β οΈWhy This Took Me Longer Than It Should Have
My first poly bag shipment to Amazon got flagged at the warehouse. The receiving team noted "missing suffocation warning." I'd never heard of this requirement at the time β I'd just ordered clear poly bags from a supplier in bulk and started bagging items. I didn't know Amazon had a specific rule about it, let alone that there was a required warning text.
After some frantic Googling, I found Amazon's policy buried in their packaging requirements documentation. The fix was straightforward β print warning labels and stick them on every bag. But I couldn't find a simple tool that just generated the right label with the right text, in the right size, ready to print. Most solutions wanted me to sign up somewhere or install something.
So I built this. You pick your size, set how many you need, optionally add your brand name, and hit generate. The warning text is pre-filled with Amazon's exact required language so you don't have to copy-paste it yourself or risk getting it wrong. The PDF prints on standard label sheets and you're done in about two minutes.
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Amazon-Compliant
Exact required warning text pre-filled
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Bilingual Options
English + Spanish, French, German, Chinese
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Multiple Sizes
1x2, 2x2, 2x3, 3x3 inch + metric sizes
π¨οΈ
Print Ready
Works with Avery sheets & thermal printers
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100% Private
Nothing leaves your browser
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Instant PDF
Generated in seconds, no waiting
πHow to Generate Suffocation Warning Labels β Step by Step
1
Choose Label Size
Amazon's minimum requirement is legible 10pt text. For most bags, 2x2 inch or larger works well. If your bags are large (garments, bedding), go 2x3 or 3x3 inch so the text is clearly visible.
2
Set Language
English-only is fine for US marketplaces. If you're selling in Canada or Europe, pick a bilingual option. The required warning text is pre-filled accurately for each language.
3
Enter Quantity
Type how many labels you need. The tool lays them out in a grid matching your labels-per-row setting. 30 labels (one Avery sheet) is the default.
4
Download & Print
Hit Generate, open the PDF, print at 100% scale. Peel the labels from your sheet and apply to poly bags before sending inventory to Amazon FBA.
πAmazon's Exact Suffocation Warning Requirement β What You Need to Know
Amazon's packaging requirements are laid out in their Seller Central packaging guidelines. For poly bags specifically, here's what the policy actually says:
- Which bags need a warning: Any transparent poly bag used as packaging with an opening of 5 inches (12.7 cm) or larger in diameter. This includes clear polybags used to protect clothing, shoes, electronics, toys β anything with a reasonably large opening.
- Where the warning must appear: The warning must be printed directly on the bag OR applied as a label. It needs to be on the outside of the bag where it's visible before opening. You can't put the warning inside the bag β by the time someone opens it, the risk already existed.
- Font size requirement: The text must be printed in a font size of at least 10 points. This is why tiny 1x2 inch labels can be a problem β cramming the full warning text at 10pt into a 1x2 space is tight. 2x2 or larger gives you readable labels without squinting.
- Required warning text: Amazon specifies this exact text: "WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this plastic bag away from babies and children. Do not use this bag in cribs, beds, carriages or playpens. This bag is not a toy." This tool has it pre-filled so you can't accidentally use a shortened or wrong version.
- Consequence of non-compliance: Amazon will either refuse the shipment at the receiving dock, quarantine your inventory, or charge a non-compliance fee to relabel the items themselves β and their relabeling fee per unit adds up fast.
π‘Practical Tips From Someone Who's Done This a Lot
- Apply the label before putting the item in the bag: Sounds obvious but I've seen sellers try to stick a label onto a bag that already has the product in it. The label wrinkles, the adhesive doesn't bond properly, and it looks unprofessional. Label the empty bags first, then bag the items.
- Put the label near the opening of the bag: Amazon doesn't specify exact placement but common sense (and the spirit of the requirement) is that the warning should be visible before someone could potentially put the bag over their head. Near the top of the bag β close to the opening β makes sense. Don't bury it at the bottom.
- 2x2 inch is the sweet spot for most use cases: I've tried 1x2 inch and the text is readable but tight. 2x2 gives a clean, well-spaced label that looks intentional. 3x3 inch is overkill unless you're bagging large items like pillows or comforters where a bigger label looks proportional.
- For high volume, consider printing directly on the bags: If you're ordering thousands of poly bags, it's worth asking your supplier to print the warning directly on the bag. Most manufacturers can do this for a small MOQ premium. It looks more professional and saves you the labeling step entirely. For smaller quantities or existing stock, printed labels are the right call.
- Keep a box of pre-labeled bags at your prep station: Rather than labeling one bag at a time as you pack, run a batch of 100-200 labels at once, apply them to a pile of bags, and keep those ready. Much more efficient assembly-line style when you have a lot of units to prep.
πSuffocation Label Options Compared
| Option | PDF Online Editor | Buy Pre-Printed Labels | Design in Canva | Ask Supplier to Print |
|---|
| Cost | β
Free | β $8β$20/roll | β
Free | β οΈ MOQ required |
| Correct Amazon Text | β
Pre-filled | β
Usually yes | β Must type manually | β
If specified |
| Custom Brand Name | β
Optional field | β Generic only | β
Yes | β
Yes |
| Multiple Sizes | β
6 sizes | β οΈ Limited SKUs | β
Any size | β
Custom |
| Ready in Minutes | β
Instant | β Shipping wait | β οΈ Design time | β Production lead time |
| No Signup Required | β
Never | β Account needed | β Account needed | β Supplier contact |
βFrequently Asked Questions
Does Amazon require suffocation warning labels on poly bags? +
Yes. Amazon requires a suffocation warning label on any poly bag with an opening of 5 inches or larger. The warning must be printed directly on the bag or on a label attached to the bag. The text must be in a font size of at least 10 points and clearly readable. If you skip this, Amazon's receiving team will either reject your shipment or charge you a non-compliance fee to relabel.
What is the exact warning text Amazon requires? +
Amazon's required text is: "WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this plastic bag away from babies and children. Do not use this bag in cribs, beds, carriages or playpens. This bag is not a toy." This tool includes this exact text pre-filled so you don't have to type it manually or risk getting the wording wrong.
What size does the suffocation warning label need to be? +
Amazon specifies that the warning text must be at least 10-point font. For the physical label itself, most sellers use 1x2 inch or 2x2 inch labels. The label needs to be large enough that the full warning text is legible at normal reading distance. If the bag itself is large, go bigger β a tiny label crammed with small text on a giant bag is technically non-compliant and looks bad.
Can I print the warning directly on the poly bag instead of a label? +
Yes, if you're ordering custom poly bags from a manufacturer, you can have the warning text printed directly on the bag. That's actually the cleanest solution for high-volume sellers. But for smaller quantities, or when you're using stock bags you already have, a printed label that you apply to the bag is perfectly acceptable. This tool generates those labels.
Do I need suffocation labels on every poly bag or just bags over a certain size? +
Amazon's policy is that any poly bag with an opening of 5 inches or more in diameter requires the warning. Bags smaller than 5 inches at the opening are exempt. In practice though, most sellers just put the label on every bag to avoid having to measure and sort β the labels cost almost nothing to print and it removes any compliance risk.
Can I add my brand name or logo to the suffocation warning label? +
You can add a brand or product name to the label as long as the required warning text is still fully present, clearly legible, and not smaller than 10 points. In this tool, there's an optional brand field you can fill in β it'll appear at the top of the label above the warning text. Keep it subtle. The warning text is the legally required part; the branding is secondary.
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