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The Ultimate Guide to Amazon FBA Barcode Requirements (2026)

•By BulkBarcode Team

Understanding Amazon FBA Barcode Standards

If you are selling products through Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, your barcodes are the lifeblood of your inventory. A single unreadable label can result in lost inventory, delays in receiving, or even costly relabeling fees. As we move through 2026, Amazon's automated fulfillment centers are stricter than ever regarding barcode quality.

The Two Types of Barcodes on Amazon

Amazon generally relies on two types of barcodes for tracking inventory:

  1. Manufacturer Barcodes (UPC, EAN, JAN, ISBN): These are standard global identifiers. If your product already has a registered GS1 UPC barcode, and you are not commingling your inventory (stickerless), Amazon can use this to track your product.
  2. Amazon Barcodes (FNSKU): FNSKU stands for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit. This is Amazon's proprietary barcode format, which is based on the Code 128 standard. Amazon requires an FNSKU label if your product is not tracked using the manufacturer barcode, if it is a restricted product, or if it has an expiration date.

Why Generate Your Own FNSKU Labels?

While Amazon offers a labeling service for a fee per item, generating and printing your own FNSKU labels using a bulk barcode generator is significantly more cost-effective. The standard format for printing these labels is the 30-up Avery 5160 template.

When creating FNSKU labels, ensure the following are clearly visible:

  • The FNSKU barcode itself (must be scannable)
  • The FNSKU alphanumeric string printed below the barcode
  • The product title and condition (e.g., "New")

Best Practices for Printing FBA Labels

To avoid compliance issues, follow these rules:

  • Use a thermal printer or laser printer. Inkjet printers can smudge, rendering the barcode unscannable.
  • Do not scale the barcode. Ensure your PDF prints at 100% scale. Shrinking the barcode can cause the bars to bleed together.
  • Cover existing barcodes. If you are applying an FNSKU label over a product that already has a UPC, you must completely cover the original UPC to prevent Amazon scanners from reading the wrong code.

By utilizing our secure, client-side Code 128 generator, you can easily convert your list of FNSKUs from your Amazon Seller Central inventory report directly into print-ready Avery 5160 PDFs in seconds.