Packaging and pickups
See how collections, packaging, labeling, and product eligibility work so you can ship with confidence from your very first pickup.
Amazon Shipping collects packages directly from your warehouse or business address by scheduling in Shipper Central or by dropping off your packages at one of our drop-off locations. Depending on how many packages you ship each day, collections are either loose-loaded (our driver scans and loads each package individually) or palletized (packages are prepared on pallets and collected by a larger vehicle). When you set up your account, we’ll work out which collection type fits your volume and set up a regular schedule from there. Please note that collection services are subject to coverage and package minimums are required to qualify for palletized collections.
What does a collection look like?
For loose-loaded collections:
- Our driver arrives during your scheduled pickup window
- Each package is scanned individually at your warehouse—giving you immediate tracking visibility from the moment of collection
- Packages are loaded into the vehicle
- You receive digital confirmation that the collection is complete.
For palletized collections:
- Palletized collections that have been prepared on pallets at your warehouse will be collected by a larger vehicle, and scanned when they arrive at our sort facility
- Packages can be built directly onto pallets or placed in gaylords for collection
- For box truck collections, our driver will load their own vehicle
- For 53’ trailer collections, you will load your pallets onto the trailer
- You will receive an electronic Bill of Lading for your pickup and be able to track the shipment through to our sort facility.
What does a drop-off look like?
- Pack your shipment securely using your own packaging
- Label your package with your pre-printed Amazon Shipping label
- Bring your package to the counter. An associate will scan it for you—no appointment necessary.
Drop off your packages at any convenient location by 1:30 p.m. for same-day pickup, or after 1:30 p.m. for next-day collection. You can learn more about location details here.
Up to 300 packages per day
Over 300 packages per day
Your driver can arrive at any point during your window. There is no fixed arrival time within the window. Make sure your packages are ready and your team is available from the start of the window.
Which days do you collect?
Standard collection schedule |
Monday to Friday |
Saturday and Sunday collections |
Available upon request, depending on your shipping volume. Ask our support team about eligibility when you register. |
Holidays |
Collections are managed individually around public holidays. You’ll receive advance notice of any planned changes to your schedule. |
Can you change your pickup window?
If your current pickup window no longer works for your business, contact our support team. We’ll do our best to accommodate a new time based on availability in your area.
What if you need an extra collection?
If your order volume increases, you can request an additional collection. Contact our support team as early as possible and we’ll arrange the additional pickup where we can.
Note: Our drivers may not always be in an Amazon-branded vehicle. Drivers of vans carry an employee badge to help identify themselves when they arrive, and box truck and 53’ trailer drivers do not carry employee badges.
If an hour has passed since the end of your scheduled window and your driver hasn’t arrived, contact our support team right away.
In rare cases, a label may not be scanned at your warehouse. Your driver will still collect the package, and it will receive its first scan when it arrives at our sort facility. You’ll see the tracking update in Shipper Central (your account dashboard) shortly after. If you manage shipments through a third-party platform or the Amazon Shipping API, tracking updates flow through those tools automatically.
Yes. You can register your warehouse closure dates in Shipper Central’s “Pickups” section. This prevents us from routing a driver to your warehouse when there are no orders to pick up.
Our network for dropoff sites is growing, so please check location details, which types of packages you can ship, and more here.
Your packages are sorted automatically at high speed alongside thousands of others. Proper packaging keeps your products safe through that process and ensures your labels scan correctly at every stage. Packaging that doesn’t meet our requirements may result in a handling charge—see the pricing section of this guide for details.
What type of packaging do you need?
Each package must be fully enclosed in one of the following:
- A six-sided cardboard box
- A padded envelope
- A polybag (for suitable items)
You can use your own branded packaging as long it meets the structural and sealing standards below. Previously used boxes are also fine, provided they’re undamaged and all old labels and markings have been removed.
What about liquids and fragile items?
Liquids |
Must be sealed to prevent leakage and surrounded with absorbent material inside the outer packaging. At a minimum, has a leak-proof inner liner and a leak-proof outer box. |
Fragile items |
Use sufficient internal cushioning (bubble wrap, void fill) to protect against movement inside the box and use appropriate labels and markings. Note that packages labelled as fragile may attract a Non-Conveyable Surcharge—see the pricing section for details. |
Labels — where do they go and what size do you need?
Label size |
4" × 6" |
Print format |
Black ink on a plain white background, printed entirely within the label borders |
Placement |
On a single flat surface, preferably the largest surface, away from edges and seams |
One label per parcel |
Each package must have its own label. Do not attach multiple items together with one label; remove outdated labels from the package |
What triggers a packaging handling charge?
Here are a few of the reasons why a package could have additional handling fees:
- Is not fully enclosed in a proper box, padded envelope, or polybag
- Has exposed sharp objects or protruding parts
- Has plastic straps or bands on the outside
- Is smaller than a shipping label (i.e., smaller than 4” x 6”)
- Contains items that should be shipped separately but have been bundled together with tape or bands
- Has an inappropriate container for the item inside—for example, a box that’s far too large with no internal packaging
- Has outdated labels on the package
Good to know: A proper cardboard box, sealed with packing tape, with a label on the largest flat surface is all you need for most shipments.
Yes. Branded packaging is absolutely fine. As long as the box is sturdy, properly sealed, and correctly labelled, your branding doesn’t affect anything.
Your package must be large enough to fit a shipping label (4” x 6”) on a flat surface. Packages smaller than this cannot be accepted. Maximum dimensions are 59 inches in length (longest side) × 33 inches in height × 33 inches in width. The total girth —Length + 2 × (Width + Height) must not exceed 130 inches.
No. Each item that needs its own tracking must be packaged and labelled individually. Do not band, strap, or tape multiple packages together and ship them as one.
Accepted products
Amazon Shipping handles a wide range of e-commerce products, including but not limited to:
- Apparel and accessories
- Electronics and consumer technology
- Home and kitchen goods
- Health and beauty products
- Books, media, and stationery
- Toys and games
- Sports and outdoor equipment
- Pet supplies
Products that contain batteries or flammable ingredients
If you ship products that contain batteries, aerosols, or flammable liquids, they qualify as Dangerous Goods. Amazon Shipping can carry a specific range of dangerous goods. These are called Permissible Dangerous Goods.
Before you can ship any Dangerous Goods with us, you’ll need to register them in your Shipper Central account and agree to our Dangerous Goods terms and conditions. This is a one-time setup step per product type.
What Dangerous Goods can you ship?
Flammable aerosols and gases (Class 2) |
Includes aerosol personal care products, household aerosols, and pressurized gas cartridges. Check the UN number on your product’s Safety Data Sheet against our Dangerous Goods Shipping Guide to confirm eligibility. |
Flammable liquids (Class 3) |
Includes perfumes, aftershaves, cleaning products containing flammable solvents, nail polish, adhesives, and similar products. Check the UN number to confirm. |
Products containing batteries (Class 9) |
Lithium-ion battery products under 100 Wh, and lithium metal battery products under 20 Wh. This covers most consumer electronics, mobile phones, and rechargeable devices. Batteries must be either contained in equipment or with the equipment. |
Not sure if your product qualifies? Check your product’s Safety Data Sheet for its UN number, then review our Dangerous Goods Shipping Guide for the full permissible list. If you’re still unsure, contact our support team before shipping.
What can’t you ship?
- Anything not permitted under US law—counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, unlicensed weapons
- Age-restricted goods—alcohol, tobacco, and bladed products
- Perishable items that require temperature control—fresh food, frozen goods, dairy products
- Live animals
- Dangerous Goods that don’t fall within our permissible categories
For the complete list, see our Prohibited Items Checklist.
Important: Shipping prohibited items can result in your service being paused or terminated. If you’re not certain whether a product is permitted, check before you ship.
Are there any delivery restrictions for Dangerous Goods?
Yes. You will need to review if your products are regulated as Dangerous Goods and validate the Class and UN number with your product’s manufacturer Safety Data Sheet. Then, you will review our Dangerous Goods Shipping Guide, declare the permissible UNIDs to ship the DGs and then purchase the correct shipping labels to declare the DG attributes.