Most label rejections aren't a barcode problem — they're a print settings problem. This guide gives you the exact settings that produce scannable, Amazon-compliant labels every time.
Use our Generate Amazon FNSKU barcodes to create a Code-128 barcode from your FNSKU code (starts with X00). Download as SVG for best print quality — SVG is vector-based and scales perfectly to any size without pixelation. Download PNG if you need a raster image for specific software.
💡 Pro tip: SVG downloads are resolution-independent. They'll print sharply at any size on any printer.
This is the most critical step and the most commonly skipped. In your print dialog — whether Chrome, Adobe Acrobat, or any other software — locate the scale or sizing option and set it to Actual Size, 100%, or No Scaling.
❌ Never use:
✓ Always use:
Open your printer's preferences (not just the print dialog) and check the resolution setting. For laser printers, 600 DPI is common and ideal. For thermal printers, 203 DPI is the absolute minimum — 300 DPI is strongly recommended for Code-128 barcodes used as FNSKU labels.
For inkjet printers, ensure you're printing in "black only" or "greyscale" mode with no colour dithering. Colour dithering adds tiny coloured dots to black areas that can confuse barcode scanners.
The quiet zone is the blank white border that must surround every barcode. For FNSKU labels, Amazon requires a minimum of 2.5mm (about 1/10 inch) on all four sides. Our generator automatically includes the correct quiet zone in SVG and PNG exports — but if you're placing the barcode in design software, ensure you preserve this margin.
⚠️ Warning: Do not crop the barcode image in Photoshop, Canva, or Word to remove whitespace — you're likely removing the quiet zone too.
Print a test label and scan it with a barcode scanner app (any free app on iOS or Android works for this) before applying a single label to your inventory. The scan should return your exact FNSKU code — nothing more, nothing less.
For a new batch or a new roll of label stock, test-scan 3–5 labels from different positions on the sheet. Print quality can vary across a sheet, especially on inkjet printers where ink distribution isn't perfectly uniform.
These aren't theoretical — they're the actual print settings errors that experienced FBA sellers report as the root cause of their Amazon intake rejections. Each one is fixable in under 2 minutes once you know it.
Chrome and Safari default to "Fit to page" when you hit Ctrl+P. The dialog makes it look fine because the preview fills the page — but the barcode is actually scaled down. Always check the Scale field explicitly before hitting Print.
Word and PowerPoint rescale images when you insert them. The barcode appears the right size on screen but prints at a different scale. If you must use Office apps, verify the image is exactly the correct dimensions in centimetres/inches using the image size properties panel.
Colour inkjets achieve "black" by mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks — this produces inconsistent bar edges at a microscopic level. Always print in "Black ink only" or "Greyscale" mode, which routes through the dedicated black cartridge for sharper output.
Glossy label stock creates glare under Amazon's intake scanners which use infrared light. The reflected glare disrupts the scanner's ability to detect the dark bars against the white background. Always use white matte label stock — never gloss or semi-gloss.
New thermal printers need calibration before first use. Without calibration, the printer doesn't know where the label starts and ends, so it may print partially off-label. Run the calibration procedure in your printer's manual before printing the first real batch.
Amazon's FNSKU label must be at minimum 1 inch × 2 inches (25.4mm × 50.8mm). The barcode itself within that label must have bars that are at least 0.26mm wide (for a Code-128 barcode). Our generator creates barcodes at the correct proportions — provided you print at 100% scale.
Yes — colour laser printers are fine if you set them to "Black & White" or "Monochrome" mode. This ensures the toner is applied from the black cartridge only, producing sharp, consistent bar edges. Avoid "auto" colour mode which may blend toners.
Amazon recommends Avery 5160 (US) or equivalent for FNSKU labels on A4 sheets. Download the barcode as SVG or PNG from our generator, then use Avery's free online design tool or Microsoft Word's label template feature to position it correctly on the sheet. Always verify print scale before the final print run.
Screen scanning (using your phone camera to scan a barcode displayed on another screen) is unreliable because screen pixels simulate bars, not print them. Always test-scan from a physically printed label. Also check: is the label applied to a flat surface? Is there any tape over the barcode? Is the printed area clean with no smudges?
Last updated June 2026 · freebarcodetools FBA team · Corrections? Let us know