Amazon has split Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) base capacity into two separate pools: palletizable facilities and standard facilities. The split started on November 9, 2026, and Amazon will enforce maximum capacity from January 7, 2027. Any US seller who ships inventory into AWD needs to check both allocations before planning Q1 inbound.
According to the official Seller Central help page on AWD capacity management, shipments to each facility type are checked separately against their own allocation. If a new shipment pushes you over your total capacity, you will not be able to create it. Sellers who need a higher base allocation have until December 4, 2026 to ask for one.
What exactly is changing?
Two capacity pools: Base capacity, measured in cubic feet, is now allocated across AWD palletizable facilities and AWD standard facilities. Spare room in one pool does not cover a shortfall in the other.
Hard limits from January 7, 2027: Amazon compares your on-hand inventory plus open AWD shipments with your base allocation plus any active storage reservation. Go over and the shipment is blocked.
Base capacity request window: From November 9 to December 4, 2026, you can email awd-capacity-management@amazon.com with the subject line "AWD base capacity allocation increase request". Include your MCID, current and requested capacity for each facility type, the reason, and a six-month shipment plan with SKU or ASIN details. Incomplete requests will not be considered.
Decisions by January 7, 2027: Approved increases show up in Capacity Manager by that date. Denials are emailed on or before it.
Storage reservations: You can reserve at least 1,000 cubic feet at a specific facility, starting at least three weeks after the request, for 4 to 26 weeks. You can hold one reservation per pool.
Commitment billing from February 1, 2027: Until then you pay only for space you use. After that, reservation fees are based on the committed volume, including reservations made in 2026 that run into 2027.
Why does this matter for sellers?
Until now, most sellers treated AWD as flexible bulk storage. That changes in January. If your allocation is based on a slow quarter and you plan a big restock for Q1, the shipment may simply not be allowed. Inventory that cannot get into AWD cannot flow into FBA, and that is how stockouts start.
Amazon allocates base capacity from your historical AWD usage and reviews it quarterly. Brands that are growing, launching new products, or shifting volume from third-party warehouses into AWD are the most exposed. Reservations help, but from February they come with a bill for space you commit to, used or not.
What should sellers do now?
Open Capacity Manager today: Check base allocation, utilization and remaining space on both the Palletizable and Standard facilities tabs.
Map Q1 inbound against each pool: Compare planned shipments for January to March with what is left in each pool, not the combined total.
Send your request before December 4: If you need more base capacity, email Amazon with every required field and a realistic six-month SKU-level plan.
Clean up open shipments: Cancel AWD shipments you no longer plan to send. They count against your utilization.
Size reservations carefully: Book only the volume you expect to fill, since commitment-based billing starts February 1, 2027.
eStore Factory Tip: Treat the December 4 window as your one easy chance to reset AWD capacity before enforcement begins. Build the six-month forecast from your actual sell-through and launch calendar, not a wish list, because Amazon reviews each request case by case. If you want help auditing your AWD and FBA inventory plan, our Amazon Seller Central services team can take it off your plate.
