Amazon UK Adjusts FBM Handling-Time Rules
From September 1, 2026, Amazon may enable Automated Handling Time for UK SKUs whose configured handling time is consistently at least one day longer than the seller’s actual performance.
What are the key facts?
- 1Automated Handling Time rules begin on September 1, 2026
- 2Eligible SKUs may have Automated Handling Time enabled
- 3Account-level default handling-time options previously displayed only 0 days and 1 day
- 4About 90% of UK FBM orders are shipped within one day
What happened?
Amazon UK announced that from September 1, 2026, it may enable Automated Handling Time for an SKU if the configured handling time is at least one day longer than the seller’s actual performance and this condition continues for more than 30 days. Previously, from July 15, account-level default handling-time options displayed only 0 days and 1 day. Account defaults previously set to 2 days were automatically changed to 1 day, although sellers could still set longer handling times at the SKU level. Amazon said that about 90% of FBM orders in the UK are shipped within one day. The change primarily affects UK self-fulfilled sellers, cross-border small-parcel shippers, and customization sellers that rely on longer preparation times. If the system shortens promised handling times and sellers cannot improve warehouse and logistics capacity accordingly, late shipments, buyer complaints, and order-performance risks may increase.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
For UK FBM SKUs, Automated Handling Time may be enabled when the configured handling time is at least one day longer than actual performance for more than 30 days. Promised handling times will increasingly reflect historical shipping performance. Sellers relying on longer preparation times should ensure that warehouse and logistics operations can meet shortened promises to avoid late shipments, buyer complaints, and order-performance risks.
What should sellers do now?
- 1Review each UK FBM SKU’s handling-time setting and actual shipping performance over the past 30 days this week, and flag SKUs whose configured time is materially longer than actual performance.Platform Policy
- 2For each SKU, verify inventory location, picking, packing, and handover times, and promptly correct handling times that cannot be met under the current promise.Procurement List
- 3Require warehouses or logistics providers to record the time from order confirmation to carrier handover, and prioritize SKUs with long handling times and high order volume for operational improvements.