Amazon Ungated Categories: What Can I Sell Without Approval?

Are you an aspiring Amazon seller looking to start making money as quickly as possible?

Or maybe you’ve been selling on Amazon for a while and want to expand your offerings without the hassle of getting approval from Amazon?

If so, then ungated amazon categories are exactly what you need.

Amazon ungated categories allow sellers to list their products and start selling right away without needing approval.

This means you can get up and running quickly and start putting dollars in the bank.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly which categories you can sell in without being approved.

Let’s get started!

What are ungated categories on Amazon?

Amazon ungated categories are categories that don’t require approval from Amazon before you can list your products.

You simply set up your seller account, add the product information, and start selling.

This makes it much easier to get up and running quickly as a seller on Amazon without having to jump through a bunch of hoops with the dreaded Seller Support.

This is in contrast to gated categories which require extra steps from sellers to get approved before they can list their products.

For example, if you wanted to sell in the Grocery and Gourmet Food category, you would need to go through the ungating process before Amazon will approve you.

What categories are ungated on Amazon?

The following amazon categories are completely ungated and don’t require prior approval to sell in:

• Amazon Device Accessories
• Automotive & Powersports
• Beauty
• Books (Non-Collectibles)
• Camera & Photo
• Cell Phones & Accessories
• Home & Garden
• Industrial & Scientific
• Major Appliances
• Musical Instruments
• Sports
• Tools & Home Improvement

If you want to sell in any of these categories you can – assuming your account health is in good standing – simply list a product and start selling.

There are additional top-level categories that are ungated, but have some sub-categories within them that still require approval. 

For example, Baby Products as a category is ungated but some sub-categories require approval. We haven’t included these categories here.

What is the best ungated category to sell in?

The best ungated category for you to sell in depends on a number of factors.

If you already have products that you want to sell on Amazon then of course the best category to sell them in is the one that is the most relevant.

However, if you are a new or aspiring Amazon seller and want to find some profitable opportunities, you could explore these categories:

• Office Products (semi-gated category) – With more and more people working from home, the Office Products category continues to grow year on year. This includes increased demand for existing products but also plenty of new product opportunities coming to the market.
• Home & Garden – A staple of eCommerce that will continue to stand the test of time.
• Pet Supplies (semi-gated category) – With over one hundred million pets in the US, spending in this category has continued to be strong and shows no signs of slowing down. There are a lot of low-priced product opportunities that make this a popular first entry point for new sellers.
• Tools & Home Improvement – Homeowners in the US spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year on home improvement, with a sizeable volume coming through Amazon.

That said, every category has its opportunities and I’d highly encourage you to carry out some thorough product research and be led by the data.

What categories are gated on Amazon?

Gated or restricted categories are those categories that do require an approval process to be completed in order to sell in them.

There are two types of Amazon gated categories:

• Fully gated categories, and
• Semi-gated categories

Fully gated or restricted categories will require approval to sell any single product within the category.

These Amazon categories are:

• Collectible Coins
• Entertainment Collectibles
• Fine Art
• Gift Cards
• Jewelry
• Music & DVD
• Sports Collectibles
• Video, DVD, & Blu-ray
• Watches

Semi-restricted categories are those that are mostly open categories but that have sub-categories within them that you will need to request approval to sell in.

These product categories are:

• Baby Products
• Consumer Electronics
• Grocery and Gourmet Foods
• Health and Personal Care
• Office Products
• Outdoors
• Personal Computers
• Pet Supplies
• Software

Generally speaking, most of the products in these categories won’t require an approval process, but it’s always best to check first.

To check, find a product in the same category as the one you are looking to sell then head to Catalog> Add product.

Enter the barcode or product name to search for the product, find the most relevant option, and select ‘New’ in the drop-down menu.

If the button says ‘Apply to sell’ then there are restrictions in place and you will need to follow the application process.

Can you sell in gated categories on Amazon?

Yes, you can sell in gated categories on Amazon but only once you have completed the application process.

You will need to apply separately for each restricted category you are looking to sell in.

Are Amazon-restricted categories worth it?

Like any aspect of selling on Amazon, if there are higher barriers to entry it means there is the potential for lower competition.

Many sellers won’t want to put in the work to get approved for Amazon’s restricted categories.

That means that if you are willing to put in the work, you can sell on Amazon in some categories that are less fierce and potentially more profitable.

That said, you can sell on Amazon without getting ungated – just be sure to study the current list of ungated categories and choose products for your Amazon seller account that fit within these categories.

If you’re looking for ongoing support and advice to help you build a successful eCommerce business, check out all that is on offer inside Brand Builder University today.