Getting your barcode size wrong for Amazon FBA can result in rejected shipments, costly re-labeling fees, or products sitting in a warehouse unable to be sold. This guide covers everything you need to know about Amazon FBA barcode requirements in 2026 — exact sizes, placement rules, and the most common mistakes sellers make.
💡 Quick summary: Amazon requires barcodes to be at least 1" × 0.5" (25.4mm × 12.7mm) for FBA labels. The barcode must be scannable and unobstructed. FNSKU labels must cover or replace existing barcodes.
Types of Barcodes Used for Amazon FBA
Before getting into sizes, it's important to understand which barcode types Amazon uses and when:
1. FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit)
This is Amazon's own internal barcode. Every product that enters an Amazon fulfillment center needs an FNSKU label. It's a CODE128 barcode that uniquely identifies your product as belonging to your seller account — not just the product in general.
2. UPC / EAN (Manufacturer Barcode)
This is the standard retail barcode registered with GS1. Amazon uses this to identify the product in their catalog. For most FBA listings, you need a valid UPC or EAN linked to your ASIN.
3. ASIN Barcode
Amazon's catalog identifier. Not typically printed on product labels, but used internally.
⚠️ Important: Amazon requires that FNSKU labels cover all other barcodes on the product packaging. If a scanner accidentally reads the manufacturer barcode instead of the FNSKU, your inventory may be mixed with another seller's stock.
Amazon FBA Barcode Size Requirements
📐 FNSKU Label — Official Specifications
Standard Label Sizes for FBA
| Label Size | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1" × 2" (25.4 × 50.8mm) | Standard product label | Most common, recommended by Amazon |
| 1" × 3" (25.4 × 76.2mm) | Larger products / boxes | More room for text and barcode |
| 2" × 1" (50.8 × 25.4mm) | Small items | Minimum size — scan carefully |
| 4" × 6" (101.6 × 152.4mm) | Shipping box label | For outer carton / pallet labels |
| 2" × 2" (50.8 × 50.8mm) | Square products | Good for bottles, tins |
🔲 Generate CODE128 barcodes for your FBA labels — free, download as PNG or SVG.
Generate Barcode →UPC/EAN Size Requirements for Retail Packaging
If your products are also sold in physical retail stores (not just FBA), your manufacturer barcode (EAN-13 or UPC-A) has different size requirements:
📐 EAN-13 / UPC-A — Retail Size Requirements
Barcode Placement on Amazon FBA Products
Where you place the barcode matters as much as its size. Amazon's guidelines specify:
- Accessible location: The barcode must be on the outside of the product or packaging — not inside a sealed box
- Flat surface: Avoid placing barcodes on curved surfaces, seams, or edges
- No wrinkles: The label must be smooth and flat — wrinkles cause scan failures
- Cover existing barcodes: FNSKU must cover all other scannable barcodes
- Not on transparent surfaces: Barcodes on clear plastic bags must have a white background
- Consistent placement: Same location on all units of the same product
⚠️ Avoid these locations: Bottom of the product (scanners can't reach), curved bottles without a flat label area, near perforations or folds, under shrink wrap or tape.
Print Quality Requirements
Amazon is strict about print quality. Poor quality barcodes lead to scan failures at the fulfillment center, which can delay receiving your inventory or result in additional fees.
- Minimum resolution: 300 DPI for printing
- Bar/space contrast: High contrast — black bars on white background only
- No bleed: Bars must have clean, sharp edges
- Laser printing preferred: Inkjet can smear; thermal printing is best
- Test scan before printing in bulk: Always scan a test label before printing thousands
✅ Best practice: Download your barcode as SVG from barkodkarekod.com for maximum print quality. SVG scales to any size without pixelation — perfect for label printing at any DPI.
Common Amazon FBA Barcode Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode too small | Scan failure, re-labeling fee | Minimum 1"×0.5", test before printing |
| Wrong barcode type | Rejected at fulfillment center | Use CODE128 for FNSKU |
| Barcode not covering manufacturer barcode | Inventory mixed with other sellers | Cover all existing barcodes completely |
| Low print resolution | Unreadable barcode | Minimum 300 DPI, use SVG format |
| Colored background | Scan failure | White background only |
| Barcode on curved surface | Distortion, scan failure | Use flat surface only |
| Using unregistered GTIN | Listing suppressed by Amazon | Register with GS1 |
Where to Get Official FBA Labels
You have two options for getting FNSKU labels:
- Print yourself: Download the label from Amazon Seller Central, print on a thermal label printer (Zebra, Dymo, etc.)
- Amazon's labeling service: Amazon will label your products for a per-unit fee (currently $0.55 per unit in the US)
For the barcode image itself, you can use barkodkarekod.com to generate CODE128 barcodes — just enter your FNSKU number and download as PNG or SVG.
Generate CODE128 Barcodes for Amazon FBA — Free
Enter your FNSKU number, download as PNG or SVG. High resolution, no watermark, no signup required.
Generate FBA Barcode →