Amazon FBA has strict packaging and labelling requirements. Sellers who source their corrugated boxes domestically in the US or UK often pay two to three times what they would pay for the same board specification sourced factory-direct from India. The savings are real, but getting FBA-compliant boxes from an overseas manufacturer requires knowing exactly what to specify - and what to watch for.
This guide walks through Amazon's FBA corrugated box requirements, how to translate them into a factory specification, and what to ask an Indian manufacturer before placing your first order.
Amazon fulfilment centres receive millions of boxes every week. Getting the specification right before production saves costly returns and compliance failures.
Amazon FBA Box Requirements: The Basics
Amazon's Seller Central outlines the following requirements for FBA shipment boxes:
Size limits:
- Maximum dimension on any single side: 25 inches (63.5 cm)
- Maximum weight per box: 50 lb (22.7 kg) for standard items; 100 lb (45.4 kg) for items marked "Team Lift"
- Oversize items may require different specifications - check Seller Central for your ASIN category
Structural requirements:
- Boxes must be six-sided with flaps meeting in the centre (RSC or full-overlap construction)
- No damage, crushing, or evidence of water exposure
- Box must close securely without the contents shifting or protruding
Seal requirements:
- Boxes must be sealed with pressure-sensitive tape, not string, straps, or staples
- Tape must be at least 2 inches (5 cm) wide, applied to the centre seam and the two end seams
- No more than two strips of tape per seam
Labelling:
- FBA shipment label must be visible on the outside of the box
- No labels or barcodes from previous shipments may be present
- If a box was previously used, all previous labels must be fully covered or removed
What "FBA-Compliant" Means for Your Box Specification
The FBA requirements above translate into specific corrugated box characteristics:
ECT (Edge Crush Test) rating: Amazon recommends boxes with a minimum ECT of 32 lb/in for most products. For heavy items or boxes stacked high in a container, ECT 44 or ECT 51 board is safer. Indian manufacturers can produce any ECT rating - you must specify it. For a full explanation of how GSM, flute type, and ECT ratings interact when reading board specifications, our corrugated box sizes and grades guide covers the key variables in detail.
Burst strength (Mullen test): Older US packaging standards use Mullen burst ratings rather than ECT. For an equivalent reference: ECT 32 roughly corresponds to 200 lb/sq inch Mullen test board. Indian manufacturers typically use GSM-based specifications for liner weight but can reference Mullen or ECT ratings on test certificates.
RSC construction: Regular Slotted Container (RSC) is the standard Amazon FBA box style. All four top flaps and all four bottom flaps meet in the centre. This is the most common corrugated box type and is straightforward to manufacture in India.
Flute type: C flute (4.0mm, single wall) is adequate for most FBA shipments up to approximately 15 kg. BC double wall (7.0mm, 5-ply) is appropriate for heavier items. See our full flute type guide for help choosing.
Plain brown vs. printed: FBA boxes can be plain kraft brown or printed. If you want your brand visible on the outside, specify one-colour or two-colour flexographic printing. Avoid printing that covers the entire panel if you need the FBA label area to remain clean white/kraft.
RSC boxes are the standard Amazon FBA format. The four flaps on each end meet at the centre, providing a clean, secure closure that seals easily with standard tape.
How to Specify FBA-Compliant Boxes to an Indian Manufacturer
When you contact a corrugated box manufacturer in India, provide the following specification:
1. Internal dimensions (L x W x H in mm) Always specify internal dimensions, not external. The box holds your product - you need the interior clearance. Allow 10-15mm extra in each direction for protective inner packaging (void fill, foam, air pillows).
2. Flute type and ply count For most FBA sellers: C flute, 3-ply (single wall). For heavy products: BC double wall, 5-ply.
3. Liner specification or ECT rating Options:
- "ECT 32, C flute" - clear and internationally understood
- "150 GSM kraftliner / 120 GSM medium / 150 GSM kraftliner, C flute" - explicit GSM specification
- "Burst factor 7+" - for manufacturers accustomed to Indian BIS standards
4. Box style RSC (Regular Slotted Container) is the FBA-standard style. State "RSC" explicitly.
5. Printing requirement Plain / one colour / two colour / full colour. If printing your brand, provide artwork in AI or PDF format.
6. Quantity Minimum order quantities for corrugated boxes in India typically start at 1,000 units per size. Orders of 5,000+ unlock better pricing. Most export orders arrive via sea freight in a 20ft or 40ft container.
7. Test certificates required Request ECT test report, Burst Strength test report, and GSM test report for the finished board. A credible manufacturer will provide these with samples or on a per-batch basis.
Lead Times and Shipping: Planning Your FBA Inventory
This is where many FBA sellers underestimate the timeline:
Production lead time: 15 to 25 working days after order confirmation and artwork approval.
Sea freight transit: 22 to 28 days from Mundra or Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) to US East Coast ports; 28 to 35 days to US West Coast. UK ports (Felixstowe, Southampton) are typically 22 to 26 days.
Customs clearance and inland delivery: allow 5 to 10 business days.
Total: from placing an order to boxes in your hands, plan 8 to 12 weeks for a first order. Repeat orders with a standing specification can be compressed slightly, but the sea freight transit time is fixed.
For FBA sellers, this means you need to plan corrugated box reorders when you have 12 to 16 weeks of stock remaining, not when you run out.
Common Mistakes FBA Sellers Make When Sourcing from India
Not requesting samples first. Always order a sample set before full production. Verify the internal dimensions, board stiffness, and print quality against your product and your expectations. Sample cost from India is typically covered by the manufacturer for serious buyers.
Specifying external dimensions. Your product needs to fit inside the box. Specify internal dimensions and let the manufacturer calculate the board and blank dimensions.
Ignoring humidity impact. Corrugated board loses significant strength when exposed to humidity - a known risk in container shipping from India in monsoon months (June through September). Specify moisture-resistant liner grades or request boxes shrink-wrapped on pallets if shipping during monsoon.
Not accounting for container loading. A full 40ft container holds approximately 25,000 to 30,000 standard RSC boxes (depending on size). If your order is smaller, you will be shipping LCL (Less than Container Load), which adds cost and transit time.
Accepting a spec without test certificates. Any reputable Indian corrugated manufacturer can provide ECT and burst strength test reports. If a supplier cannot provide these, look elsewhere.
Eco-Friendly FBA Boxes from India
Amazon has its own sustainability commitments and increasingly signals eco-credentials to consumers through its packaging programmes. Indian corrugated manufacturers typically use recycled paper content in their test liners (the inner facing), which is functionally equivalent to virgin kraft for most FBA applications.
For sellers who want to make a verified sustainability claim, look for:
- Recycled content certification: FSC-certified board (Forest Stewardship Council) indicates the virgin fibre content is from responsibly managed forests. Some Indian mills are FSC-certified.
- 100% recyclable: all standard corrugated board is recyclable. This claim is universally accurate for corrugated boxes and can be printed on the box itself.
- Minimised packaging: right-sizing your box to your product reduces material use and can reduce Amazon fulfilment fees (since fees are partly weight and dimension based).
For detailed corrugated specifications by box type, see our pages on RSC corrugated boxes, double wall corrugated boxes, and custom printed corrugated boxes.
Sourcing FBA Boxes from Whizzpack
Whizzpack manufactures RSC corrugated boxes in C flute, BC double wall, and B flute at our factory in Rajkot, Gujarat. We export factory-direct to FBA sellers and importers across the US and UK, with ECT and burst strength test certificates supplied with every order.
If you are specifying FBA boxes for the first time or moving from a domestic supplier to factory-direct from India, our guide to finding and vetting a corrugated box manufacturer in India walks through the qualification process, red flags to watch for, and the sample approval steps. Visit our corrugated boxes page to start a conversation. We will review your ASIN dimensions, suggest a board specification, and send samples before any production commitment.