Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS): What It Is & How It Works

Many sellers want to strengthen their presence on Walmart, and using the right services can make a big difference. With Walmart’s online audience steadily growing—120 million monthly visitors on Walmart.com (Statista), it’s smart to look at the program that powers fast, reliable fulfillment: Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS).

This guide explains how WFS works, the benefits, fees, and potential drawbacks, plus tips to scale successfully on Walmart Marketplace.

What is Walmart WFS?

Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is Walmart’s in-house logistics program. Sellers ship inventory to Walmart’s fulfillment centers, and Walmart manages:

• Storage

• Picking, packing, and shipping orders

• Customer service and returns

Much like Amazon FBA, WFS makes products eligible for two-day shipping, increasing their appeal to Walmart shoppers. According to Walmart, WFS sellers see an average 50%+ sales lift compared to self-fulfilled listings (Walmart Marketplace).

Eligibility Criteria to Join WFS Program

You must be a registered seller on Walmart Marketplace with an active account.

• Your seller account must be in good standing, with a history of complying with Walmart’s policies.

• You should have a strong track record of fulfilling orders on time and providing excellent customer service.

• Your products must meet Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) requirements for size, weight, and category.

• Each item must weigh less than 30 pounds and fit within dimensions of 25” x 20” x 14”.

• Products must be non-perishable and free from hazardous or regulated classifications.

• You must ship your products to Walmart fulfillment centers from within the United States.

• Certain product categories are restricted or prohibited, so review Walmart’s list of disallowed products.

• You can apply for WFS through your Walmart Seller Center account once your marketplace account is active. Approval is required before you can start using the service.

Advantages of Walmart WFS

Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) offers several advantages for sellers, especially those aiming to expand their reach and simplify operations. Below are some of the key benefits that make WFS a valuable choice for your Walmart business:

Faster and Reliable Shipping

WFS stores your products in Walmart’s fulfillment centers, enabling quicker and more dependable delivery through Walmart’s nationwide logistics network. Faster shipping improves buyer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of repeat purchases.

Increased Product Visibility

Items fulfilled by Walmart are often highlighted with “Fulfilled by Walmart” tags and may rank higher in search results. This increases your chances of winning the Buy Box and attracting more customers.

Simplified Order Management

WFS takes care of storage, packing, shipping, and returns on your behalf. This reduces operational workload and allows you to focus on scaling your business instead of managing day-to-day logistics.

Better Customer Trust

Shoppers are more likely to trust products delivered by Walmart. This credibility often leads to stronger seller ratings, positive reviews, and improved brand reputation.

Cost Savings

WFS can help lower your fulfillment and shipping costs by leveraging Walmart’s logistics infrastructure and negotiated carrier rates. This efficiency can improve your profit margins and overall competitiveness.

How Do You Get Started with WFS?

Enrolling in Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) helps you streamline order fulfillment and reach more customers with faster delivery. Here are the steps to get started:

1. Have an active Walmart Marketplace account
   Ensure you have an active and approved seller account on Walmart Marketplace.

2. Apply for WFS in Seller Center
   Log in to your Walmart Seller Center, go to the Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) section, and complete the enrollment form. You’ll need to agree to the program’s terms and conditions.

3. Wait for approval
   Walmart will review your application. Approval is required before you can use WFS.

4. Set up products for WFS
   Once approved, enable WFS on your eligible product listings by selecting it as the fulfillment option in Seller Center.

5. Prepare your inventory
   Follow Walmart’s packing and labeling requirements, including applying scannable barcodes (UPC, GTIN, or Walmart-provided labels).

6. Ship inventory to Walmart fulfillment centers
   Send your products to the designated Walmart fulfillment centers within the United States.

7. Monitor and manage your business
   Use your Seller Center dashboard to track inventory, orders, shipments, returns, and performance metrics.

8. Keep listings updated
   Maintain accurate product details and stock levels to ensure smooth fulfillment and avoid delays.

What is the Process for Sending Your Inventory to Walmart Fulfillment Centers?

When sending inventory to Walmart fulfillment centers, you must first prepare your products according to Walmart’s packing and labeling guidelines. This includes properly barcoding each item and packing them securely to prevent damage during transit. Following these rules ensures your products are accepted without delays.

Next, create a shipping plan in Walmart Seller Center, specifying the products and quantities you will send. After that, ship your inventory to the designated Walmart warehouse locations within the United States. Once received, Walmart stores, picks, packs, and ships your products directly to customers.

How Does WFS Simplify Operations?

Walmart Fulfillment Services takes over the heavy lifting of ecommerce logistics by storing inventory, then picking, packing, and shipping orders from its fulfillment centers once a sale is made. It also manages customer returns and support, preventing day-to-day post-purchase tasks from piling up on the seller. All of this integrates into Seller Center dashboards, where you can clearly track inventory, orders, and shipments in one place.

Because WFS uses Walmart’s nationwide network, sellers can offer fast delivery that builds trust and boosts conversions—without relying on multiple vendors or manual processes. Pricing is straightforward, with clear storage and fulfillment fees, reducing surprises and helping sellers focus on growth instead of logistics. In short, WFS centralizes fulfillment so operations run more smoothly and scale more easily.

Potential Drawbacks of WFS Program

While Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) offers many advantages, there are some limitations and challenges sellers should be aware of:

• Limited product eligibility — Oversized, hazardous, regulated, or perishable items are not accepted, which can restrict catalog coverage for certain sellers.

• Higher costs — In addition to Walmart’s referral fees, sellers must also pay WFS fulfillment and storage fees. Without careful pricing and margin planning, these costs can cut into profits.

• Inventory limits — Walmart may cap how much inventory you can send. Requesting higher limits can take time and is subject to approval.

• Strict inbound compliance — Errors with labels, barcodes, or packaging can lead to receiving delays, extra handling fees, or even stock being rejected.

• Less control over packaging — Orders are typically shipped in standard Walmart-branded packaging, limiting opportunities for custom unboxing or marketing inserts.

• Walmart-managed returns — While returns are convenient for customers, sellers have less direct control over inspections, restocking, and decisions on item condition.

• Multi-channel inventory complexity — Sellers still need to manage inventory across other channels and 3PLs to prevent overselling or stockouts.

• Learning curve in reporting — Understanding WFS fee breakdowns, performance reports, and reconciliation in Seller Center can take time.

• U.S.-focused fulfillment — WFS primarily serves U.S. orders. Cross-border or international fulfillment requires separate arrangements.

Fulfillment and Storage Fees in WFS Program

When you join Walmart Fulfillment Services, it’s important to understand how the fees work. WFS charges sellers in two main areas:

1. Fulfillment fees – a per-unit fee based on an item’s size and weight, which covers picking, packing, and shipping.

2. Storage fees – a monthly charge based on the amount of space (cubic feet) your inventory occupies in Walmart’s fulfillment centers. Long-term storage fees may apply for items kept beyond 12 months.

These fees are transparent and predictable compared to many third-party logistics providers. Sellers often find them easier to plan for when setting pricing and margins.

Managing inventory efficiently is key to keeping costs low. By avoiding overstocking or letting products sit too long in storage, you can prevent unnecessary long-term fees. Strategic inventory planning ensures you stay profitable while maintaining competitive pricing.

Why Customer Satisfaction Improves with WFS

For any e-commerce business, customer satisfaction is the key to repeat sales and positive reviews. Walmart's fulfillment network ensures orders are shipped quickly from multiple fulfillment centers across the country. This means customer orders arrive faster, which boosts buyer confidence.

Walmart handles not only the shipping process but also returns and customer inquiries on the seller's behalf. This level of customer service makes Walmart Marketplace sellers appear more trustworthy to new buyers. Happy buyers directly translate into stronger sales and brand loyalty.

By using Walmart’s fulfillment services, you show that you value speed, accuracy, and care in order fulfillment. When delivery takes too long, many shoppers switch retailers, and most expect two- to three-day shipping in major categories.

How WFS Supports Marketplace Sellers Across Multiple Channels

Today, many e-commerce sellers are active across multiple marketplaces. Walmart WFS makes it easier for sellers to reach new shoppers without worrying about logistics. With a WFS account, you can connect your Walmart store to Walmart's fulfillment network and streamline operations.

A strong fulfillment solution like WFS allows sellers to focus on adding premium brands, testing new sales channels, and improving product visibility. Standard Walmart-branded packaging also adds professionalism, so buyers feel more confident about the order fulfillment process.

For sellers already using Amazon FBA or other fulfillment services, WFS can complement those platforms as an additional fulfillment partner. This gives e-commerce businesses a wider reach without carrying the weight of fulfillment operations alone. It is a smart way to scale efficiently.

Inventory Management and Compliance for WFS Sellers

Managing inventory correctly is vital to avoid delays or extra WFS fees. As a seller using Walmart’s fulfillment services, you must ensure products are prepared with accurate barcodes and correct labels. Proper compliance helps your inventory move smoothly through the fulfillment process. Certain product types—such as hazardous, regulated, or perishable items—are not allowed in WFS fulfillment centers. Knowing these restrictions is essential before you send inventory, ensuring your stock is accepted without rejection or extra costs.

Meeting Walmart’s maximum inventory requirements is also part of the Seller Center process. Keeping track of WFS inventory not only prevents overstock fees but also ensures that customers can place orders with confidence, knowing items are always available. For Walmart sellers, this is a practical fulfillment strategy to sustain growth.