Quick Summary
| Brands Analyzed | 130+ brands across all major categories |
| Easy Tier (25 brands) | 86% average success rate |
| Medium Tier (85 brands) | 72% average success rate |
| Hard Tier (27 brands) | 45% average success rate |
| Top Performer | Chef Craft at 94% success rate |
Getting ungated on Amazon is far from a coin flip — but your odds depend heavily on which brand you're going after. Our analysis of 130+ brands shows that Easy-tier brands (25 brands) have an 86% average success rate, while Hard-tier brands (27 brands) drop to just 45%. The single most important factor is submitting invoices from authorized, brand-direct sources. Sellers using authorized sourcing platforms see success rates 20-35% higher than those using secondary market invoices.
For a full breakdown of which categories are open vs. gated, see our Amazon ungated categories list.
How We Measure Success Rates
These success rates are based on thousands of real ungating attempts tracked through the Catalist platform. When sellers purchase products from Catalist and use the resulting invoices for their ungating applications, we track whether the application was approved, denied, or required additional documentation.
We classify brands into three difficulty tiers based on the combination of success rate, documentation complexity, and number of attempts typically needed. A brand classified as "Easy" typically requires a single invoice submission. "Medium" brands may require specific product selections or multiple invoices. "Hard" brands often have strict authorized seller programs, require multiple rounds of documentation, or have a history of denying even properly documented applications.
Important caveat: these rates reflect applications submitted with invoices from authorized, brand-direct sources. Applications submitted with invoices from unauthorized sources have significantly lower success rates across all tiers.
Easiest Brands to Get Ungated For (2026)
These 15 brands have the highest ungating success rates in our dataset. If you're new to selling restricted brands, starting with these gives you the best odds of approval and helps build your seller history.
| Rank | Brand | Success Rate | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chef Craft | 94% | Easy |
| 2 | Genuine Joe | 91% | Easy |
| 3 | Michigan Peat | 91% | Easy |
| 4 | Superio | 91% | Easy |
| 5 | Teacher Created Resources | 91% | Easy |
| 6 | Anchor Hocking | 90% | Easy |
| 7 | Libbey | 89% | Easy |
| 8 | Bostitch | 88% | Easy |
| 9 | Crayola | 87% | Easy |
| 10 | Sparco | 86% | Easy |
| 11 | Pacon | 85% | Easy |
| 12 | Quartet | 84% | Easy |
| 13 | Stanley | 83% | Easy |
| 14 | Pelican | 82% | Easy |
| 15 | Rubbermaid | 81% | Easy |
Data: Catalist Group proprietary ungating tracking, Q1 2026. Success rates based on applications using brand-direct invoices.
Hardest Brands to Get Ungated For (2026)
These brands have the lowest success rates in our data. Even with proper documentation from authorized sources, approval is far from guaranteed. Expect multiple attempts and be prepared for detailed follow-up requests.
| Rank | Brand | Success Rate | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | 15% | Hard |
| 2 | Brother | 35% | Hard |
| 3 | Evenflo | 35% | Hard |
| 4 | Hasbro Gaming | 35% | Hard |
| 5 | Life Extension | 35% | Hard |
| 6 | Canon | 42% | Hard |
| 7 | LEGO | 43% | Hard |
| 8 | Nike | 44% | Hard |
| 9 | Sony | 46% | Hard |
| 10 | Dyson | 48% | Hard |
Data: Catalist Group proprietary ungating tracking, Q1 2026.
Success Rate by Difficulty Tier
Our three-tier classification system provides a quick reference for what to expect when applying for any given brand. Here's how the tiers break down across our full dataset of 130+ brands.
| Difficulty Tier | Brands | Avg Success Rate | Typical Attempts | Typical Docs Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 25 | 86% | 1 | 1 invoice, 10+ units |
| Medium | 85 | 72% | 1-2 | 1-2 invoices, specific products |
| Hard | 27 | 45% | 2-4 | Multiple invoices, authorization letters |
"The difference between Easy and Hard tier brands isn't just the paperwork — it's the mindset. Easy brands want more sellers and make the process straightforward. Hard brands actively control their seller base and treat every new application with skepticism. Understanding which camp a brand falls into before you invest time and money on inventory is critical."
-- Marcus Chen, Head of Seller Success at Catalist Group
5 Tips for Improving Your Ungating Success Rate
1. Always source from authorized channels
This is the single highest-impact factor. Invoices from authorized, brand-direct sources are far more likely to pass verification than invoices from secondary market sources. The difference in success rates between authorized and unauthorized invoices ranges from 20-35 percentage points across all difficulty tiers. Platforms like Catalist provide invoices from brand-direct supply chains that meet the documentation requirements.
2. Start with Easy-tier brands to build seller history
Seller account age and history matter. Accounts with a track record of successful ungating in related categories have higher approval rates when they move to Medium and Hard tier brands. Build a foundation with Easy-tier brands first, then work your way up.
3. Follow invoice formatting requirements exactly
Invoices must show the correct business name matching your seller account, be dated within 365 days, list the specific products being ungated with quantities, and include the supplier's full business name and contact information. PDF format is strongly preferred. Any mismatch between your invoice and seller account information is grounds for rejection.
4. Purchase the right products and quantities
When applying, purchase at least 10 units of a single SKU from the brand. Some brands require higher minimums. Choose products that are clearly identifiable as that brand's products (not generic or private label items sold under the brand name). If the brand has sub-brands, make sure your invoice shows products from the exact sub-brand you're applying for.
5. Don't give up after one rejection
Our data shows that 38% of sellers who are rejected on their first attempt succeed on their second attempt. The key is to carefully read the rejection reason, address the specific issue cited, and resubmit with corrected documentation. Many rejections are due to fixable formatting issues, not fundamental eligibility problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Amazon ungating success rate?
Based on our data from 130+ brands, the overall average success rate is approximately 68%. However, this varies dramatically by brand difficulty tier: Easy brands average 86% success, Medium brands average 72%, and Hard brands average 45%. The key factor is submitting proper documentation from authorized sources.
Which Amazon brands are easiest to get ungated for in 2026?
According to Catalist's 2026 data, the easiest brands to get ungated for include Chef Craft (94% success rate), Genuine Joe (91%), Michigan Peat (91%), Superio (91%), Teacher Created Resources (91%), and Anchor Hocking (90%). These brands typically require a single compliant invoice from an authorized source.
Why is it so hard to get ungated for brands like Apple?
Apple has a 15% success rate because it enforces extremely strict authorization requirements, limits the number of approved resellers, frequently changes documentation requirements, and actively monitors for unauthorized sellers. Similar restrictions apply to other electronics brands like Canon (42%) and Brother (35%).
How can I improve my Amazon ungating success rate?
Five proven strategies: (1) Source invoices from authorized, brand-direct channels, (2) Ensure invoices are dated within 365 days, (3) Purchase the exact quantity and products Amazon specifies, (4) Submit documentation in the exact format requested (usually PDF), and (5) Start with Easy-tier brands to build your seller history before attempting harder brands.
Get Ungating-Ready Invoices from Authorized Brands
Catalist provides brand-direct invoices from thousands of authorized brands. No minimum orders. Documentation designed for compliance.
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