Amazon FBA Pallet Specifications
Getting palletization wrong is expensive — Amazon charges for repalletizing and may reject your shipment entirely.
Accepted Pallet Sizes
| Pallet Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40" x 48" (GMA) | ✅ Preferred | Standard for most FCs |
| 42" x 42" | ⚠️ Accepted | Some FCs only |
| 48" x 48" | ⚠️ Accepted | Some FCs only |
| Other sizes | ❌ Rejected | Will not be accepted |
Pallet Requirements
- Maximum height: 72" (including pallet, 6" for pallet itself = 66" of product)
- Maximum weight: 1,500 lbs per pallet (including pallet weight)
- Pallet condition: No broken boards, protruding nails, or excessive damage
- Wood type: Heat-treated (ISPM-15 stamped) for international shipments
- Overhang: Product must NOT overhang pallet edges
- Underhang: Product should be within 1" of pallet edges
Stacking Rules
- Heavy on bottom — Stack heaviest cases on the bottom
- Column stack — Stack boxes directly on top of each other, not brick pattern
- Interlock layers — Each layer should be stable
- Stretch wrap — Wrap entire pallet minimum 3 times around
- Corner boards — Recommended for heavy or fragile loads
- Top sheet — Protects top layer from dust/damage
Stretch Wrapping
- Minimum 3 rotations of 80-gauge (or 2 rotations of 120-gauge)
- Wrap from bottom up, anchoring to pallet base
- Do NOT wrap over pallet labels
- Clear or transparent wrap only (no opaque)
- Wrap must be tight — finger test (can't fit finger between wrap and product)
Common Pallet Rejection Reasons
- Overhang — Product extends beyond pallet edge
- Overweight — Exceeds 1,500 lbs
- Over height — Exceeds 72" total
- Poor stretch wrap — Loose, torn, or opaque
- Damaged pallet — Broken stringers or deck boards
- Missing labels — No FBA pallet labels or labels covered by wrap
- Non-standard size — Not 40"x48" GMA pallet
- Leaning/unstable — Tower of Pisa effect from poor stacking
Floor-Loaded vs Palletized
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Floor-loaded | More product per trailer | Longer unload, FC may charge fees |
| Palletized | Fast unload, preferred by FCs | Uses more trailer space |
Amazon strongly prefers palletized shipments for LTL and FTL. Floor-loaded shipments may incur additional handling fees and slower check-in times.
Shipping Palletized FBA Loads
Indray Inc specializes in palletized FBA freight with proper equipment and experienced drivers who understand Amazon FC requirements. Request a quote.
