Amazon ended its FBA prep and labeling services on January 1, 2026 — every unit you send must now arrive prepped. Estimate what a third-party prep center will cost for your monthly volume, product mix, and storage needs, using published 2026 prep-center rates.
Estimates based on published US prep-center pricing as of July 2026. Actual quotes vary by product mix, packaging complexity, and region. FNSKU labeling and polybagging are assumed to be included in the standard prep rate; some centers bill them separately.
Prep pricing is volume-tiered. Sellers under 500 units/month pay $1.00–$1.50 per unit; 500–2,500 units drops to $0.75–$1.25; above 2,500 units published rates run $0.40–$0.75.
A low headline rate can cost more than an all-inclusive one. Ask what the base fee covers — FNSKU labels, polybags, and receiving are folded in at some centers and itemized at others.
If product arrives by container, prepping near your port of entry eliminates a freight leg — the container is devanned, prepped, and forwarded to Amazon from one facility.
| Service | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard prep, under 500 u/mo | $1.00–$1.50/unit | Label + polybag, small-seller tier |
| Standard prep, 500–2,500 u/mo | $0.75–$1.25/unit | Most common seller tier |
| Standard prep, 2,500+ u/mo | $0.40–$0.75/unit | Volume pricing; custom below this |
| Bundling / multipack | $1.15–$2.50/bundle | Plus $0.05–$0.20 per extra item |
| Bubble wrap | $0.50–$1.60/unit | Materials sometimes billed separately |
| Oversize / heavy surcharge | +$0.50–$2.00/unit | Many prep centers refuse oversize |
| Receiving | $5–$35/pallet | Free at some centers |
| Storage | $40–$50/pallet/mo | 14–30 day free window is common |
Published US prep-center pricing, July 2026. Actual quotes vary by product mix, packaging complexity, and region.
Read our full guide to the January 2026 change: what Amazon stopped doing, what compliance now requires, and what replacing the service costs.
Read the Guide →Common questions about FBA prep costs and the 2026 Amazon prep change
In 2026, published US prep center rates are volume-tiered: $1.00–$1.50 per unit under 500 units/month, $0.75–$1.25 per unit at 500–2,500 units/month, and $0.40–$0.75 per unit above 2,500 units/month. Standard prep typically includes receiving, inspection, FNSKU labeling, and polybagging where required.
No. Amazon ended its FBA prep and item-labeling services in the US on January 1, 2026. All inventory must now arrive at fulfillment centers prepped and labeled to spec. Unprepped shipments no longer qualify for damage reimbursement, and Amazon recommends sellers prep in-house or use a third-party prep provider.
Bundling and multipack assembly runs $1.15–$2.50 per bundle at most US prep centers in 2026, with per-additional-item charges of $0.05–$0.20 at some providers. Bubble wrap adds $0.50–$1.60 per unit.
DIY prep costs roughly $1.20–$1.80 per unit once labor, materials, and errors are counted. Below about 500 units per month, DIY and prep centers cost about the same. Above 500 units per month, volume-tiered prep center rates usually beat in-house labor costs — and above 2,500 units it isn't close.
Amazon charges an inbound defect fee of roughly $0.60 per unit on shipments that arrive non-compliant — unlabeled, unbagged, or otherwise not prepped to spec. Since January 2026, non-compliant shipments also lose damage-reimbursement eligibility.
Yes, typically $40–$50 per pallet per month or $0.50–$1.50 per cubic foot. Most prep centers include a free storage window of 14–30 days while product is being prepped, then bill storage on inventory that stays longer.
C&C Warehouse devans your container, preps to Amazon's spec, and forwards to the FC — one facility, minutes from the port, with CBP-bonded storage behind the prep line. Amazon stopped prepping in January 2026; they didn't.
C&C Warehouse is operated by FreightFigures' publisher. candcwarehouse.com
Our partner network includes U.S. Customs Bonded warehouses, climate-controlled facilities, and full-service 3PLs across the Southeast.