What is SPD (Small Parcel Delivery)?

SPD (Small Parcel Delivery) is one of Amazon's two primary inbound shipping methods for sending inventory to FBA fulfillment centers. With SPD, each individual box in your shipment is labeled separately with an Amazon-generated FBA box label, and the shipment is sent via standard parcel carrier—typically UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Amazon's fulfillment center receives and processes each box individually as it arrives. SPD is the most common inbound method for smaller sellers and for shipments with fewer than a full pallet's worth of boxes.

SPD vs. LTL: When to Use Each

• SPD: Best for smaller shipments—typically under 150 lbs total or fewer than 6–8 boxes
• LTL: More cost-effective for larger shipments sent on pallets via freight carrier
• SPD offers faster and simpler booking—print labels, pack boxes, schedule carrier pickup
• LTL requires pallet preparation and freight carrier coordination but delivers significant savings at scale
• As order volume grows, most sellers transition high-frequency SKUs from SPD to LTL

Amazon's SPD Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Compliance with Amazon's inbound packaging standards is non-negotiable—non-compliant shipments can be refused, delayed, or result in unplanned prep fees charged to your account. Key requirements include: boxes must not exceed 50 lbs (or 25 lbs for jewelry/watch categories), no single item can exceed the box dimensions, every box must have a scannable FBA shipment label in a clearly visible location, and boxes must be sealed securely with no excess tape or protruding material.

Common SPD Mistakes That Cause Receiving Delays

• Applying labels over seams or corners where they can be damaged or become unscannable
• Packing boxes too heavy—boxes over 50 lbs require a 'Team Lift' label and are frequently rejected
• Mixing units from different shipment IDs in a single box without authorization
• Not declaring the accurate box count and contents in the Seller Central shipment workflow
• Using damaged, previously used boxes that may fail integrity checks during receiving

Tracking Your SPD Shipment Into FBA

Once your SPD shipment is in transit, you can track its status in the 'Shipments' section of Seller Central. Amazon typically begins receiving and processing boxes within a few business days of carrier delivery. If your shipment is marked 'Delivered' by the carrier but not yet received by Amazon, allow 3–5 business days before raising a missing shipment investigation. Keeping shipment records, carrier tracking numbers, and box content documentation is essential if discrepancies arise.