Glossary

FBA Prep, Packaging and Shipping Glossary

The terms that come up when you prep, pack and ship products from China, each explained in a sentence or two with a link to where we cover it in depth. Need the numbers too? Try our CBM and chargeable weight calculator or browse all free tools.

Air waybill (AWB)

The transport document for air freight. It works as a receipt and contract of carriage, but unlike an ocean bill of lading it is not a document of title. Learn more

AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit)

The worst defect rate still considered acceptable in a sampling inspection. Sample sizes and accept/reject numbers come from ISO 2859-1 (ANSI Z1.4) tables, based on lot size and inspection level. Learn more

Bill of lading (B/L)

The document issued by an ocean carrier or forwarder for sea freight. It's a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage and, in its original form, a document of title. Learn more

Cargo insurance

Insurance on the value of the goods in transit. Carrier liability is limited by international conventions, so insurance is what covers the goods themselves. It is commonly placed at 110% of the CIF value. Learn more

CBM (cubic metre)

The volume unit used to price sea freight, especially LCL. A carton of 60 × 40 × 40 cm is 0.096 CBM. Learn more

Chargeable weight

The weight air freight and express are billed on: the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. Learn more

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)

An Incoterms 2020 rule for sea freight. The seller pays freight and minimum insurance to the destination port, but risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board at origin. Learn more

Code 128

A high-density 1D barcode symbology. Amazon FNSKU labels use it. Learn more

Consolidation

Combining goods from several suppliers into one shipment, so you pay for one booking and one set of export documents instead of several. Learn more

DAP (Delivered at Place)

An Incoterms 2020 rule. The seller delivers to the named place, and the buyer handles import clearance, duties and taxes. Learn more

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

An Incoterms 2020 rule. The seller delivers cleared for import, with duties and taxes paid, to the named place. The buyer receives the goods without a customs bill. Learn more

Dieline

The flat template of a box showing cut lines, fold lines and glue areas. Artwork is placed on the dieline before printing. Learn more

EXW (Ex Works)

An Incoterms 2020 rule. The seller makes the goods available at its premises, and the buyer arranges and pays for everything from there, including export clearance. Learn more

FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)

Amazon's program where sellers send inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers, and Amazon stores, picks, packs and ships customer orders. Learn more

FBA prep

Getting units ready for an Amazon fulfillment center: barcode labels, poly bags, bubble wrap, bundling and cartons within Amazon's limits. Amazon stopped offering its own prep and labeling for US inbound shipments from January 1, 2026. Learn more

FCL (Full Container Load)

A sea freight shipment that uses a whole container, priced per container rather than per CBM. Learn more

FNSKU

Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit: Amazon's own barcode that ties a physical unit to your listing inside its fulfillment network. You download it from Seller Central. Learn more

FOB (Free on Board)

An Incoterms 2020 rule for sea freight. The seller clears the goods for export and loads them on the vessel. From there, cost and risk pass to the buyer. Learn more

HS code

The Harmonized System number that classifies a product for customs. The first six digits are international, and countries add more digits. It decides the duty rate. Learn more

Kitting

Assembling several separate products into one sellable unit, such as a multi-pack, gift set or bundle, with its own barcode. Learn more

LCL (Less than Container Load)

Sea freight where your cargo shares a container with other shippers' cargo, priced by volume (CBM). Learn more

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)

The smallest order a supplier will accept. Our custom printed boxes start at 500 pieces per design. Learn more

Pantone (PMS)

A standardized spot-color system used to match brand colors more precisely than CMYK process printing. Learn more

Pre-shipment inspection

An inspection of finished goods at the supplier's factory, usually when production is complete and most goods are packed, before the balance is paid. Learn more

Quiet zone

The blank margin either side of a barcode. Without it, scanners may fail to read the code. Learn more

Removal order

An Amazon request to return or dispose of inventory held in its fulfillment centers. Learn more

Suffocation warning

A printed warning required by Amazon on poly bags with an opening of 5 inches or more, because of the suffocation risk to children. Learn more

Transparency code

A unique 2D code Amazon issues per unit to brands enrolled in its Transparency anti-counterfeit program. Every unit of an enrolled product needs its own code. Learn more

Variable data printing

Printing where each label carries different content, such as serial numbers, unique barcodes or QR codes, from a data file. Learn more

Volumetric weight

A weight calculated from a parcel's size: length × width × height in cm, divided by a divisor, usually 6,000 for air freight and 5,000 for express. Learn more