TL;DR: Chinese factories default to functional packaging: your product wrapped in whatever is cheapest and least likely to get damaged. Retail-ready packaging, branded boxes, barcodes, and compliance labels require explicit instructions. Here is what to specify.
A Chinese factory will ship your product in a brown carton with “MADE IN CHINA” stamped on the side unless you tell them otherwise. The packaging that worked for a wholesaler in Dubai will not work for a brand selling on Amazon. Here is what to specify before production starts.
The Minimum You Must Specify
| Element | What to Specify | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Carton type | 3-ply or 5-ply corrugated, single-wall or double-wall | 3-ply collapses under stacking weight. 5-ply survives international shipping. |
| Carton dimensions | Length x width x height in cm | Affects container utilization and freight cost |
| Max weight per carton | Usually 15-25 kg | Heavier cartons cost more to ship and get dropped more often |
| Inner packaging | Individual poly bag, tissue wrap, foam insert, or nothing | Determines whether your product arrives scratched |
| Retail packaging | Branded box, hang tag, insert card, instruction manual | The difference between a brand and a commodity |
| Barcode | UPC, EAN, or FNSKU placement and size | Unscannable barcodes mean Amazon rejects your shipment |
What Most Buyers Forget
Poly bag warnings. If your product goes into a poly bag, the bag needs a suffocation warning printed on it in the destination country’s language. Amazon rejects shipments without this. The factory will not add it unless you specify it.
Country of origin labeling. Every product and carton must state the country of origin. The placement, size, and permanence of the marking varies by destination. US Customs requires “MADE IN CHINA” to be permanent, legible, and visible. A sticker that peels off does not count.
Compliance marks. CE (Europe), UKCA (UK), FCC (US electronics). These marks have specific size and placement requirements. The factory will print whatever you ask, but they will not know which marks your product needs. That is on you.
Carton markings. Shipping marks, handling instructions (FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP), carton numbers. Without these, your forwarder cannot identify which carton goes where and the dockworkers will stack them upside down.
The Pre-Production Packaging Sample
Ask for one complete unit in its final packaging before production starts. Not a photo. A physical sample shipped to you. Open it. Check the barcode with a scanner. Drop it on the floor from waist height. The packaging that survives this test is ready for international shipping.
Written by Xinya Zhang. I check packaging before production so you do not receive a shipment of broken products in brown boxes. Tell me what you are importing