How to Dropship from AliExpress to Amazon | Everything You Need to Know
by Tim Blue on Jul 22, 2025
Eager to earn income online through e-commerce? One route that continues to attract entrepreneurs is sourcing items from AliExpress and listing them on Amazon.
Below you'll find a comprehensive guide to get you started, covering setup methods, essential dos and don’ts, costs, and how to carve out your own space in a competitive market.
Is Dropshipping from AliExpress to Amazon Still Viable?
Although dropshipping has changed in recent years with Chinese suppliers increasingly selling directly on Amazon, opportunities remain for those who focus on unique products, strong branding, and customer-focused packaging.
Rather than simply flipping items at the lowest price, differentiating your brand and targeting specific niches is key to staying competitive
Step-by-Step Process: From Sourcing to Selling
Get Set Up on Both Platforms
Open Your AliExpress Account: Register using your email or connect with social media profiles. Set up payment options and fill in your shipping details.
Create an Amazon Seller Account: Choose between Amazon's Individual ($0.99/item sold) or Professional ($39.99/month) plans, then register with required information such as identity verification and banking details.
Research Winning Products
Focus on products with at least a 4.5-star rating and a large number of orders (300+). Check detailed feedback for quality and supplier responsiveness.
Selling branded products can risk your Amazon account and expose you to legal challenges. Stick to unbranded or generic goods to start.
Seek items that are inexpensive to source (typically $1–$20 on AliExpress) but can command a higher price on Amazon, allowing room for marketing costs and Amazon’s fees.
Use only professional, copyright-free photos, and verify that images reflect the actual goods offered.
Building relationships can yield better shipping rates and priority fulfillment.
List Your Products Effectively
Use clear, keyword-rich titles and descriptive bullet points that highlight benefits and differentiate your offering from competitors.
Visual clarity builds trust and improves sales conversion.
AliExpress shipping often takes longer than Amazon’s default fulfillment, so always clarify expected delivery windows in your product descriptions to manage customer expectations.
Launch and Adapt
Test demand and adjust as needed. Review sales data to identify your bestsellers before scaling.
Promptly address issues related to product quality and delivery, and refine your supplier pool based on performance.
How much does it cost to start drop shipping on Amazon?
Amazon Seller Fees: Individual plan ($0.99 per sale) or Professional plan ($39.99/month). Amazon’s referral fees generally range between 10–15% of each sale, varying by product category.
Product Sourcing: Pay per item, with costs depending on your chosen supplier and shipping method.
Additional Expenses: Consider budgeting for marketing, optional automation tools, and possible bulk inventory purchases as you scale
Pros and Cons of Dropshipping via Amazon
Advantages
- No Upfront Inventory Investment: Skip the risks and overheads associated with storage.
- Access to Amazon’s Audience: Reach millions of shoppers instantly.
- Flexible Operations: Manage your business remotely with only a laptop and an internet connection.
Drawbacks
- High Competition: Many sellers target popular items and niches building a unique brand is crucial to avoid competing solely on price.
- Limited Product Control: Shipment quality, returns, and supplier reliability can be unpredictable.
- Delivery Delays: Since many AliExpress items ship internationally, your delivery times may lag behind typical Amazon standards, affecting buyer satisfaction.
Best Practices & Final Tips
- Focus on product research and avoid saturated markets.
- Invest time in crafting strong, original product listings and customer-facing branding.
- Regularly test suppliers, monitor delivery reliability, and be ready to pivot based on results.
- Stay compliant with Amazon’s fulfillment policies to protect your seller account.
The journey from AliExpress to Amazon remains a viable path for new e-commerce businesses especially for those willing to learn continuously, adapt to challenges, and provide genuine value to their customers.
