How Amazon Shipping works
See how collections, packaging, labelling, and product eligibility work so you can ship with confidence from your very first pickup.
Amazon Shipping collects packages directly from your warehouse so you don’t need to drop anything off. Depending on how many packages you ship each day, collections are either loose-loaded (our driver scans and loads each parcel individually) or palletised (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.
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For palletised collections (typically 200+ packages a day), packages are prepared on pallets at your warehouse, collected by a larger vehicle, and scanned when they arrive at our sort facility.
Up to 200 packages per day
Over 200 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 Saturday |
Sunday collections |
Available upon request. Ask our support team about eligibility when you register. |
Bank 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 (at least a day in advance) and we’ll arrange the additional pickup where we can.
Note: Our drivers may not always be in an Amazon-branded vehicle. They carry an employee badge to help identify themselves when they arrive.
If an hour has passed since the end of your scheduled window and your driver hasn’t arrived, contact our support team straight away.
In rare cases, a label may not scan at your warehouse. Your driver will still collect the parcel, 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.
Your parcels 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 parcel 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. |
Fragile items |
Use sufficient internal cushioning (bubble wrap, void fill) to protect against movement inside the box. 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 |
10 cm × 15 cm (4" × 6") |
Print format |
Black ink on a plain white background, printed 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. |
What triggers a packaging handling charge?
A handling charge applies if a package:
- 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 10 × 15 cm)
- 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
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 (10 × 15 cm) on a flat surface. Packages smaller than this cannot be accepted.
No. Each item that needs its own tracking must be packaged and labelled individually. Do not band, strap, or tape multiple parcels together and ship them as one.
Products that contain batteries or flammable ingredients
Yes, many products that contain batteries, aerosols, or flammable liquids qualify as Dangerous Goods, and Amazon Shipping can carry a specific range of them. These are called Permissible Dangerous Goods.
Before you can ship any Dangerous Goods with us, you’ll need to declare 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 pressurised 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. |
Not sure if your product qualifies? Download our Dangerous Goods Identification Guide to check your product’s UN number and classification. You can also check our Dangerous Goods Shipping Guide for the full list of permissible UN numbers. If you’re still unsure, contact our support team before shipping.
What can’t you ship?
- Anything not permitted under UK 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. Dangerous Goods cannot be sent to Deliver to Counter locations,with the exception of certain lithium battery products. DG shipments are also restricted from certain remote postcode areas. Contact our support team for the current restricted postcode list.
Yes. DG shipments must be packaged in accordance with ADR regulations. Your packaging must include the correct hazard labels and markings—including Limited Quantity (LQ) diamond marks and, where applicable, lithium battery marks.
Yes, provided your integration supports DG declarations. Check with your platform provider to confirm.