amazon-branded shipping boxes are not part of our catalog. If you're prepping for FBA, check the current Amazon FBA prep requirements before ordering.