Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfilment is a service that lets sellers use Amazon’s fulfilment network to ship orders placed outside of Amazon.com. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
If you already store inventory in Amazon’s warehouses through Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), MCF extends that infrastructure to orders from your own website, Walmart Marketplace, and other sales channels..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MCF can be a powerful tactical tool for specific fulfilment scenarios, but it’s not a complete supply chain solution for every brand. We’ll dig into those trade-offs throughout this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What’s the difference between Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) and Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfilment (MCF)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FBA and MCF share the same warehouse infrastructure, but they serve different order sources. FBA handles orders placed on Amazon.com. MCF handles orders placed everywhere else, including your Shopify store, Walmart Marketplace<\/a>, and other platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buy with Prime sits between the two. It lets Prime members check out on your own website with their Amazon payment and shipping details, and Amazon fulfils those orders with a separate fee structure: a 3% Prime service fee plus fulfilment and payment processing fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1<\/p><\/div> Key Takeaway:<\/strong> MCF is not a separate service you sign up for. It’s an extension of FBA, available to any seller with a Professional Seller Central account and FBA inventory.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The MCF process mirrors how fulfilment with a third-party logistics<\/a> company works. You send inventory to Amazon, connect your sales channels, and Amazon picks, packs, and ships orders as they come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the process works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To use MCF, you need a Professional Seller Central account with FBA enabled. Once set up, you create inbound shipments to send inventory to Amazon’s warehouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon offers two inbound options. You can send everything to a single receiving centre and pay a placement fee for Amazon to distribute it, or you can split shipments across multiple locations based on Amazon’s instructions for a lower fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monthly storage fees apply to all inventory based on cubic footage. Items stored longer than 365 days incur additional long-term storage fees, and storage rates increase during peak season (October through December).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n When a customer orders from your Shopify store, Walmart listing, or another channel, that order needs to reach Amazon for fulfilment. MCF integrates with major ecommerce platforms through several connection methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MCF app for Shopify provides a direct connector that syncs orders automatically. Seller Central serves as the hub for managing MCF orders manually. For higher-volume merchants, API and automation workflows allow programmatic order submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since May 2025, Walmart’s marketplace policy permits sellers to fulfil Walmart Marketplace orders through Amazon MCF, as long as orders ship in unbranded packaging and Amazon Logistics is blocked as the courier.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n Once an order reaches Amazon, its warehouse team picks the products, packs them, and ships them to the customer. MCF offers two shipping tiers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon may use Amazon Logistics (AMZL) as the courier for MCF shipments. For channels that don’t allow AMZL deliveries, such as Walmart, you can block it and use alternate couriers; Amazon normally charges a 5% surcharge for blocking AMZL but has waived it through January 14, 2027. Orders ship in free unbranded boxes, which are now available at nearly all US fulfilment centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking information flows back to Seller Central and, depending on your integration, pushes to your connected storefront automatically. However, merchants are responsible for configuring how tracking emails and links reach customers on non-Amazon channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One important caveat: Amazon prioritizes FBA orders over MCF orders. So during peak periods, MCF shipments may experience delays.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n Amazon updated MCF fees<\/a> on January 15, 2026, raising per-unit fulfilment fees by roughly $0.30 on average for single- and two-unit orders (orders of three or more units were unchanged). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Separately, Amazon applied a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to MCF fulfilment fees starting May 2, 2026. Rather than listing specific rates that change frequently, here’s how the overall fee structure breaks down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remote-area surcharges also apply to shipments headed to Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands: 100% of the base fee for standard-size items and 200% for oversize items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon did additionally introduce its 2026 Preferred Pricing initiative<\/a>, offering up to 15% off MCF fulfilment fees plus $1 in FBA credits per unit for qualifying sellers. This signals Amazon is actively incentivizing MCF adoption among its seller base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Seller Central<\/a> for current requirements and the full MCF fee schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n MCF can be a solid fulfilment option when used strategically, so these tips should help you get the most value while avoiding common pitfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of MCF’s biggest draws is consolidation. If you’re already using FBA, your Amazon inventory doubles as your MCF inventory, so no need to split stock across multiple warehouses or manage separate inbound shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trade-off: Amazon decides where your inventory sits within its network. You don’t get to choose which fulfilment centres hold your products. That lack of control can affect shipping costs and delivery times for customers in specific parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon’s warehouse technology and logistics infrastructure are built for massive volume. MCF gives you access to that efficiency without building your own operations. For brands with straightforward catalogues and predictable order patterns, this can significantly reduce the operational burden of fulfilment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MCF’s three-day standard and two-day expedited delivery tiers let you compete on speed. Many ecommerce platforms, including Shopify, can also display estimated delivery dates on product pages when connected to MCF. This visibility can improve conversion rates for shoppers comparing shipping options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon restricts certain product categories from MCF. Items requiring special handling, HAZMAT classification, or category approval may be ineligible or require additional review. Check Amazon’s restricted products list before committing inventory to MCF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MCF comes with constraints that may not be obvious at first. For example, custom packaging is not an option: orders ship in Amazon’s unbranded boxes with no branded inserts or gift notes. You also have limited control over courier selection, and B2B and EDI-compliant fulfilment is not available through MCF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During peak periods, inventory allocation conflicts between FBA and MCF can leave your non-Amazon channels underserved. These limitations become more significant as your brand and channel mix grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon doesn’t handle customer service for MCF orders. Your team owns all post-purchase communication, returns coordination, and delivery exception resolution for non-Amazon channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Budget for this from day one. Customers who order from your website expect support from you, not Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MCF is a good fit when you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n MCF starts to break down when you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many brands find the answer isn’t one or the other. A hybrid model works well: use MCF for Amazon-adjacent fulfilment while partnering with a fulfilment expert for DTC, B2B, and international orders. That’s where we come in.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n MCF has improved meaningfully over the past two years. Free unbranded boxes, Walmart integration, and faster shipping tiers are genuine steps forward. But for brands selling across multiple channels with diverse fulfilment needs, a dedicated partner can fill the gaps MCF can’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon controls where your inventory sits within its network. We give you the choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Inventory Placement Program<\/a> lets you strategically distribute stock across dozens of fulfilment centres in the US. IPP uses an AI-powered decision engine that analyses demand forecasting, historical sales trends, and seasonality data to recommend optimal placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You ship to one hub, and we distribute from there. Merchants using distributed inventory<\/a> have seen meaningful cost savings on their bottom line by reducing their average shipping zone. IPP is currently available in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe started using ShipBob\u2019s Inventory Placement Program to split inventory between two fulfilment centres, and it\u2019s been going really well. We\u2019re saving more than $3 per shipment on average between courier rate shopping and inventory placement, and we\u2019re only using two locations. ShipBob has fulfilment centres all over the US, so we could easily expand into 3 or 4 warehouses to drive shipping costs down even further.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gregory Frye, VP of Operations at Hi-Altitude Brands\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n We sync live inventory counts to every connected channel, including Shopify, Amazon, and Walmart. Safety-stock thresholds prevent oversells. Our proprietary WMS<\/a> powers floor-level accuracy from pick through pack and ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For brands selling across multiple channels, this visibility is critical. You see exactly what’s available, where it is, and when it’s moving, all from one dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIntegrating ShipBob\u2019s WMS into our Miami warehouse has really helped our in-house business on so many levels. It did wonders for our inventory accuracy\u2014having a system that would decrement inventory in real-time based on shipments gave us a lot more insight into our inventory movement and made our inventory counts in different fulfilment stages much more reliable. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before ShipBob, we used to do a lot of that tracking and updating manually and it was a lot more work for our team as well, so automating everything through ShipBob\u2019s WMS has been very helpful. Also with the amount of sales volume that we drive, we have to nail our inventory tracking across the entire supply chain.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rachel Tannenholz, President, and Melissa Mosheim, Director of Logistics at Aroma360<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n We use a proprietary AI-powered transportation network engine to select the optimal courier for every order based on cost, speed, and destination. Your customers get fast, cost-effective shipping without you managing courier relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShipping used to be a huge cost centre for us, because our previous 3PL didn’t have any ability to do courier rate shopping. They only worked with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS, but we could only choose one of those to use for all of our shipments. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ShipBob\u2019s model is completely different. Their software has a courier selection algorithm that automatically chooses the fastest, most cost-effective courier for each unique package, and they work with the same, plus many more highly vetted couriers (for which they monitor performance and optimise lanes at the postcode level). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leveraging ShipBob\u2019s intelligent courier mix, vast network, and algorithms, our actual per shipment rate is at least a dollar less than it was before. Combined with every kind of fee being lower, switching to ShipBob has saved us $1 million dollars in one year alone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gregory Frye, VP of Operations at Hi-Altitude Brands\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Amazon now offers free unbranded boxes at most US fulfilment centres, which is a real step forward. But for brands where the unboxing experience drives retention, unbranded packaging is not a substitute for branded packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We support custom boxes, branded poly mailers, marketing inserts, printed gift notes, and a box selection algorithm that ensures each order ships in the most cost-effective packaging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Brands provide their own branded packaging, and we store it as inventory. Our Customisation Suite<\/a> is built for DTC brands where the unboxing experience<\/a> drives retention and repeat purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GALLERY<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor us, elevating the unboxing experience is worth the extra cost. We’re spending money on it because we want to give our clients the best experience \u2013 not just starting when you use the product, but from the moment the package is placed on their doorstep. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ShipBob\u2019s Customisation Suite enables us to use our own customer branded boxes in different sizes for different products, as well as high-quality materials like silk wrapping paper and a Particle sticker. The end result is a sleek, elegant package that\u2019s especially curated for our customers and shows them they\u2019re worth every penny.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nadav Haras, VP of Supply Chain at Particle\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n MCF fulfils only domestically within each country it\u2019s supported in (its cross-border export is limited to media products). <\/p>\n\n\n\n ShipBob\u2019s network runs dozens of fulfilment centres across the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia, and lets you choose where inventory sits. We also offer DDP shipping<\/a> to 250+ destinations for brands that need cross-border reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For brands selling into retail, we provide automated EDI fulfilment<\/a> for major retailers like Target, Sephora, and Ulta from our US fulfilment centres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/10\/412a8ded1d8a502af123b32d663cee01.png?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfilment works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Send your inventory to Amazon fulfilment centres<\/h3><\/div>
2. Connect <\/strong>your sales channels to Amazon<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
3. Receive your orders picked, packed, and shipped<\/h3><\/div>
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Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfilment pricing<\/h2><\/div>
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Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfilment best practices and tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Store all your inventory in one place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/05\/43230275dbb07df6ac8bd3d5175683f0.jpg?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Use Amazon’s scale to your advantage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Look](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/09\/2534545b3aea6bfacd86d85982a6255c.jpg?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Offer fast shipping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2024\/11\/0b3abbea57d801e7f5f0f1012d536fe6.png?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Watch out for product-specific restrictions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/04\/b9706b678b83550d36c4a8e79580b7a0.jpg?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Evaluate the operational limitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/07\/9b2aa0b1059392f4a83b274f3ecff202.jpg?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Invest in your own customer service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"customer](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/05\/ad9af8a491d1585de92b356e0bd3aa9d.webp?w=845\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen to use MCF (and when you need more)<\/h2><\/div>
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ShipBob: a smarter fulfilment partner for omnichannel brands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Inventory control and distributed fulfilment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Real-time inventory sync and order accuracy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/7c2fd3b8afdd68a036d73213619e4615-e1745013450265.png?w=845\")
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Courier intelligence and delivery reliability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Custom branding and packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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International fulfilment and B2B compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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