Big Items, Big Profits: How Selling Oversized Products on Amazon can be a Lucrative Opportunity

Big Items, Big Profits: How Selling Oversized Products on Amazon can be a Lucrative Opportunity

Today’s Amazon environment can be a truly hostile jungle - unless you’re willing to think bigger.

Competition over high-ranking products is as hot as it’s ever been. Savvy sellers may observe that these high-velocity items are often on the smaller side, taking advantage of Amazon’s behemothian logistical model.

In 2023 alone, small-sized beauty and personal care products rose to account for 26% of all Amazon’s SMB offerings.

But where there’s feast, there’s famine.

Many sellers overlook the potential presented by selling items that deviate from “standard” dimensions, particularly those classified as oversized products.

If you’ve got the packaging skills and storage space to house oversized products, uncontested profits await.

What Exactly is an Oversized Product - and Why Sell Them?

To put it simply, oversized products are Amazon items exceeding a certain range of weight or size. 

Their inherent difficulty in handling and shipping call for additional considerations in fees and labor.

Yet, for much the same reasons, oversized products can also represent an untapped market for discerning sellers to fulfill.

When armed with the right sourcing, research and a little extra packaging skill; you can turn a significant profit by selling larger than standard-sized items on Amazon.

Logistical Challenges are Hidden Opportunities

It’s no secret that bulky items can be a nightmare to store and ship. 

Apart from needing the square meterage to simply house said products, properly packaging and delivering these items is an endeavor all on its own.

Yet it is here that you’ll find your competitive edge. 

As many SMB sellers won’t have the skill, capital or desire to deal with such challenges, the market space is virtually uncontested.

Why You’ll Love Selling Oversized Items

  • Higher Profit Margins
Though there’s no denying oversized products cost more to store and ship, those extra fees are pennies on the dollar. 
 
Not only does the reduced competition mean you’ll be able to set your own prices, but oversized products tend to sell far higher than their cost-per-unit (CPU) regardless!
That being said, not every oversized product is a winner.
Ensure that the specific fees and costs associated with your sale don’t eat into your profits.
  • Niche Items
Whether as a strategic decision or by mistake, the majority of other sellers tend to overlook oversized products.

If you’re the bin hunter type, there’s no saying what sort of underpriced, large-scale items are waiting in the clearance section.
Even outside of reselling or purchasing old inventory, other sellers may simply choose not to sell large products due to their (relatively) slow-moving nature. This creates a niche ripe for fulfillment, especially for bulk inbound inventory.
  • Buyers Will Pay a Premium
As any entrepreneur will tell you, the more specific the niche, the more buyers are willing to pay.
Be it collector’s items or highly specialized equipment, many categories of oversized items can drive a high price.
A few excellent examples would be specialized fitness equipment or life-sized statues.
Bulky and awkwardly shaped? Yes. But profitable? Unbelievably.
  • Unique Market Sectors
Certain industries exist solely within the realm of oversized products. Industrial equipment, commercial-grade appliances and even outdoor camping gear all exemplify this fact.
There is significant profit potential in these sectors, as purchasers are frequently inclined to pay additional amounts to make strategic investments in their respective markets.
  • Once Again - Uncontested!
We could spend hours expanding on how oversized item storage is cheaper than standard-sized items (by percentage/cu ft) - but the fact is, such benefits are dwarfed by one reality.
Housing and selling large products is difficult. Most sellers can’t or won’t go the extra mile, even if the destination is absolutely worth it.
In our humble opinion? A mistake, as an inventory of oversized products may be the ticket your business needs for success.

What Counts as an Oversized Product?

Now, it’s important to understand that the term “oversized” is a bit nebulous in and of itself. 

Amazon gives us a hand here by categorizing products according to their weight and dimensions.

A unit is considered standard size if:

  1. It is smaller than 45.72 x 35.56 x 20.32 cm, or roughly smaller than 25 inches on any given side.
  2. The package weighs less than 50 pounds or approx. 23 kilograms.

If your product exceeds these dimensions, it will likely be classified as an “oversize” item. 

However, things go even further, as there are increasingly larger categories of oversize as well.

A Small Tier Oversized product is:

  1. Smaller than 152.4 cm x 76.2 cm or around 60 inches x 30 inches in dimension.
  2. Weighs at or less than 70 pounds, or approximately 32 kilograms.

A Medium Tier Oversized product is:

  1. Smaller than 274.32 cm or 108 inches, regardless of which side.
  2. Lighter than 150 pounds or 68 kilograms.

A Large Tier Oversized product is:

  1. Smaller than 274.32 cm or 108 inches, at its longest side - however, total length and girth may be up to 165 inches or 419.1 cm.
  2. Lighter than or as heavy as 150 pounds or 68 kilograms.

A Special Tier Oversized product is:

  1. Anything larger than 274.32 cm or 108 inches at its longest side, or sized over 165 inches or 419.1 cm in totality.
  2. Anything heavier than 150 pounds or 68 kilograms.

It’s important to keep in mind that Amazon’s policies and fees are constantly shifting. 

What may require an extra 20 dollars in fulfillment center fees may not in several months, and even these categories themselves are subject to change.

In Conclusion

We like to consider oversized products selling a spartan endeavor; high effort, but pays in dividends if successful.

Though the competition for standard-sized items is as fierce as ever, the oft-overlooked market provided by oversized products presents the perfect opportunity for the scrappy entrepreneur.

Keep the Amazon guidelines bookmarked, rolls of packaging tape on hand and your eyes on the prize. With big items can come big profits.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Do You Identify an Oversized Package on Amazon?

Answer: Though the specific “tier” will depend on the actual size and weight of the item - any product packed larger than 45.72 x 35.56 x 20.32 cm, or roughly less than 25 inches on any given side is oversized.

Furthermore, any product over 50 pounds or 23 kilograms exceeds standard size specifications.

How Does Amazon Measure Package Dimensions?

Answer: Amazon measures the dimensions by length X width X height. This includes the packaging itself.

How Do You Determine the Size of Your Package?

Answer: Determining the size of your oversized product will require both a scale and a length measuring tool.
First, weigh the product alongside its packaging. If it is over 50 pounds, it is classified as oversized.
Once you’ve determined the product’s weight, measure the length of each side before measuring the width from the top or bottom of the package.
Finally, measure the height of the entire package from floor to top.
This should produce dimensions in a length x width x height formula.
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