Amazon rolls out 1-hour, 3-hour delivery in latest speed shipping test

Amazon It said Tuesday it is launching one-hour and three-hour deliveries in parts of the US as the company looks for ways to satisfy impatient customers.

Three-hour delivery is available in about 2,000 cities and towns in the US, while one-hour delivery is available in hundreds of those areas, the company said.

“Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while running their homes,” Udit Madan, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, said in a statement.

More than 90,000 products, including pantry items, cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medications, clothing and toys, are eligible for delivery in three hours or less.

Amazon said it expects to roll out the service, which began in small-scale tests late last year, to more parts of the country in the coming months.

“We’re excited to say that two decades after Prime launched, we’re still innovating to make delivery faster, while maintaining the same everyday low prices and broad selection that Amazon is known for,” said Madan.

Amazon has added a storefront shopping page in areas where options are available, and shoppers will be able to filter search results for products that can be delivered within one hour or three hours. Users can also check out ultrafast delivery options on Amazon’s getitfast site.

Amazon lured customers to fast shipping in 2005 when it introduced free, two-day delivery with its Prime loyalty program. By 2019, it standardized on one-day shipping, and in subsequent years, poured money and resources into expanding same-day delivery. Same-day orders usually arrive within hours.

In its quest to make deliveries even faster, Amazon has experimented with a number of programs to leverage its sprawling fulfillment network and army of in-demand flex gig workers.

The company also discontinued its standalone Prime Now fast delivery service in 2021. In 2024, Amazon discontinued the service that promised instant delivery from malls and brick-and-mortar retailers.

More recently, the company has been testing 30-minute delivery of household essentials and fresh groceries with a program called Amazon Now. The service is being piloted in Seattle, Washington and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along with international markets such as the United Arab Emirates, India, Brazil and Mexico.

Amazon has been working for a decade to launch drone-based deliveries in an hour or less, initially launching the service in two small test markets, though it has since expanded to several cities.

Other retailers are increasingly competing with Amazon in speed.

WalmartIt maintains an extensive brick-and-mortar footprint, which it says delivers to 95% of American households within three hours. Quick-trade players like Instacart, Door dash And Uber Eats also delivers products from a growing number of retailers within a couple of hours.

Prime members pay a fee of $9.99 for one-hour delivery and $4.99 for three-hour delivery, while customers without a Prime membership pay $19.99 for one-hour delivery and $14.99 for three-hour delivery.

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