Amazon Will Take Over Handling-Time Settings for FBM SKUs That Consistently Ship Faster Than Stated, Starting June 29, 2026
Amazon is tightening how it enforces handling-time accuracy for seller-fulfilled (FBM) listings, with the change taking effect June 29, 2026. Handling time is the period between when a customer places an order and when the seller hands the package to a carrier, and Amazon uses it to calculate the delivery dates shoppers see. Under the update, Amazon will flag SKUs that are consistently shipped at least one day faster than their stated handling time and require sellers to update those SKUs within 30 days. Sellers can comply either by enabling Automated Handling Time, which sets the window based on recent shipping history, or by keeping accurate manual SKU-level handling times. If a seller does not provide an accurate handling time, Amazon will start managing the affected SKUs on the seller's behalf and provide late shipment rate protection for 180 days. The policy applies to professional-plan sellers and excludes custom, handmade, and bulky less-than-truckload shipments.
Real-World Impact
Amazon says more than 87% of seller-fulfilled orders received in the US are already handled within a day, and that every one-day improvement in promised delivery time leads to an average 5% increase in sales. During the 30-day evaluation, Amazon targets the fastest handling time a seller can process without exceeding a 4% late shipment rate.
Key Points
- Effective June 29, 2026, Amazon will enforce handling-time accuracy on seller-fulfilled (FBM) SKUs in the US
- Amazon will flag SKUs that are consistently shipped at least one day faster than their stated handling time and require an update within 30 days
- Sellers can comply by enabling Automated Handling Time (which calibrates the window from recent shipping history) or by keeping accurate manual SKU-level handling times
- Amazon monitors flagged SKUs over a 30-day period to find the fastest handling time a seller can sustain without exceeding a 4% late shipment rate
- If accurate handling time is not provided, Amazon will manage those SKUs on the seller's behalf and provide late shipment rate protection for 180 days
- The policy applies to professional-plan sellers and excludes custom, handmade, and bulky less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
What You Should Do Now
- 1Review your SKU-level handling times in Seller Central and compare each stated time against how fast you actually ship
- 2Enable Automated Handling Time so Amazon calibrates the window from your recent shipping history, or set accurate manual SKU-level handling times if you prefer full control
- 3Update any SKUs Amazon flags within the 30-day window to keep control of the setting rather than letting Amazon manage it
- 4Keep your late shipment rate at or below 4% to avoid having handling times reassigned