Navigating the world of Amazon selling involves understanding various identifiers and barcodes that play crucial roles in product listing, inventory management, and fulfillment. Among these, the Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) stands out as a pivotal element for sellers utilizing Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies of FNSKU, its distinctions from other identifiers like ASIN and UPC, and best practices for labeling and managing your products on Amazon.

Looking to buy printed FNSKU labels for Amazon? We offer Print & Ship service, ships within 24 hours.

What is an FNSKU?

The Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) is a unique identifier assigned by Amazon to products fulfilled through its FBA program. This barcode links a product to a specific seller, ensuring accurate tracking and inventory management within Amazon’s fulfillment centers. By using FNSKUs, Amazon can distinguish identical products sold by different sellers, preventing the commingling of inventory and ensuring that each seller’s stock is managed separately.

Here is an example of what an FNSKU label looks like:

It contains a barcode, the FNSKU below it (which is generated by Amazon), the product name, and the condition. But the barcode is the most important piece because it is scanned upon arrival to manage inventory in and out of the warehouses.

FNSKU vs. ASIN vs. UPC: Understanding the Differences

To effectively manage your Amazon inventory, it’s essential to comprehend the differences between FNSKU, ASIN, and UPC:

ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number): A unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to every product in Amazon’s catalog. The ASIN is used to identify the product itself across the Amazon platform. Multiple sellers offering the same product will share the same ASIN. The ASIN usually starts with a B and is in the URL of the listing, for example:
amazon.com/ ILM-Motorcycle-Street-Helmet-Removable /dp/ B01HEHOCAK
ILM-Motorcycle-Street-Helmet-Removable is the product title and B01HEHOCAK is the ASIN for the listing in this example.
UPC (Universal Product Code): A standard barcode used universally to identify products, regardless of where they’re sold. All units of a product share the same UPC, which doesn’t distinguish between different sellers. UPCs are typically 12-digit numeric codes used in retail for product identification. These are used globally as the standard for identifying products, on and off of Amazon. ASINs and FNSKUs are specific to Amazon only. You can read our UPC Barcode Guide here.
FNSKU: Specific to Amazon’s FBA program, the FNSKU ties a product to a particular seller, ensuring that even identical products from different sellers are tracked separately. This unique identifier helps maintain the integrity of each seller’s inventory within Amazon’s fulfillment centers. FNSKUs are usually 10 characters and often start with X.

Here is an example of an Amazon listing showing these:

Size: Standard-Size
UPC: 735816833244
EAN: 0735816833244
ASIN: B0927DM4C6
FNSKU: X002V6V9T3

Note this is 1 listing that has a UPC, EAN, ASIN, and FNSKU. This is common for every listing on Amazon and all serve the purpose of product identification. However, if multiple sellers are selling the same ASIN, they will have different FNSKUs so Amazon can separate inventory between the sellers.

For example, if you’re selling a blue widget and another seller is offering the same blue widget, both might share the same ASIN to identify the product on Amazon’s catalog. However, your FNSKU will be different from theirs, ensuring Amazon knows which units belong to you. This distinction helps prevent mix-ups, keeps your inventory separate, and ensures you get credited for your sales.

In summary, while the ASIN identifies the product within Amazon’s catalog and the UPC serves as a universal product identifier, the FNSKU is crucial for linking the product to the specific seller in the FBA system.

The Importance of FNSKU in Amazon’s FBA Program

Utilizing FNSKUs is vital for several reasons:

Accurate Inventory Tracking: FNSKUs enable Amazon to track each seller’s inventory individually, reducing the risk of mix-ups and ensuring that sales are attributed to the correct seller.\
Quality Control: By associating products with specific sellers, FNSKUs help maintain quality control, as any issues with a product can be traced back to the responsible seller.
Preventing Commingling: Without FNSKUs, identical products from different sellers could be stored together (commingled), leading to potential problems with counterfeit or substandard products. FNSKUs prevent this by keeping inventories separate.

How to Create and Use FNSKU Labels

Implementing FNSKU labels on your products involves several steps:

1. Setting Barcode Preferences

Before creating FNSKU labels, ensure that your account is configured to use Amazon barcodes:

Access Seller Central: Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
Navigate to Fulfillment Settings: Go to Settings > Fulfillment by Amazon.
Edit Barcode Preferences: In the FBA Product Barcode Preference section, select Amazon barcode and save the changes.

2. Listing Your Product

Once your barcode preferences are set:

Create or Edit a Listing: Add a new product or convert an existing listing to FBA.
Amazon Assigns the FNSKU: After the listing is created, Amazon will generate an FNSKU for your product.

3. Printing and Applying FNSKU Labels

Proper labeling is crucial for inventory management:

Generate Labels: In Seller Central, navigate to Inventory > Manage FBA Inventory. Find your product, select the dropdown menu next to it, and choose Print item labels.
Print Labels: Use a compatible printer to print the labels. Ensure they meet Amazon’s labeling requirements, including size and readability. We also can print them for you, you can order easily here and we will print & ship them to you for labeling.
Apply Labels: Affix the FNSKU label to each unit, covering any existing barcodes to prevent confusion during the fulfillment process.

4. Amazon Labeling Service

If you prefer not to label products yourself, Amazon offers a labeling service:

Service Fee: Amazon charges a per-item fee for labeling your products.
Opt-In: During the shipment creation process, select the option to have Amazon label your products.
Provide Necessary Information: Ensure that your products arrive at the fulfillment center without labels, and Amazon will apply the FNSKU labels for you.

Best Practices for Managing FNSKU Labels

To ensure seamless operations within Amazon’s fulfillment network, consider the following best practices:

Quality Printing: Use high-quality printers and materials to produce clear, scannable labels.
Correct Placement: Place labels on a flat, easily accessible surface of the product packaging to facilitate efficient scanning. It is also important to cover any existing barcodes as well with the FNSKU barcode.
Regular Audits: Periodically review your inventory to ensure all products are correctly labeled and that labels remain intact and legible.
Stay Informed: Keep abreast of any changes in Amazon’s labeling requirements or guidelines.

And that’s a wrap on FNSKUs. If you have any other questions or need any help, we’re here to help, you can reach out anytime.

You can read out Amazon UPC Guide here for more information as well.

If you need to purchase UPC Codes for your products to list on Amazon, you can find our bulk pricing here.

Amazon FNSKU – Everything You Need to Know