Amazon Shipping & Fulfillment: FBA, FBM, SFP Complete Guide
Account Health Desk•2026-03-25•12 min read
Amazon Shipping & Fulfillment Guide
Updated: March 25, 2026
Quick Comparison
Option
Prime
You Ship
Fees
Control
FBA
✅
Amazon
Higher
Low
FBM
❌
You
Lower
High
SFP
✅
You
Lower
High
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
How It Works
1.Ship inventory to Amazon warehouses
2.Amazon stores, picks, packs, ships
3.Amazon handles returns & customer service
Pros
•✅ Prime badge
•✅ Buy Box advantage
•✅ Amazon handles everything
•✅ Multi-channel fulfillment
•✅ Customer trust
Cons
•❌ Higher fees
•❌ Less control
•❌ Storage limits
•❌ Potential commingling issues
Costs
•Fulfillment fees: $2.50-$137+/unit
•Storage: $0.87-$2.40/cu ft/month
•Long-term storage: $6.90/cu ft (365+ days)
•Removal fees: $0.60-$0.90/unit
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant)
How It Works
1.You store inventory
2.You pick, pack, ship
3.You handle returns & customer service
Pros
•✅ Lower fees
•✅ Full control
•✅ No storage limits
•✅ Better for large/heavy items
•✅ Direct customer relationship
Cons
•❌ No Prime badge (usually)
•❌ Must meet shipping metrics
•❌ Higher workload
•❌ Customer service responsibility
Requirements
•Valid tracking rate > 95%
•Late shipment rate < 4%
•Cancellation rate < 2.5%
SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime)
How It Works
1.You ship from your warehouse
2.Must meet Prime delivery standards
3.Prime badge displayed
Requirements
•Professional seller account
•Premium shipping enabled
•99% on-time shipping
•< 0.5% cancellation rate
•Valid tracking > 99%
Pros
•✅ Prime badge
•✅ Lower fees than FBA
•✅ Full control
•✅ No storage fees
Cons
•❌ Strict requirements
•❌ Premium carrier costs
•❌ Can lose eligibility
Decision Matrix
Choose FBA When:
•Sales volume justifies fees
•Want Prime badge
•Don't have warehouse
•Prefer hands-off approach
•Multi-channel selling
Choose FBM When:
•Large/heavy products
•Low sales volume
•Have warehouse capability
•Want more control
•Higher margin products
Choose SFP When:
•Want Prime + control
•Can meet strict requirements
•Have reliable shipping
•Local delivery capability
Hybrid Strategy
Many successful sellers use both:
•FBA for fast-moving items
•FBM for slow/heavy items
•SFP for local advantage
Common Questions
Q: Can I switch between FBA and FBM?
A: Yes, you can have both for same ASIN
Q: Does FBA guarantee Buy Box?
A: No, but it increases chances significantly
Q: What's the minimum for SFP?
A: Must ship Prime to all US addresses
Conclusion
Key Factors:
1.Product characteristics
2.Volume and velocity
3.Budget and resources
4.Control preferences
Need Help?
Account Health Desk provides free fulfillment analysis.
Contact: support@accounthealthdesk.com | Telegram: @accounthealthdesk