Amazon Custom Programme Errors: Every AC Code Explained

If you sell personalised or made-on-demand products on Amazon, you have probably hit an AC error code at some point. These errors appear when you try to add customisation to an ASIN through the Amazon Custom Programme, and they block you from offering personalisation until the underlying issue is resolved.

The problem is that Amazon does not document these error codes publicly. Search for “AC-1001” or “AC-1003” and you will find almost nothing. This guide covers every AC error code from AC-1000 to AC-1028, what each one means, and how to fix it.

What the Amazon Custom Programme is

The Amazon Custom Programme allows Professional sellers to offer personalised products. Buyers can enter custom text, upload images, or select product configuration options before purchasing. It covers three customisation types: text personalisation (engraved names, printed messages), image uploads (photos printed on products), and product configuration (choosing materials, colours, or sizes that affect the final product).

There are strict eligibility requirements. Your ASIN must be a single-offer listing (only you sell it), in new condition, and merchant fulfilled. FBA is not supported. The ASIN cannot be a child in a variation family. If any of these conditions are not met, Amazon returns one of the AC error codes below.

AC-1001: your offer is not buyable

This is the most common AC error, and the most frustrating because the message gives you almost nothing to work with. The full text reads: “Your offer is not buyable. Please verify that your offer is buyable before adding customisation. If you recently created the ASIN, it may take up to 15 minutes before you can customise the ASIN.”

For newly created ASINs, the fix is simple: wait 15 to 30 minutes for the catalogue to propagate, then try again. But if your ASIN has been live for hours or days and AC-1001 persists, the problem is deeper. The error fires whenever Amazon considers your offer non-buyable for any reason, and it does not tell you which reason.

Common causes of a persistent AC-1001

• Listing suppression. Check the listing health dashboard in Seller Central. A suppressed listing is not buyable even if it appears in your inventory.
• Missing price or quantity. If your offer has no price set, or your quantity is zero, Amazon treats it as non-buyable.
• Buy Box ineligibility. If your offer does not qualify for the Buy Box (even on a single-offer ASIN, there are eligibility requirements), Amazon may flag it as not buyable.
• Account-level issues. If your selling privileges are under review, or your account has a performance notification requiring action, offers can become non-buyable account-wide.
• Catalogue propagation delay.Amazon's internal systems do not always sync instantly. We have seen AC-1001 persist for over three weeks on an ASIN that appeared normal in every other respect. If you have checked everything else, open a Seller Support case referencing the specific ASIN and error code.

How to fix AC-1001

1. Check the listing health dashboard for any suppression or quality alerts on the ASIN. Rufusly's listing issues scanner can flag these automatically.
2. Confirm the offer has an active price, quantity greater than zero, and is set to merchant fulfilled.
3. Verify the listing is visible on the Amazon storefront by searching for the ASIN directly. If it does not appear in search results, the offer is not buyable.
4. Check your account health dashboard for any account-level restrictions.
5. If everything looks correct and the error has persisted for more than 48 hours, open a Seller Support case. Reference the ASIN, the AC-1001 error code, and the timestamp of the error. Be specific, because generic support responses about “wait 15 minutes” do not help when the problem is days old. Our case management guide covers how to escalate effectively.

Every AC error code: quick reference

Below is the complete list of AC error codes. Each code maps to a specific eligibility check that Amazon runs before allowing you to add customisation.

AC-1000: unknown error

A catch-all error that Amazon returns when the customisation check fails for an unspecified reason. If you see this, retry after a few minutes. If it persists, contact Seller Support with the ASIN and the exact error text.

AC-1002: not a single-offer ASIN

Amazon Custom requires that you are the only seller on the ASIN. If other sellers have active offers on the same product, you cannot add customisation. You will need to create a new, unique ASIN that only your account sells. This is one of the non-negotiable rules of the programme.

AC-1003: child ASIN of a variation parent

Customisation cannot be applied to child ASINs within a parent-child variation family. Amazon requires standalone ASINs for the Custom Programme. If you currently sell variations (e.g. different sizes or colours under one parent), you will need to create separate standalone ASINs for any variants that need customisation.

AC-1004: not in new condition

The ASIN must be listed in “New” condition. Used, refurbished, and collectible conditions are not eligible for customisation. If you sell both new and used inventory, ensure the specific offer you are customising is set to new condition.

AC-1005: not merchant fulfilled

FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) is not compatible with the Custom Programme. Customised products must be merchant fulfilled because the personalisation happens after the order is placed. Switch the fulfilment channel to “Merchant” before attempting to add customisation.

AC-1006: too many surfaces

You have exceeded the maximum number of customisation surfaces allowed per ASIN. Amazon caps the number of surfaces (areas of the product that can be customised) at 10. Reduce the number of surfaces in your customisation configuration.

AC-1007: too many options per surface

Each customisation surface has a limit of 100 options. If you are offering a product configuration surface with more than 100 selectable options (e.g. 150 font choices), reduce the number of options to 100 or fewer.

AC-1008: duplicate surface labels

Two or more customisation surfaces share the same label. Each surface must have a unique name. Rename the duplicates so the buyer can distinguish between them.

AC-1009: duplicate option labels

Within a single surface, two or more options share the same label. Each option within a surface must be unique. Rename the duplicates.

AC-1010: missing required text customisation fields

A text customisation surface is missing required fields. Every text surface needs a label, a minimum and maximum character count, and at least one line of customisation. Check that all fields are populated.

AC-1011: text character limits invalid

The minimum or maximum character count for a text customisation field is outside Amazon's allowed range. The minimum must be at least 1, and the maximum must not exceed the per-surface cap (varies by marketplace). Adjust the limits to fall within the allowed range.

AC-1012: missing image customisation fields

An image customisation surface is missing required fields. Image surfaces need a label and image specifications (minimum and maximum dimensions, file size limit). Fill in all required fields.

AC-1013: image dimension limits invalid

The image dimension requirements you set are outside Amazon's allowed range. Images must be between 600 and 10,000 pixels on each side, and the maximum file size is 5 MB. Ensure your specified dimensions fall within these bounds.

AC-1014: missing product configuration fields

A product configuration surface is missing required fields. Each configuration surface needs a label and at least two options for the buyer to choose from.

AC-1015: option price invalid

An option within a product configuration surface has an invalid price adjustment. Price adjustments must be zero or positive. Negative price adjustments (discounts for selecting a cheaper option) are not supported.

AC-1016: customisation preview image too small

The preview image you uploaded for the customisation is below Amazon's minimum size requirement. Upload a larger image that meets the minimum pixel dimensions.

AC-1017: customisation preview image too large

The preview image exceeds the maximum file size. Compress or resize the image and try again.

AC-1018: invalid preview image format

The preview image is not in a supported format. Amazon accepts JPEG and PNG. Convert your image to one of these formats.

AC-1019: ASIN not found

Amazon cannot find the ASIN you are trying to customise. Double-check the ASIN for typos. If the ASIN was recently created, wait for catalogue propagation (up to 15 minutes) and retry.

AC-1020: seller not eligible for Custom Programme

Your seller account is not eligible for the Amazon Custom Programme. This typically means you are on an Individual selling plan rather than a Professional plan. Upgrade to a Professional account to access the programme.

AC-1021: customisation already exists

The ASIN already has a customisation configuration attached. You cannot add a second one. If you need to change the existing customisation, edit it rather than trying to create a new one.

AC-1022: customisation save failed

Amazon's backend failed to save your customisation configuration. This is usually a transient error. Retry after a few minutes. If it persists, contact Seller Support.

AC-1023: marketplace not supported

The Amazon Custom Programme is not available in every marketplace. If you are trying to add customisation in a marketplace where the programme is not yet launched, you will see this error. Check Amazon's current list of supported marketplaces.

AC-1024: text customisation line count exceeded

You have added more lines of text customisation than the maximum allowed per surface. Reduce the number of text lines to fit within the limit.

AC-1025: font selection invalid

A font specified in the text customisation configuration is not available in Amazon's supported font library. Use only fonts from the list Amazon provides in the customisation interface.

AC-1026: colour selection invalid

A colour specified in the customisation configuration is not in a valid format. Amazon expects hex colour codes. Ensure all colour values are valid hex codes (e.g. #FF0000).

AC-1027: customisation exceeds product price

The total price adjustments from your product configuration options would result in a negative product price. Ensure the base price plus any negative adjustments remains above zero. In practice, since negative price adjustments are not supported (see AC-1015), this error is rare.

AC-1028: ASIN category not eligible

The product category of your ASIN does not support the Amazon Custom Programme. Not all categories are eligible. Check whether your product type is in one of the supported categories for customisation.

Eligibility checklist before adding customisation

Before you attempt to add customisation, run through this checklist. Catching an ineligible ASIN before you start saves the frustration of hitting an AC error partway through the setup.

• Professional seller account. Individual plans cannot access the Custom Programme.
• Single-offer ASIN. No other sellers on the listing. Check the offer count on the product page.
• Standalone ASIN. Not a child in a parent-child variation family.
• New condition. Used, refurbished, and collectible are not eligible.
• Merchant fulfilled. FBA is not supported. Switch to merchant fulfilment before adding customisation.
• Active, buyable offer. Price set, quantity above zero, no suppression or account-level restrictions.
• Supported marketplace and category. Not all marketplaces or product categories support the programme.

When AC-1001 will not go away

AC-1001 is the error that generates the most frustration because it can persist long after you have verified everything on the checklist. We have seen it last 23 days on an ASIN that met every eligibility requirement, had an active buyable offer, and showed no issues in the listing health dashboard.

If you are in that situation, there are a few things to try beyond the standard fixes:

• Delete and recreate the offer. Remove the listing entirely, wait 24 hours, and relist. This forces Amazon to rebuild the offer record.
• Check for hidden catalogue issues.Run a “Get my products” report in Seller Central and compare the fields against a known working ASIN. Differences in condition, fulfilment channel, or offer type that are not visible in the UI can block customisation.
• Open a case referencing the AC code. Standard Seller Support agents often do not recognise AC error codes. Escalate the case and ask specifically for the Customisation team. Include the ASIN, the exact error text, and the date you first encountered it.

Customisation limits at a glance

These are the constraints Amazon imposes on customisation configurations. Exceeding any of them triggers one of the AC error codes listed above.

• Maximum surfaces per ASIN: 10
• Maximum options per surface: 100
• Image uploads: JPEG or PNG, 600 to 10,000 pixels per side, 5 MB maximum
• Text customisation: minimum 1 character, maximum varies by marketplace
• Price adjustments on options: zero or positive only (no discounts)
• Fonts: must be from Amazon's supported library
• Colours: hex codes only (e.g. #FF0000)

How AC errors relate to flat file errors

AC error codes are specific to the Custom Programme setup and appear in the “Add Customisations” interface in Seller Central. They are separate from the numeric error codes (5665, 8541, 8572, etc.) you see in flat file processing summaries. However, the two can interact: if a flat file upload leaves your listing in a suppressed or incomplete state, that can trigger AC-1001 when you later try to add customisation.

If you are seeing both AC errors and flat file errors on the same ASIN, fix the flat file errors first. Once the listing is clean and buyable, the AC errors should resolve. For help with flat file errors, see our flat file errors guide, and our flat file monitor can alert you to recurring rejections automatically.