A split shipment happens when Amazon asks you to send inventory to multiple fulfillment centers instead of just one. While split shipments are normal, many sellers try to reduce them to simplify packing and shipping.
Although you cannot completely prevent split shipments all the time, there are ways to minimize them.
📦 1. Use Minimal Shipment Splits or Inventory Placement Service
This is the most effective way to reduce split shipments.
How:
Go to:
Seller Central → Settings → Fulfillment by Amazon → Inbound Settings
Choose:
Minimal Shipment Splits
OR Inventory Placement Service
👉 This tells Amazon you prefer fewer destinations.
💸 Important
Reducing shipment splits often comes with:
Higher inbound placement fees
👉 You’re essentially paying Amazon for the convenience of fewer warehouse destinations.
📍 2. Send Similar Items Together
Amazon is more likely to group inventory together when items are:
Similar in size
Similar category
Similar prep requirements
👉 Mixed shipments with many product types are more likely to split.
📦 3. Avoid Mixing Oversized and Standard-Size Items
Oversized products often trigger separate routing.
👉 Keeping oversized items separate may reduce additional splits.
🏷️ 4. Keep Prep Requirements Consistent
Different prep requirements can create:
Additional packing groups
More shipment complexity
Try to group:
Similar prep types together
Similar labeling requirements together
📊 5. Compare Placement Options Carefully
During shipment creation, Amazon may offer:
Lower-fee options with more splits
Higher-fee options with fewer destinations
👉 Review the placement options before approving the shipment.
⚠️ Important to Know
Even with all settings optimized:
Amazon may still split shipments due to:
Warehouse capacity
Inventory balancing
Product restrictions
Internal logistics
👉 Split shipments cannot always be fully avoided.
🔄 In AccelerList
When creating shipments in AccelerList:
Amazon still controls shipment routing and placement options
AccelerList displays the placement options provided by Amazon
✅ Summary
To reduce split shipments:
Use minimal split settings
Group similar inventory together
Avoid mixing oversized items
Review placement options carefully
While split shipments may still happen, these steps can help simplify your FBA workflow.