Split Shipment — When One Order Ships in Multiple Packages (2025 Fulfillment Decision Guide) Updated Dec 2025

Split shipment refers to a fulfillment outcome where a single customer order is intentionally shipped in two or more packages. This usually happens when items are stored in different locations, become available at different times, or must meet delivery-performance requirements.

• Amazon FBM / SFP sellers: shipping what is ready protects performance metrics.
• Shopify merchants with multiple locations: inventory is allocated across nodes.
• Brands using an OMS + 3PL: routing logic prioritizes SLA compliance.
• Cross-border or regulated SKUs: handling constraints require separation.

• Ship-by compliance without late-shipment penalties.
• Cost control when orders split frequently.
• Status consistency across OMS, WMS, and platforms.
• Fewer missing-item claims and disputes.
• Clean reconciliation for partial shipments and returns.

• Amazon FBM: one order spans multiple warehouses.
• Amazon SFP: partial release protects tracking and ship-by metrics.
• Shopify multi-location: automatic allocation splits fulfillment.
• Preorder + in-stock: available items ship first.
• Special handling SKUs: constrained items ship separately.

• Use when: delaying the full order risks SLA violations.
• Avoid when: margins are thin or single-delivery experience matters.
• Trade-off: faster delivery at the cost of higher freight and ops load.

• Cost escalation: multiple parcels inflate freight and handling.
• Status divergence: one package updates while another fails.
• Missing-item claims: partial delivery perceived as loss.
• Inventory drift: partial allocation without rollback.

• Last-Mile Double Charge
• Shipment Status Divergence
• Partial Allocation Drift
• Missing-Item Claim
• Split Cost Leakage
• Reconciliation Gap

• Order Routing Rules
• Inventory Snapshot
• Multi-Warehouse Fulfillment
• Partial Shipment
• Backorder
• Fulfillment Exception