/Logos/SupplyKick_Logo.svg "SupplyKick_Logo"){kind=logo}
Send to Amazon is Amazon's current system for creating FBA inbound shipments in Seller Central. If you ship inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers, this is the workflow you use.
This guide explains how the workflow actually works, what you need ready before you start, where you make packing and shipping decisions, and what mistakes cause receiving delays or rework.
What Is the Send to Amazon Workflow?
Send to Amazon is the standard inbound shipment creation tool for FBA sellers. You use it to tell Amazon what inventory you're sending, how it's packed, and how it will ship.
Who should use it
Any seller shipping products to Amazon fulfillment centers uses this workflow. It replaced the older Send/replenish process in 2022, but if you started selling after that, this is just the normal way shipments get created.
How it differs from the old Send/replenish process
The old workflow had more steps and less flexibility. Send to Amazon lets you mix single-SKU and mixed-SKU boxes in the same shipment, saves case pack details for reuse, and consolidates the workflow into fewer screens. If you never used Send/replenish, none of that history matters. This is just how FBA shipments work now.
When this guide matters most
You need this workflow when you're replenishing inventory, launching new products into FBA, or switching from merchant fulfillment to FBA. Understanding the steps before you start saves time and prevents shipment errors that delay receiving.
What You Need Before You Create an FBA Shipment
SKU readiness and FBA conversion
Your products must be set to FBA in Seller Central before you can include them in a Send to Amazon shipment. If a SKU is still set to merchant-fulfilled, convert it first. You also need accurate prep and labeling requirements set for each ASIN.
Ship-from address, carton dimensions, and case pack details
Amazon needs to know where the shipment originates and how your inventory is packed. If you ship the same SKU in consistent master carton quantities, save that information as a case pack template. If your packing varies, you'll enter box details during the workflow instead.
Prep and labeling information to gather first
Know whether your products need poly-bagging, bubble wrap, or other prep. Know whether you're using Amazon labels or manufacturer barcodes. Entering incorrect prep or label settings creates receiving problems later.
Send to Amazon Workflow Steps
Step 1: Choose inventory to send
You select which SKUs and quantities you're shipping. You can pick SKUs from a list or upload a file. This is where you confirm what's going into the shipment.
Step 1b: Pack individual units when required
If you're packing mixed-SKU boxes or your carton contents vary shipment to shipment, Amazon asks you to specify how inventory is packed at the unit level. This step matters because Amazon needs accurate box content data to route and receive your shipment correctly.
If you saved a case pack template for repeatable single-SKU packing, this step may be automatic. If not, you'll enter or confirm pack details manually.
Step 2: Confirm shipping and choose SPD or LTL
You select small parcel delivery (SPD) or less-than-truckload freight (LTL) and set your ship date. If Amazon splits your shipment across multiple destinations, you can choose different shipping methods for each destination.
Step 3: Print box labels
Amazon generates box labels that include SKU and ASIN information. You print these labels and apply them to your cartons. You can also name your shipment at this step.
Step 4: Confirm carrier and pallet information
If you're shipping pallets, you confirm carrier details and pallet configuration. If you're using an Amazon-partnered carrier for LTL, you accept charges here.
Step 5: Print pallet labels when applicable
For pallet shipments with Amazon-partnered carriers, you print pallet labels after confirming charges and pallet details. If you're using your own carrier, you handle BOL and tracking separately.
Single-SKU vs Mixed-SKU Boxes
When case pack templates save time
Case pack templates store box dimensions, weight, quantity per carton, prep requirements, and label settings for a specific SKU. If you ship the same product in the same master carton configuration every time, templates eliminate re-entering that data on every replenishment.
Templates work best for high-velocity SKUs with consistent packing. If you ship 24 units of the same ASIN in the same carton size every month, save it as a template.
When mixed-SKU packing makes more sense
Mixed-SKU boxes let you combine multiple products in the same carton. This works well when you're consolidating low-volume SKUs, managing outbound waves that cross multiple ASINs, or reducing carton count to save on prep labor.
The tradeoff is more data entry. You have to tell Amazon exactly what's in each box, so accuracy matters more than it does with templated single-SKU packing.
Common data-entry mistakes that slow receiving
Incorrect box dimensions or weights cause problems at check-in. Amazon measures and weighs shipments. If your declared dimensions or weight are off by more than a small tolerance, the shipment may get flagged for manual review, which delays receiving.
Mismatched prep or label settings also create friction. If you mark a product as labeled when it isn't, or skip required prep, Amazon may refuse the shipment or charge rework fees.
SPD vs LTL in Send to Amazon
Cost and workflow differences
Small parcel delivery (SPD) means shipping individual boxes via carriers like UPS or FedEx. Less-than-truckload (LTL) means palletized freight shipped via truck.
SPD is simpler operationally. You pack boxes, print labels, and schedule a pickup or drop-off. LTL requires pallet building, stretch wrap, pallet labels, and freight coordination. SPD makes sense for smaller shipments. LTL becomes cost-effective when you're shipping enough cartons to fill pallets.
When each shipping mode fits best
Use SPD when you're shipping a few boxes, need flexibility on ship timing, or don't have pallet-building capacity. Use LTL when carton count justifies palletizing and you can coordinate freight pickup.
Amazon sets SPD limits: typically 30 boxes for partnered carriers and 15 for non-partnered carriers, but those limits can vary. If you exceed SPD thresholds, you'll need to use LTL.
Grouped shipment considerations sellers should watch
If Amazon routes your shipment to multiple fulfillment centers, you get a grouped shipment. Each destination becomes a separate shipment ID. You can choose different shipping modes for different destinations, but if you're using Amazon-partnered carriers, you have to accept charges for all shipments in the same mode (all SPD shipments or all LTL shipments) at the same time. You can't finalize one destination and leave others pending.
Common Send to Amazon Mistakes to Avoid
Outdated carton data
If you saved a case pack template months ago and your packaging changed, the old data is now wrong. Using stale templates creates dimension mismatches and receiving delays. Update templates when carton specs change.
Labeling and prep mismatches
Marking a product as FNSKU-labeled when you're actually using manufacturer barcodes causes check-in errors. Skipping required prep (poly-bagging, bubble wrap, suffocation warnings) can result in refusal or rework fees. Double-check prep and label settings before confirming the shipment.
Shipment splits and destination confusion
Amazon decides where inventory goes based on network demand. You don't control destination assignment. If your shipment splits, each destination gets its own shipment ID and tracking. Make sure you ship the right boxes to the right destination. Sending the wrong cartons to the wrong fulfillment center creates receiving problems and delays inventory availability.
Editing limitations after shipment creation
You can modify SKU quantities before you confirm shipping, but after you confirm, editing options narrow. If you need to make changes that exceed Amazon's edit limits, you may have to cancel the entire workflow and start over. That can be a problem if you already accepted partnered carrier charges, because refund windows are short: 24 hours for small parcel, 1 hour for LTL after accepting charges.
Plan your shipment carefully before confirming. Last-minute changes often mean canceling and rebuilding the workflow from scratch.
How Send to Amazon Fits Into a Stronger FBA Inventory Plan
Timing inbound shipments around receiving delays
Creating a shipment in Seller Central is step one. Receiving at the fulfillment center is step two. Receiving times vary by season, shipment type, and fulfillment center workload. During peak periods, receiving can take longer than expected. Build buffer time into your inventory plan so stockouts don't happen while inventory sits in receiving.
Forecasting inventory before stockouts happen
Send to Amazon is a tactical tool. It helps you ship inventory. It doesn't help you decide how much to ship or when. Pair this workflow with inventory forecasting so you're replenishing based on actual demand, not gut feel. Accurate forecasts reduce the chance you'll overship and pay storage fees or undership and lose sales to stockouts.
When outside operational help is worth it
If you're managing complex inventory across multiple SKUs, dealing with frequent shipment splits, or spending too much time on prep and logistics coordination, outside help can make sense. Agencies and third-party logistics providers can handle shipment creation, case pack setup, prep coordination, and receiving tracking so you focus on the parts of the business that actually grow revenue.
FAQ
How do you create a shipment in Send to Amazon?
Navigate to the Manage FBA Shipments page in Seller Central and click the Send to Amazon link. Select the SKUs and quantities you're shipping, enter or confirm case pack details, choose your shipping mode (SPD or LTL), print box labels, and confirm carrier and pallet information if applicable. The workflow guides you through each step in order.
Can you use Send to Amazon for mixed-SKU boxes?
Yes. You can ship single-SKU boxes, mixed-SKU boxes, or both in the same workflow. Mixed-SKU packing requires more data entry because you have to specify exactly what's in each box, but the workflow supports it.
What is the difference between SPD and LTL?
SPD is small parcel delivery: individual boxes shipped via carriers like UPS or FedEx. LTL is less-than-truckload freight: palletized shipments sent via truck. SPD works for smaller shipments. LTL works when you have enough cartons to justify pallets and can coordinate freight pickup.
Do case pack templates speed up replenishment?
Yes, if your packing is consistent. A case pack template saves box dimensions, weight, quantity per carton, prep, and label settings for a specific SKU. If you ship the same product in the same master carton every time, templates eliminate re-entering that data on every shipment. If your packing varies, templates create false confidence and data errors instead of saving time.
Ready to Strengthen Your FBA Inventory Planning?
Creating shipments is one part of Amazon operations. Forecasting demand, timing replenishments, managing receiving delays, and avoiding costly mistakes is the other part.
If you need help with FBA inventory planning, shipment coordination, or Amazon operations, talk to our team. We've been managing FBA accounts since 2013, and we know what actually works.
/Logos/SupplyKick/SupplyKick-Logo_White.svg "SupplyKick-Logo_White"){kind=logo}