What FBA prep actually involves
- FNSKU barcode label on each unit, covering any other scannable barcode.
- Poly bag with suffocation warning for bagged items where the opening is 5 inches or wider.
- Bubble wrap or boxing for fragile items, taping for items that can open.
- Carton labels from the shipment plan, cartons under 50 lb (22.7 kg) or marked Team Lift, no side longer than 25 inches for standard-size.
- Expiration date labels for dated goods, set labels for bundles.
None of this is difficult. All of it is labour, and labour costs are the whole comparison.
Three places it can happen
| Where | Typical cost per unit | What else it costs |
|---|---|---|
| The factory | $0.10–0.30, sometimes free | Error rate. Factories label thousands of SKUs for many clients; a wrong FNSKU on a carton is common and expensive to fix at the FC. |
| A China warehouse (consolidator or agent) | $0.30–0.45 including check | Nothing beyond the fee; the units are inspected and labeled in the same building before export. |
| A US prep center | $0.90–1.50 plus receiving fees | Inbound freight to the prep center, 3–7 days of extra transit, then freight again to the FC. |
Worked example: 2,000 units restock
A kitchen gadget, 2,000 units, shipped from Dongguan to US FBA by sea LCL. Prep is FNSKU label plus poly bag.
| Line | Prep in China warehouse | Prep in US center |
|---|---|---|
| Labeling and bagging | 2,000 × $0.35 = $700 | 2,000 × $1.20 = $2,400 |
| Extra receiving / handling | $0 | ~$150 pallet receiving |
| Extra freight leg | $0 (ships direct to FC) | $180–350 prep center → FC |
| Added transit time | 0 days | 4–7 days |
| Total prep-related cost | $700 | $2,730–2,900 |
| Per unit | $0.35 | $1.37–1.45 |
On a product that nets $6 after Amazon fees, a dollar per unit is a sixth of your margin. Over a year of monthly restocks the difference is roughly $24,000.
Where China prep goes wrong, and how to prevent it
- Wrong FNSKU: send the label file from Seller Central as a PDF, not a screenshot, and have the first labeled unit photographed before the run.
- Shipment plan mismatch: the carton count and units per carton in the plan must match what is packed. Fix the plan after packing, not before.
- Missing suffocation warning: specify the bag type with the warning printed, or a separate warning sticker.
- Carton overweight: give the carton spec (max 22 kg) in the order, since the factory default carton may be 28 kg.
The reason to prep in a warehouse rather than at the factory is that someone checks these before the goods leave China. Fixing a label problem at an Amazon fulfilment center costs weeks and a per-unit unplanned-prep fee.
When US prep still makes sense
If your goods are already in the US, if you need to split one import into several FBA shipments over time, or if Amazon routes your inventory to five different fulfilment centers and you want to palletize per destination after arrival. For a direct China to FBA restock of one SKU, China prep wins on cost, time and the fact that a problem is caught before the ocean leg, not after.
Frequently asked
Can Chinese factories apply FNSKU labels? +
Yes, and many do for free. The risk is accuracy: without a check between the factory and the port, label errors only surface at the Amazon fulfilment center.
Does Amazon accept shipments direct from China? +
Yes. The shipment must be DDP with a US importer of record, delivered with an appointment to the assigned fulfilment center, and labeled per the shipment plan.
How much does FBA prep cost in China? +
From about $0.35 per unit for an FNSKU label and poly bag, including a count and visual check, at a consolidation warehouse in Guangzhou or Yiwu.
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Figures are indicative floor rates and typical fee ranges on our lanes as of Oct 11, 2026. Duty rates depend on your product's tariff code and declared value. This is general information, not customs or legal advice.