An Essential Guide to Amazon FBA Poly Bag Requirements
With millions of active customers, Amazon provides eCommerce sellers unparalleled reach and growth potential. But success requires more than just listing products—it demands adherence to Amazon's strict FBA protocols, particularly in packaging.
Poly bags, essential for items like clothing, toys, and liquids, protect products while safeguarding your profit margins. However, failing to meet Amazon’s standards can lead to costly fees, shipment rejections, and delays.
By getting a good grasp of Amazon FBA poly bag requirements, you can ensure packaging compliance and avoid these setbacks. Here’s what you need to know to keep your operations on track and get your products where they belong—safely in your customers’ hands.
Decoding Amazon's FBA Packaging Standards
Amazon’s packaging guidelines are built around three core principles: protection, efficiency, and compliance. This is a clear reflection of the company’s commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Protection: Amazon requires packaging to pass the 3-foot drop test, ensuring products withstand the bumps and jolts of shipping. This guarantees items arrive in pristine condition, reducing returns and customer complaints.
Efficiency: Packaging must be right-sized, striking a balance between safeguarding the product and reducing excess materials. This approach not only lowers shipping costs but also optimizes warehouse space, a critical factor in Amazon’s high-volume fulfillment centers.
Compliance: Stringent rules for materials, labeling, and sealing ensure products are processed quickly and meet global safety and regulatory standards.
To advance sustainability efforts, Amazon introduced Frustration-Free Packaging in 2008, emphasizing recyclable materials and reducing waste. In 2024, Amazon rebranded its packaging initiatives under the umbrella term Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP), with FFP becoming a certification tier within this broader program.
By adhering to these standards, sellers can enhance operational efficiency, uphold customer trust, and contribute to environmental responsibility—all of which contribute to long-term success in the FBA system.
5 Essential Poly Bag Criteria for Amazon FBA
When selecting poly bags for Amazon FBA, every detail counts to ensure product protection, streamlined processes, and compliance with safety standards. Let’s take a closer look at the key criteria:
1. Size ＆Fit
Amazon gives sellers some flexibility when it comes to the types of poly bags they use—whether they’re flat, gusseted, or resealable. What really matters is that the bags meet Amazon’s criteria, with the right size and fit being non-negotiable.
Getting the right fit starts with understanding the proper way to measure poly bags. Bags that fit snugly reduce unnecessary slack or overhang, minimizing the risk of snagging on equipment or other items during handling, which can cause delays or damage.
2. Protrusion
To keep things efficient and compliant, Amazon has a clear rule: poly bags must not extend more than 3 inches beyond the product’s dimensions. This guideline ensures your packaging stays tidy, secure, and ready to move smoothly through Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
3. Thickness
Bags must be at least 1.5 mils (thousandths of an inch) to provide adequate protection for the product inside, enabling it to endure handling during sorting, storage, and shipping. Thinner bags might tear or fail, leaving your product exposed to damage or contamination.
4. Sealing
Poly bags need to be fully sealed to keep your product safe from contamination, damage, or loss during handling and transit. Amazon accepts several sealing methods, including adhesive strips, zippers, or heat-sealed closures, so you can choose the one that works best for your product.
If you’re dealing with highly scented items like candles or incense, sealing becomes even more important. The bag must lock in odors to prevent them from transferring to other products in the shipment. While Amazon doesn’t mandate a specific material for this, a strong, airtight seal is a must to meet Amazon poly bag requirements and protect your inventory.
5. Transparency
Each poly bag must be completely transparent, allowing Amazon's fulfillment center staff to quickly identify and scan products without unpacking them. This saves time in the warehouse and prevents delays during the pick-and-pack process.
However, for adult products, poly bags must be opaque and black to ensure privacy, deviating from the transparency rule for other products.
Barcode and Labeling Rules for Poly Bags
Barcodes are essential for connecting your product to Amazon’s logistics system. For poly-bagged products, Amazon requires every item to have a scannable barcode, such as a UPC, EAN, or FNSKU label. The barcode must be clearly visible through the bag.
If the poly bag's material obstructs visibility or scanning, you must affix an FNSKU or ASIN label to the outside of the bag. This ensures that Amazon’s fulfillment system can accurately identify and process the product even when barcodes are unreadable or obscured.
Amazon FBA poly bag requirements become more specific for products sold as sets or bundles. Each set must have a unique FNSKU barcode identifying it as a single sellable unit.
Additionally, any barcodes on individual items within the set must be covered or removed to prevent confusion during scanning. Amazon’s system must be able to recognize the bundle as one cohesive product rather than separate units.
If you’re using Amazon-generated labels, they must be securely affixed to the poly bag in a flat, undamaged area. Placing the label on a fold or crease can disrupt scanning, potentially leading to delays or the item being marked as unsellable.
Suffocation Warning for Poly Bags
Amazon requires poly bags with an opening of 5 inches or larger (when laid flat) to include a suffocation warning. This is a critical safety measure designed to prevent accidents, and the warning must be prominently displayed. It can be printed directly on the bag or attached as a label, with font size adjusted according to the bag’s total dimensions:
- 60 inches or more: 24-point font
- 40 to 59 inches: 18-point font
- 30 to 39 inches: 14-point font
- Less than 29 inches: 10-point font
A typical warning text must be clear and concise, such as:
The warning must be easy to see and placed where it won’t get hidden by folds or creases in the bag. Amazon’s rules also align with widely recognized child safety standards, helping you meet legal requirements while keeping your customers safe.
Which Products Really Need Poly Bags for Amazon FBA?
Not every product in Amazon’s FBA system requires a poly bag, but when it’s necessary, using the right one is critical to avoid issues like damage or non-compliance.
Aside from the specific requirements for adult and scented products shared earlier, items with loose parts, like toys or hardware sets, need poly bags to keep everything secure during handling. Products with sharp edges also benefit from poly bags, which help prevent damage and protect warehouse staff.
For items that can leak, such as liquids or powders, sealed poly bags are essential to prevent spills from affecting other inventory. Similarly, delicate items like apparel or plush toys often require poly bags to stay clean and well-presented.
Ultimately, the need for a poly bag boils down to ensuring your product arrives in perfect condition. By identifying whether your items fall into these categories, you can package them correctly and confidently meet Amazon’s FBA standards.
Where to Source Your Amazon-Ready Packaging
Sourcing Amazon-compliant packaging can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially with so many suppliers to choose from.
Some focus on niche products like poly bags or bubble wrap, while others take a broader approach with generalized solutions that might not meet Amazon FBA poly bag requirements.
Industry-specific distributors offer more tailored options, but they often lack the flexibility to adapt to unique FBA needs.
Third-party fulfillment services may bundle packaging into their offerings, though this convenience often comes with higher costs or reduced control over the process.
With so many options available, finding a supplier that understands Amazon’s specific protocols and delivers consistent, reliable results is crucial. That’s where Supply Legends comes in.
Seamless FBA Poly Bag Compliance Starts with Supply Legends
Supply Legends specializes in providing high-quality poly bags tailored to meet rigorous Amazon FBA poly bag requirements. Whether you need durable, tamper-evident bags or those that meet size and transparency standards, we offer packaging solutions that eliminate the guesswork.
With fast, free shipping, bulk discounts, and a focus on quality, Supply Legends ensures your packaging is compliant, efficient, and cost-effective. This empowers you to focus on growing your business instead of worrying about logistics.
Ready to switch your packaging and move your eCommerce goals forward? Let’s get you set up with the right poly bags today. Contact us now to get started!