FNSKU vs Manufacturer Barcode: Which to Use for FBA
When you send stock to FBA, Amazon asks which barcode identifies your units: your own FNSKU, or the manufacturer barcode already on the product. The choice affects prep cost, inventory safety and whether your stock gets mixed with other sellers.
An FNSKU is a label unique to your account, so your units stay yours; a manufacturer barcode lets Amazon commingle your stock with identical units from other sellers. Most sellers choose FNSKU to avoid receiving someone else's (possibly counterfeit or damaged) stock against their orders. It costs a label per unit, which prep handles at $0.75.
What's in this guide
The two barcode types
Every FBA unit needs a scannable code so Amazon knows what it is. You have two choices: the FNSKU, a barcode Amazon generates that is unique to your listing and account, or the manufacturer barcode (the UPC or EAN already printed on the product).
What FNSKU labeling means
Choosing FNSKU means each unit gets a label unique to you. When a customer orders, Amazon ships one of your physical units, not a pooled one. This keeps your inventory traceable and yours. Applying the labels is a prep step, handled at $0.75 a unit, see our prep cost comparison.
What commingling risks
Choosing the manufacturer barcode lets Amazon commingle: it treats all identical units from all sellers as interchangeable. When you sell, Amazon may ship the nearest unit, which could be another seller's, potentially counterfeit, expired or damaged. If a customer complains, it is your account that takes the hit. This is why commingling is risky for anyone who cares about their account health.
When manufacturer barcode is fine
Stickerless, commingled inventory saves the labeling step and can suit high-volume commodity sellers who trust the supply of a product and want minimal prep. But for private label, branded, or any account where quality control matters, the saving is not worth the risk.
What most sellers do
The large majority label with FNSKU. The per-unit label cost is small, and it removes the biggest downside of FBA, being blamed for stock you never touched. Our prep applies FNSKU labels to Amazon spec as standard. See our warehouse and prep service or get a quote.