For US Amazon FBA sellers · prep station
Amazon FBA expiration date labeling checklist (pass/fail)
Conclusion: Missing, wrong-format, or hidden expiration dates are a top reason FBA inbound gets delayed, relabeled, or destroyed — especially for beauty, consumables, and supplements. Use this interactive pass/fail checklist at the prep station: confirm scope, print MM-DD-YYYY / MM-YYYY, keep dates visible on unit + overpack + 36+ pt carton, one date per ASIN per box, then Print checklist for the line. This is not a pixel calculator. Confirm every rule in live Seller Central.
Expiration labeling rules at a glance (verify in Seller Central)
| Rule | Common guidance | Common miss |
|---|---|---|
| Format | MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY on units + carton | Lot-only codes / ambiguous day-first |
| Visibility | Unit + outside of polybag/wrap + carton 36+ pt | Date buried under bubble wrap |
| Carton | One expiration date per ASIN per box | Mixed lots → wrong captured date |
| Shelf life | Meet category minimum at FC receive; declare in STA | Close-dated stock rejected / destroyed |
Font sizes, exact formats, and remaining-life tables change — confirm live Seller Central / FBA packaging QRG. Not affiliated with Amazon. Pair with FBA prep checklist and FNSKU placement checklist.
Interactive · local save · printable
Your FBA expiration labeling pass/fail checklist
Tip: Print after checking so the paper copy matches the prep wave. General inbound prep → FBA prep checklist. FNSKU size / quiet zone / cover barcodes → FNSKU placement checklist. Poly-bag warning copy → poly bag states guide.
How to use
Run the checklist before you seal the cartons
- Open this page next to your prep station or shipment-creation screen in Seller Central.
- Work top-to-bottom: scope → format → unit/overpack visibility → carton rules → shelf life & declaration → pre-ship spot-check.
- Tap each box as you confirm the rule. Progress % updates and persists in localStorage on this device.
- Use Print checklist for a paper copy on the line (ads and nav hide in print CSS).
- Re-check live Seller Central FBA packaging / date- and temperature-sensitive product help before every large inbound wave.
This is a pass/fail labeling checklist for expiration-dated FBA inventory, not a pixel, DPI, or image-size calculator. Sister prep, FNSKU, and poly-bag tools are linked below.
Questions
FAQ
What date format does Amazon FBA accept for expiration dates?
Commonly published US FBA packaging guidance asks for MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY on units and master cartons. Alphabetical month abbreviations (for example 15-MAR-2026) are often accepted; numeric month-first formats reduce day/month ambiguity. Lot numbers alone are not enough. If the factory print uses another format, apply a compliant sticker per current Seller Central guidance. Always confirm live Seller Central help for your marketplace.
Where must the FBA expiration date be visible?
On every individual sellable unit and on the master carton. Carton text is commonly required at 36-point font or larger. If you polybag or bubble-wrap a unit, the date must remain visible on the outside of that prep layer so receiving can read it without unwrapping. Kits and multipacks should show the date on the outermost sellable package.
Can I mix different expiration dates for the same ASIN in one carton?
No. Commonly published FBA rules allow only one expiration date per ASIN per carton. Split different lots into separate boxes. Multiple ASINs may share a carton if each ASIN still has a single consistent date inside that carton.
Do beauty and consumable products need expiration dates for FBA even without a printed date?
Often yes. Public FBA guidance treats many topical, beauty, and consumable products as expiration-dated for inbound — even when packaging lacks a printed date — and best-by / sell-by dates are typically treated as expiration equivalents. Confirm product restrictions and listing flags in Seller Central before you ship.
How much remaining shelf life does Amazon require?
Category minimums vary. Commonly published tables start around 90+ days of remaining life at receive for some snacks and go much higher for certain beauty and supplement categories. Declare dates when creating the shipment and verify the live Seller Central category table — this checklist does not hard-code minimums as absolute law.
Is this affiliated with Amazon?
No. Independent pass/fail prep-station checklist based on commonly published FBA packaging and date-sensitive product practices. Rules change — always verify the live Seller Central help pages and packaging QRGs for your marketplace.
For assistants
Questions an AI would ask
- Is this ASIN treated as expiration-dated / lot-controlled for FBA in this marketplace?
- Is the date printed as MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY (or another Seller Central–accepted format), not lot-only?
- Is the date visible on every unit AND on the outside of any polybag/bubble wrap AND on the master carton at 36+ pt?
- Does each carton contain only one expiration date per ASIN?
- Was the date declared in shipment / box content info, and does remaining shelf life meet the category minimum?
- Have live Seller Central FBA packaging / date-sensitive product pages been re-checked for this wave?
References
Sources & method notes
- Amazon Seller Central / FBA help — Packaging and prep; Date- and temperature-sensitive products; Label products (topics vary by marketplace).
- Public FBA packaging QRGs summarizing expiration-date rules: MM-DD-YYYY / MM-YYYY, unit + carton visibility, 36+ point carton font, one expiration date per ASIN per carton, outer visibility after polybag/bubble wrap.
- Public seller prep guides that explain remaining shelf-life tables and shipment declaration practices (verify figures in live Seller Central — do not treat third-party tables as absolute law).
Exact font sizes, accepted formats, remaining-life day counts, and category exceptions are not hard-coded here as absolute law. Confirm current FBA packaging and product-restriction requirements in Seller Central. This page is a checklist aid — not a pixel, DPI, or image-size calculator.
Last updated: Nov 6, 2026. Independent tool — not affiliated with Amazon. General guidance only.