Amazon Seller Shipping Supplies — Complete List 2026

One of the most common questions I hear from new sellers is some version of “what do I actually need to start?” Not the theoretical answer — the practical one. What supplies do you physically need to have in hand before you can ship your first FBA box? After 15 years of prepping and shipping FBA inventory, I’ve refined this list down to what actually matters, what you should buy first, and what can wait until you’re moving real volume.

The Two Categories of Amazon FBA Supplies

Before getting into the list, it helps to think about Amazon FBA supplies in two categories:

• Required for every shipment — boxes, tape, shipping scale, labels, barcode labels
• Required for specific product types — poly bags for soft goods, bubble wrap for fragile items, suffocation warning labels for bagged items, expiration date labels for perishables

New sellers often over-buy supplies for scenarios they haven’t encountered yet. My advice: start with the required-for-every-shipment list and add category-specific supplies as you actually source products that need them.

Shipping Boxes

You need sturdy corrugated boxes — not moving boxes, not grocery store boxes. Amazon’s weight limits (50 lbs per box maximum, 25 lbs recommended for anything containing multiple standard units) require real shipping boxes that won’t fail in transit.

In 2026, my standard sources for FBA shipping boxes are:

• Home Depot — Heavy-duty boxes in XS, S, M, and L sizes. Affordable, widely available, and sold by the bundle. I keep Smalls and Mediums stocked at all times.
• Uline — The professional packaging supplier. More variety, better bulk pricing, but higher minimum orders. Worth setting up an account once you’re shipping consistently.
• Free boxes — Online arbitrage and grocery store boxes work for light items. If reusing, cover or remove all previous barcodes and labels — Amazon’s warehouse scanners will read anything they find.

For most sellers starting out, buy a bundle of Smalls (16×12×12) and Mediums (18×16×12). Add Larges once you’re shipping bulky, lightweight items like stuffed animals or seasonal decorations.

Full guide on box types and sourcing: Amazon FBA Shipping Boxes.

Shipping Tape and Tape Dispenser

Standard shipping tape works but a good tape dispenser makes the process significantly faster. For early-stage sellers, any heavy-duty 2-inch shipping tape with a basic dispenser is fine. Once you’re packing 20+ boxes per week, a motorized dispenser like the Better Pack 333 is worth the investment — it cuts tape to a consistent length with one hand movement and holds up under daily use.

Minimum spec: 2-inch-wide, 2-mil-thick clear shipping tape. Don’t use painter’s tape, masking tape, or duct tape on FBA boxes — they don’t hold under warehouse conditions.

Shipping Scale

Amazon’s shipment creation process requires the weight of each box before it generates your shipping labels. You need a scale that can handle up to 50 lbs and sits flat enough to hold a large shipping box.

Good options in 2026:

• Smart Weigh SWS75 — Reads up to 75 lbs, large platform, display is readable without bending down. Around $30-$40.
• Accuteck ShipPro — Similar specs at a similar price. Popular with FBA sellers for its accuracy and durability.

In a pinch, a bathroom scale works for one-time use, but it’s awkward for heavy boxes and inaccurate enough to cause shipping overcharge disputes. Get a dedicated shipping scale early.

Thermal Label Printer

This is the tool that upgrades your operation the most visibly. A thermal printer handles:

• Amazon FNSKU barcode labels (applied to individual products)
• Inbound shipment labels (applied to your shipping boxes)
• Custom stickers and compliance labels

Thermal printers use heat instead of ink, so there are no cartridges, no drying time, and no smearing. Labels print in seconds at a fraction of the cost of inkjet per label. The two I recommend: Rollo and DYMO 4XL. Both handle standard Amazon label sizes. My full comparison with current prices is in the thermal printers for Amazon sellers guide.

If you’re starting out and don’t have a thermal printer yet, a standard laser printer on 30-up label sheets works for FNSKU labels. It’s slower and costs more per label, but it’s functional while you’re testing the business.

FNSKU Barcode Labels

Amazon requires an FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) label on every individual product you send into FBA unless the product has an eligible manufacturer barcode. These labels are generated in Seller Central during shipment creation and printed either on:

• 30-up label sheets (Avery 5160 or equivalent) — for laser printers
• Thermal label rolls (1×2 inch or 2.25×1.25 inch) — for thermal printers

I keep a large roll of thermal labels loaded at all times. Buying in bulk (2,000+ labels per roll) drives the per-label cost below $0.01 each.

Poly Bags

Any product that is soft, could be contaminated by moisture, or needs to be contained for FBA must be placed in a poly bag. This includes most clothing, plush toys, food items not in rigid packaging, and certain health/beauty items.

Amazon requirements for poly bags:

• Clear or transparent
• Suffocation warning printed or labeled on the bag if the opening is 5 inches or larger
• Must be sealed (self-seal strip or impulse sealer)
• Barcode must be scannable through the bag or labeled on the outside

I keep four sizes on hand: 6×9, 8×10, 9×12, and 11×14. The 9×12 handles most standard items. Self-sealing bags with the suffocation warning pre-printed save the most time. Full breakdown: poly bags for Amazon FBA sellers.

Bubble Wrap and Packing Material

Fragile items — glass, ceramics, electronics, anything with a screen — need cushioning inside your shipping boxes. Options in order of cost-effectiveness:

• Air pillow machines (Sealed Air, Pregis) — The most cost-efficient fill for high-volume shippers. Bags are cheap, the machine inflates on demand.
• Bubble wrap rolls — Standard ½-inch bubble wrap works for most fragile items. Buy in rolls of 50+ feet.
• Kraft paper crumple pad — Cheaper than bubble wrap and adequate for lighter fragile items. Better environmental profile too.

At low volume, buy a roll of bubble wrap and keep it on hand. At higher volume, an air pillow system saves significant money per box.

Suffocation Warning Labels

If you’re using poly bags without pre-printed warnings, or using stretch wrap or shrink film, you need to apply suffocation warning labels separately. They come in 1×1-inch and 2×2-inch sizes in rolls of 500. Keep a roll on your prep table at all times — running out mid-shipment is a painful way to lose momentum.

Rubber Bands, Twist Ties, and Miscellaneous Fasteners

Small items. Easy to overlook. Genuinely frustrating when you don’t have them:

• Rubber bands — For securing groups of flat items (cards, small booklets) that would shift inside a poly bag
• Twist ties / cable ties — For securing bundled items together before bagging
• “Do Not Separate” labels — Required on all multi-packs and bundles. Buy in rolls of 500.

Removing Stickers: Goo Gone and a Heat Gun

Retail arbitrage inventory almost always has price stickers that need to come off. Visible competitor price tags on products create customer service issues and can violate Amazon’s listing presentation guidelines.

• Goo Gone — The most effective chemical remover for adhesive residue. Apply, wait 30 seconds, wipe clean. Available at any hardware store.
• Heat gun — Softens adhesive so labels peel cleanly. Also used for shrink-wrapping bundles. A dual-purpose tool worth having for any seller doing meaningful prep volume.
• Scotty Peeler — A plastic label removal tool that lifts sticker edges cleanly without scratching packaging. Around $8 for a set of three. Genuinely useful for delicate packaging.

The Starter Supply Kit: What to Buy First

If you’re setting up your first FBA prep station and want a prioritized shopping list:

1. Shipping boxes (assorted Smalls and Mediums)
2. Shipping tape + dispenser
3. Shipping scale (50 lb capacity)
4. Thermal label printer (Rollo or DYMO 4XL) + label rolls
5. Poly bags (assorted sizes, self-sealing with suffocation warning)
6. Bubble wrap roll
7. “Do Not Separate” labels
8. Goo Gone + Scotty Peeler

Budget roughly $200-$350 for this starter kit. The thermal printer is the largest single cost ($100-$180) and the biggest quality-of-life improvement. Everything else is consumables you’ll replenish regularly.

Pro Tips from Feras

1. Buy supplies in bulk once you know what you actually use. Your first order should be conservative — you don’t know yet what sizes and types you’ll go through fastest. After your first few shipments, you’ll know. Then buy 3-6 months of supply at bulk pricing.
2. Keep a dedicated prep table or space. Having your supplies organized and accessible in a dedicated area makes prep go 2x faster than hunting for items across your house. Even a folding table in the garage is better than no designated space.
3. Get the thermal printer before you need it at volume. Laser printer labels work fine for 10 units. They’re painfully slow for 100. Don’t wait until you have a big shipment to make the switch.
4. Use Amazon’s “Prep Requirements” guidance in Seller Central. When you list a product, Seller Central tells you what prep is required — bag, label, bubble wrap, etc. Check this before prepping any new ASIN to make sure you’re compliant.
5. Track your supply costs. Poly bags, labels, tape, and boxes are all deductible business expenses. Keep a simple log of supply purchases throughout the year — it adds up to a meaningful tax deduction and your accountant will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use boxes from Amazon deliveries for FBA shipments?

Yes, if they’re in good condition and you’ve removed or covered all previous barcodes, labels, and markings. Amazon’s warehouse scanners will read any barcode on the box, so leaving old labels on is a real problem. Use a black marker or label over any previous barcodes.

Do I need a thermal printer or can I use a regular inkjet?

You can start with an inkjet printer on 30-up label sheets. Amazon asks sellers to use laser printers (inkjet ink can smear on labels), but a quality inkjet with fast-drying ink works in practice. A thermal printer is strongly recommended once you’re printing more than 50 labels per week — it’s faster, cheaper per label, and produces more durable output.

What size poly bags should I start with?

The 9×12-inch size handles the majority of standard retail products. Buy a mixed pack of 6×9, 8×10, 9×12, and 11×14 for your first order so you have options. Once you know which size you use most, buy that size in larger quantities.

Do all products need FNSKU labels?

No. Products eligible for Amazon’s manufacturer barcode program can use the existing UPC/EAN barcode. However, using FNSKUs is recommended for any product where you want commingled inventory avoided (FNSKU ensures your specific unit is tracked to your account). For most retail and online arbitrage sellers, using FNSKUs is the safer default.

How many boxes should I buy initially?

Start with 10 Smalls and 10 Mediums. At typical new-seller shipment sizes (20-50 units per box), this gives you enough for 2-4 shipments while you assess which sizes you use most. Reorder based on what you actually used rather than trying to estimate in advance.

Where is the cheapest place to buy FBA shipping supplies?

For boxes, Home Depot and Lowe’s offer competitive per-box pricing for small quantities. For poly bags and labels, Amazon itself and Uline are typically the best value. For bulk orders of everything, Uline beats retail but requires planning ahead for delivery. For local sourcing, check whether your area has a packaging supply store — often overlooked but surprisingly competitive on price.

Can Amazon employees open my sealed poly bags?

Yes, Amazon’s receiving and quality check staff can inspect individual units. Make sure the product inside the poly bag is in sellable condition even if the bag is opened. Your FNSKU or manufacturer barcode must also be visible or duplicated on the outside of the bag so it can be scanned without opening it.

Get Your Prep Station Ready

The right supplies make FBA prep faster, more consistent, and more compliant. Invest in the starter kit above before your first shipment, build the habit of keeping supplies stocked, and your prep process becomes routine rather than a scramble. The sellers who struggle with FBA compliance most often are the ones who try to improvise with whatever’s on hand rather than having proper supplies ready. Set yourself up right from the start.