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Getting Started Guide

How to start shipping

Follow the path from registration to your first collection, with transparency on costs, billing, and how quickly you can be up and running.

  1. 1. Getting set up as a shipper

  2. 2. How to start shipping your first shipments

  3. 3. How much Amazon Shipping costs

  4. 4. Get started now

1. Getting started as a shipper
From the moment you submit your registration to your first collection, setup can often begin immediately after registration.

Step 1: Register

Fill in our online registration form. It takes under 10 minutes. You’ll need:
  • Your business name and company registration details
  • Your warehouse address and operating hours
  • An estimate of how many packages you ship per day on average
  • Contact details for billing, warehouse operations, and customer support queries.
If you ship fewer than 300 packages per day on average, your application is processed automatically, and your rate card is available immediately. If you ship more than 300 packages per day, a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your rates and setup directly.

Step 2: Review your rates

Your rates are based on your average daily volume and the sizes and weights of your packages. See the pricing section of this guide for the full rate structure.

Step 3: Set up your account and integration

This is where you connect Amazon Shipping to the tools you use to manage orders. The time this takes depends on how you choose to connect:
  • Using Shipper Central or a connected third-party platform is typically a few days
  • Building a direct API connection to your own system, typically one to three weeks, depending on your technical setup
You’ll also need to set up your label printing capability and designate a collection area in your warehouse.

Step 4: Your first collection

Once your account is set up and your integration is working, we’ll schedule your first collection. Before that day:
  • Print some test labels and confirm they scan correctly
  • Brief your warehouse team on what to expect when the driver arrives
  • Confirm your pickup window.

Good to know: Most businesses complete their first collection shortly after registering. If you already have an integration set up and your packages are straightforward, you can often move faster.

No contract, no lock-in

There is no minimum contract period. You’re not locked in for a fixed term.

Frequently asked questions

Our support team is available seven days a week. If you get stuck, contact us through chat, email, or callback, and we’ll help you work through it.

Yes. The things that tend to slow setup down are complex technical integrations and incomplete information at registration. If you already have a supported third-party integration in place, or if you’re using Shipper Central from the start, you’ll typically be up and running faster.

Not necessarily. Many businesses use our Shipper Central dashboard or a third-party platform they already know. If you want to connect directly via API, you’ll need developer resources, but most small businesses find that a supported integration is all they need.
2. How to start shipping your first shipments

Once you’ve completed setup and your first collection is scheduled, most businesses are able to move full volume within the first week or two.

What should you expect in your first few weeks?

Your first shipments are an opportunity to confirm everything is working as expected:

  • Labels printing correctly and scanning at collection
  • Tracking updating in Shipper Central or your platform
  • Your warehouse team should be comfortable with the collection process
  • Delivery speeds and notifications meeting your customers’ expectations

For most businesses, this all comes together within the first couple of collections. If anything isn’t right, contact our support team as soon as possible.

Is there any risk in signing up?

There is no minimum contract period and no lock-in. This means you can sign up, run your first shipments, and decide for yourself whether the service is the right fit without committing to a long-term arrangement first. If Amazon Shipping works well, increase your volume. If it doesn’t, you can stop without any penalties.

What happens to your pricing as your volume increases?

Your pricing is based on your average daily volume. As your volume with us increases, you may move into higher Earned Discount tiers with lower rates.

What if you run into problems during your first collections?

Contact our support team straight away. We can help you resolve label or scanning issues, answer questions from your warehouse team, and adjust your setup if something isn’t working. Getting your first few collections right makes a significant difference to how smoothly things run from that point on.

3. How much Amazon Shipping costs

If you ship more than 300 packages per day, on average, your pricing will be determined individually with our team, based on your volume and requirements.

For businesses shipping up to 300 packages per day, Amazon Shipping uses standard pricing. Your rate is determined by three things:

  1. Package size and weight. Heavier and larger packages cost more to ship.
  2. Your average daily volume (ADV). The more packages you ship per day on average, the lower your per-package rate.
  3. Shipping zone. Zones are based on the distance between your pickup zip code and the delivery destination. Closer deliveries cost less.

How shipping zones work

Zone

Distance from origin

Zone 2

0–150 miles

Zone 3

151–300 miles

Zone 4

301–600 miles

Zone 5

601–1,000 miles

Zone 6

1,001–1,400 miles

Zone 7

1,401–1,800 miles

Zone 8

1,801+ miles

Note: All zones exclude shipments to or from AK, HI, PR, and US territories. Amazon Shipping does not currently deliver orders originating in the US to any location outside the United States.

Example rate cards by volume levels
Three examples are provided to illustrate what you can expect to pay per package, based on billable weight and shipping zone. These rate samples include base and earned discounts. The more you ship, the more you typically save.

Billable Weight

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

≤ 1 lb

$6.89

$7.02

$7.49

$7.91

$8.18

$8.56

$8.71

≤ 2 lb

$7.03

$7.75

$8.43

$8.61

$8.99

$9.56

$9.73

≤ 3 lb

$7.12

$7.94

$8.67

$9.12

$9.49

$10.38

$10.89

≤ 4 lb

$7.39

$8.06

$9.03

$9.62

$9.88

$11.15

$11.67

≤ 5 lb

$7.59

$8.43

$9.26

$10.05

$10.45

$11.67

$12.36

≤ 6 lb

$7.65

$8.46

$9.35

$10.09

$10.46

$11.67

$12.37

≤ 7 lb

$8.08

$8.66

$9.59

$10.41

$10.65

$11.99

$12.83

≤ 8 lb

$8.32

$8.97

$9.92

$10.71

$11.08

$12.47

$13.40

≤ 9 lb

$8.45

$9.09

$9.97

$10.80

$11.32

$12.99

$14.11

≤ 10 lb

$8.56

$9.19

$10.07

$11.10

$11.45

$13.61

$15.04

Billable Weight

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

≤ 1 lb

$6.53

$6.65

$7.09

$7.49

$7.74

$8.11

$8.26

≤ 2 lb

$6.65

$7.33

$7.97

$8.14

$8.50

$9.05

$9.21

≤ 3 lb

$6.72

$7.49

$8.19

$8.62

$8.96

$9.83

$10.32

≤ 4 lb

$6.98

$7.61

$8.53

$9.09

$9.34

$10.56

$11.06

≤ 5 lb

$7.17

$7.97

$8.74

$9.50

$9.87

$11.05

$11.71

≤ 6 lb

$7.23

$7.99

$8.83

$9.53

$9.89

$11.06

$11.72

≤ 7 lb

$7.63

$8.18

$9.06

$9.83

$10.06

$11.36

$12.16

≤ 8 lb

$7.85

$8.47

$9.37

$10.12

$10.47

$11.82

$12.69

≤ 9 lb

$7.98

$8.59

$9.42

$10.20

$10.69

$12.31

$13.37

≤ 10 lb

$8.08

$8.68

$9.51

$10.49

$10.81

$12.89

$14.25

Billable Weight

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

≤ 1 lb

$5.10

$5.19

$5.50

$5.81

$6.01

$6.34

$6.45

≤ 2 lb

$5.11

$5.64

$6.13

$6.26

$6.54

$7.00

$7.12

≤ 3 lb

$5.12

$5.71

$6.28

$6.60

$6.86

$7.65

$8.03

≤ 4 lb

$5.34

$5.82

$6.54

$6.96

$7.15

$8.22

$8.60

≤ 5 lb

$5.48

$6.09

$6.70

$7.27

$7.56

$8.60

$9.11

≤ 6 lb

$5.53

$6.11

$6.76

$7.30

$7.57

$8.60

$9.11

≤ 7 lb

$5.84

$6.25

$6.94

$7.53

$7.70

$8.83

$9.45

≤ 8 lb

$6.01

$6.48

$7.18

$7.75

$8.01

$9.19

$9.87

≤ 9 lb

$6.10

$6.57

$7.21

$7.81

$8.19

$9.57

$10.40

≤ 10 lb

$6.18

$6.64

$7.28

$8.03

$8.28

$10.03

$11.08

These are example rates for standard ground shipping up to 10 lbs. Shipping rates are list rates minus base and earned discounts, subject to the minimum charge. Your shipping rate may change if list rates, minimum charge, base discounts, and/or earned discounts change.

Where to find your rates: To see your full rate card including all weight tiers, fees, and surcharges, register at shipping.amazon.com/get-started. For the complete Service Guide including list rates on a wide range of billable weights, see the Service Guide .

Additional fees
Most shipments are covered by your standard per-package rate. In certain situations, additional fees – including surcharges or handling fees – may apply. These fees are subject to change, and Amazon reserves the right to introduce additional fees as applicable. For the full fee schedule and current rates, see the Service Guide.

This surcharge is based on weekly fluctuations in the US Average Diesel Fuel Price.

National US Average On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price (USD$/gallon)

At least

But less than

Surcharge

$2.90

$3.02

14.50%

$3.02

$3.14

14.75%

$3.14

$3.26

15.00%

$3.26

$3.38

15.25%

$3.38

$3.50

15.50%

$3.50

$3.62

15.75%

$3.62

$3.74

16.00%

$3.74

$3.86

16.25%

$3.86

$3.98

16.50%

$3.98

$4.10

16.75%

$4.10

$4.22

17.00%

$4.22

$4.34

17.25%

$4.34

$4.46

17.50%

$4.46

$4.58

17.75%

$4.58

$4.70

18.00%

If the fuel price falls outside the range above, the range will extend in $.12 increments, and the Fuel Surcharge will adjust in 0.25% increments. For example, where the US Average Diesel Fuel Price increases to $5.10, the Fuel Surcharge will be 19%.

For certain zip codes that are outside our standard delivery areas, we will apply surcharges. No more than one of these destination-based surcharges may apply to any individual shipment:

Surcharge

Amount

When it applies

Delivery Area Surcharge (DAS)

$4.45

Shipments to rural or less-accessible zip codes

Extended Delivery Area Surcharge (EDAS)

$5.55

Shipments to zip codes more remote than DAS areas

Remote Area Surcharge (RAS)

$16.75

Shipments to remote zip codes

This applies when a shipment requires additional handling due to its size. The Non-Standard Fee is calculated by zone and is subject to applicable Demand Surcharges.

Condition

Zone 2

Zones 3–4

Zones 5+

Length > 37 inches

$11.00

$12.25

$14.15

Width > 30 inches

$11.00

$12.25

$14.15

Height > 24 inches

$11.00

$12.25

$14.15

This applies when a shipment requires additional handling due either to its weight or non-standard packaging. We may also charge the Additional Handling Fee when we need to re-package the shipment in order to complete the delivery. The Additional Handling Fee is calculated by zone, as shown below (subject to applicable Demand Surcharges):

Condition

Zone 2

Zones 3–4

Zones 5+

Scale weight > 50 lbs

$45.89

$49.88

$55.20

Length > 47 inches

$29.26

$32.59

$37.57

Width > 42 inches

$29.26

$32.59

$37.57

Girth > 105 inches

$29.26

$32.59

$37.57

Non-standard packaging

$25.94

$30.59

$32.59

In addition to the fees listed above, the following may apply to your shipments:

Fee

Amount

When it applies

Demand Surcharge

Varies (communicated in advance each year)

This will apply during specific periods of increased demand on the network (e.g., October through December). We will publish specific dates and surcharge calculation details in advance of each such period. Demand Surcharges may increase Base Shipping Fees as well as Additional Fees.

Large Package Fee

Zone 2: $255.00
Zones 3–4: $275.00
Zones 5+: $320.00

This applies to each shipment exceeding either (i) a girth of 130 inches, or (ii) a length of 96 inches. It is calculated by zone (subject to applicable Demand Surcharges).

Extra Heavy Package Fee

$1,875.00 flat per package

This applies to each shipment exceeding: (i) a scale weight of 150 pounds, (ii) a girth of 165 inches, or (iii) a length of 108 inches. We have sole discretion to either return these packages to you or dispose of them if it’s not practical to return (at your cost). The Extra Heavy Package Fee is subject to applicable Demand Surcharges.

Address Correction Fee

$25.50 flat per package

This applies to shipments requiring an update to either the pick-up or delivery address due to an incorrect or incomplete address being provided at the time of shipping label purchase.

Shipment Correction Audit Fee

Greater of $1.65 per package or 12% of the shipping fee adjustment

This applies to shipments with under-declared weight and/or dimensions. We may charge this in addition to the Non-Standard, Additional Handling, and Large Package Fees.

Prohibited Goods Fee

$300.00 flat per package

This penalty applies to all Shipments containing Prohibited Goods.

For the full list of fees and current rates, see the complete rate card or review the Service Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Zones are determined based on distance from pickup zip code to destination zip code. All zones exclude shipments to or from AK, HI, PR, and US territories. Amazon Shipping does not currently deliver orders originating in the US to any location outside the United States.

No. Amazon Shipping does not charge extra for residential deliveries or for deliveries on weekends.

Your rates are based on your average daily shipping volume. As you ship more consistently with Amazon Shipping, you may qualify for lower rates. No negotiation required.

Earned Discount rewards consistent shipping activity with Amazon Shipping. It is calculated weekly based on your trailing 52-week annual gross shipping spend and automatically applied to your base rates at label purchase. The more you ship, the more you save. You can track your current Earned Discount tier, your progress towards the next tier, and your weekly discount history directly from the Shipping Rates page in Shipper Central.

Not all shippers qualify for Earned Discounts. Eligibility and discount tiers are determined based on your shipping volume and spend history with Amazon Shipping. Your Earned Discount is recalculated weekly, so as your business grows with Amazon Shipping, your discount can increase automatically over time.
4. Get started now
Ready to register? Head to registration. You can return to this guide whenever you need it. If Amazon Shipping sounds like the right fit for your business, here’s how to take the next step.

Register online

Registration takes less than 10 minutes. Head to registration and fill in your business details, warehouse information, and estimated daily volume.
Register now

What you’ll need

  • Business name and website address
  • Your business DBA and EIN
  • Warehouse address and operating hours
  • Estimated average daily volume
  • Contact details for billing, warehouse operations, and customer support.

Have questions first?

Our support team is available 7 days a week by live chat, email, or callback. You can also use the contact form to get in touch before you register.

Useful links

Register | Rates and volume tiers | Coverage and delivery speeds | Track a package | Developer Hub (API) | Dangerous Goods Shipping Guide | Prohibited Items Checklist

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