Where Does Amazon Ship From? (The Most Complete Guide To The Whole Internet)

Have you ever wondered where Amazon ships its products from? Discover how Amazon fulfillment centers play a vital role in the order fulfillment process in this guide. Explore their locations, benefits, and fees.

The allure of Amazon's online marketplace is undeniable. With a simple search and a click of a button, you can browse through an astonishing array of products. And have them swiftly delivered to your doorstep. From home essentials and electronics to books and fashion, Amazon has it all.

But as you eagerly wait for your purchases, you've probably wondered about the origins of these items. If you’ve asked yourself questions like: Where does Amazon ship from? Keep reading to find out where the ecommerce giant ships its products from.

Table Of Contents

Where Does Amazon Ship From?

Amazon ships from a wide range of locations worldwide. The company operates 110 fulfillment centers in the United States and 185 centers worldwide. In addition to the US, these active fulfillment centers are located in:

Canada,
The UK
Italy
Poland
Spain
The Czech Republic
France
Germany

Amazon also works with over 2.5 million active third-party sellers, further expanding its shipping capabilities and global reach. These sellers contribute to the vast selection of products available on the Amazon marketplace.

What Are Amazon Fulfillment Centers?

Amazon fulfillment centers are massive warehouses operated by Amazon to store, organize and ship products to customers. When a customer places an order, the products are picked up from the fulfillment center nearest to the customer’s location. These items are then carefully packaged and prepared for shipment by the staff at the fulfillment center. Afterward, the items are shipped to the customer’s address.

Amazon fulfillment centers are designed to handle large volumes of orders. They are equipped with advanced technology and automated systems, which contribute to the efficient processing of all orders.

How Many Fulfillment Centers Does Amazon Have?

Did you know that Amazon started with only two fulfillment centers? That’s right. In its early years, Amazon relied on just two fulfillment centers, one in Seattle and the other one in New Castle, Delaware.

Today, the e-commerce platform has 110 fulfillment centers in the US. These centers are located in the following areas:

Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Amazon has 185 fulfillment centers in:

North America
Europe
Asia
South America
Australia
Africa

Where Does Amazon Ship Third-Party Products From?

When it comes to shipping third-party products, Amazon operates a program called Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). The FBA program allows third-party sellers to store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers. The products are stored alongside Amazon’s own inventory, and when a customer purchases the products, the shipping process is handled by Amazon on behalf of the sellers.

However, not all third-party items are fulfilled by Amazon. With such items, the responsibility for order fulfillment and shipping lies with the sellers themselves. So if you happen to purchase items that are not fulfilled by Amazon, don't be afraid since the seller will fulfill the order.

How Do Amazon Fulfillment Centers Work?

Amazon fulfillment centers play an important role in the seamless functioning of Amazon's ecommerce operations. These large warehouses house inventories from third-party sellers and also Amazon’s own products, serving as the hub for order fulfillment. So, how do they work? Let’s look at how Amazon fulfillment centers contribute to the company's success:

Receiving and Storing Inventory from Third-party Sellers

The Amazon fulfillment process begins with receiving inventory from third-party sellers. Once the stock is received at the Amazon fulfillment centers, it is stored in the center until it is sold.

Order Processing

When a customer places an order on Amazon, the order is received electronically. The fulfillment center workers pick up the requested item from the shelves. The picked items are then securely packed.

Shipping Items to Customers

Once the items are packed, they are handed over to shipping carriers for transportation to the customer’s address. If you reside in the US, you will get your products within 1-2 days.

Benefits of Using Amazon Fulfillment Centers

Using Amazon fulfillment centers offers a range of benefits for both customers and sellers. They include:

Faster Shipping

Since its inception, Amazon has established a reputation for its commitment to fast and reliable deliveries. The Amazon fulfillment centers are there to ensure this commitment is upheld. But how do they do that, you ask? These distribution centers are strategically located in various regions, thus reducing the distance between the centers and the customers. This ensures that products are shipped and delivered to customers in a shorter amount of time.

Third-party sellers who store their products in Amazon fulfillment centers can also take advantage of Amazon's faster shipping. Generally, if you are a seller under the Fulfilled by Amazon program, the company gets to package and ship your products faster than if you were to handle the shipping yourself. As a result, customers will enjoy quick delivery times.

Convenience

Amazon fulfillment centers are there to ensure maximum convenience for both the sellers and the customers. For sellers, Amazon fulfillment centers eliminate the need to handle the complex and time-consuming aspects of order fulfillment. You only need to send the inventory to the fulfillment centers. And Amazon will take care of storage, packaging, shipping, and even customer service.

On the other hand, customers can enjoy a wide selection of products from various sellers, all available on a single platform. This eliminates the need to browse multiple websites, thus saving you time and effort.

Amazon Prime Benefits

FBA sellers who choose to utilize Amazon fulfillment centers are eligible for Amazon Prime benefits such as

Free shipping
Free two-day delivery

So, when Amazon Prime subscribers purchase your products, they get to take advantage of the fast and free shipping options offered by Amazon.

Costs of Using Amazon Fulfillment Centers

Amazon fulfillment centers come with certain costs that every seller should be aware of. The fulfillment fees are actually determined by the weight and size of the products being stored and shipped. Let’s learn more below:

Standard Size Products

These are products that weigh less than 20 pounds. They have dimensions smaller than 18” by 14” by 4”. If your products weigh less than 1 pound, you can pay as little as $2.47. For products weighing more than 3 pounds, the fulfillment fee goes for $7.17. Products that weigh over three pounds are charged an additional $0.16 per half pound.

Oversize Products

These products have dimensions that exceed 18” by 14” by 4”. The fulfillment fees for these products range between $9.73 and $158.49, depending on the size of each product. Oversize products are categorized into four size tiers, including:

Small oversize: These products weigh less than 70 pounds or measure 60” on the longest side. The fulfillment fee starts from $9.73 with an additional $0.42 per pound for every pound over the first pond.
Medium oversize: These items weigh over 150 pounds or measure 108” on the longest side. The fulfillment fee for these products starts from $19.05 with an additional $0.42 per pound over the first pound.
Large oversize: The items weigh over 150 pounds or measure 108” on the longest side. The fulfillment fees for these items start from $89.98 with an additional $0.83 per pound over the first 90 pounds.
Special oversize: The products weigh over 150 pounds or measure more than 108” on the longest side. The fulfillment fees for these items start from $158.49 with an additional $0.83 per pound over the first 90 pounds.

Final Words

Amazon ships its products from its active fulfillment centers, which are located in different regions worldwide. From North America and South America to Europe and Australia, the fulfillment centers serve as the backbone of Amazon’s operation, ensuring that products are efficiently stored, picked, packed, and shipped to customers in a timely manner.

Amazon fulfillment centers also play crucial in supporting over 2.5 million active third-party sellers who utilize Amazon fulfillment services.