Amazon expands US delivery with new 1-hour and 3-hour options

Amazon is launching new one-hour and three-hour delivery options across many cities in the U.S. The e-commerce giant is utilizing its existing same-day fulfillment sites—which function as warehouses or distribution centers—to support the rollout. With this move, Amazon is directly competing with instant delivery companies like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats in the quick-commerce market, an industry term for rapid delivery services.

The new delivery options apply to more than 90,000 items, with pricing tiers differentiated by Prime membership status. Customers can access these options on the Amazon app and website, where eligible items will display a delivery label. Pricing for the service is structured as follows:

• One-hour delivery: Costs $9.99 for Prime subscribers and $19.99 for non-Prime subscribers.
• Three-hour delivery: Costs $4.99 for Prime subscribers and $14.99 for non-Prime subscribers.

While the one-hour delivery option is launching in hundreds of U.S. cities, the three-hour delivery option is available in over 2,000 U.S. cities and towns.

This launch represents a renewed effort by Amazon to establish a foothold in rapid delivery. The company previously operated a one-hour delivery service called “Prime Now,” which launched in 2014 but was discontinued in 2021. More recently, in December 2025, Amazon piloted a 30-minute delivery option in Seattle and Philadelphia.

Udit Madan, senior vice president of Worldwide Operations at Amazon, stated: “Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running. We saw an opportunity to use our unique operational expertise and delivery network to help make customers’ lives a little easier while unlocking even more value for Prime members.”

Beyond the U.S., Amazon has been expanding its quick-commerce footprint worldwide. In India, the company launched “Amazon Now” in 2024, offering a 10-minute delivery service for groceries and other items, which it expanded to several cities last year. Additionally, Amazon introduced the service in the United Arab Emirates last October, promising deliveries within 15 minutes.

Why it matters

Amazon is leveraging its existing fulfillment infrastructure to aggressively enter the quick-commerce market, putting direct pressure on established instant delivery players in the U.S.