Back in March, Amazon announced new 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options for tens of thousands of items in over 2,000 cities across America. But now the e-commerce juggernaut is making those short wait times look relatively long.
Starting today, the company is launching a 30-minute delivery service, dubbed Amazon Now, in several cities across the U.S. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Amazon Now?
Amazon Now will make thousands of Amazon’s products available for delivery within 30 minutes or less. It joins Amazon’s other existing fast delivery options in the United States. These include under 60-minute delivery with the company’s Prime Air drone service in eight cities, the 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options in more than 2,000 locations, and same-day delivery in more than 10,000 towns and cities.
It is also Amazon’s latest salvo in making sure that when you need even the simplest item quickly, it may now be more convenient to order from Amazon instead of hopping in the car and driving to your local Walgreens 15 minutes away.
Amazon says Now 30-minute deliveries are possible because they don’t rely on the larger Amazon fulfillment centers, which are often located outside of residential and business areas.
Instead, the service utilizes “a network of smaller locations designed for efficient order fulfillment, strategically placed close to where customers live and work,” according to the company.
Amazon says that in most areas where Now delivery is available, it operates 24 hours a day.
What products are eligible for Amazon Now 30-minute deliveries?
While 30-minute deliveries sound convenient, Amazon customers should understand that the Now delivery option is not available for every product Amazon sells.
Instead, Now deliveries are limited to select products from certain categories. Those categories include:
- alcohol (where permitted)
- baby
- bakery
- dairy and eggs
- electronics
- fresh produce
- health
- personal care
- pet
Where is Amazon Now available?
Starting today, Amazon Now is available in only four cities in America. They are:
- Atlanta
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
However, Amazon says the Now delivery option will be “rapidly expanding in dozens more cities.” Those cities include:
- Austin
- Denver
- Houston
- Minneapolis
- Oklahoma City
- Orlando, Florida
- Phoenix
Amazon says it expects to expand the Now service to other cities by the end of 2026.
How much do Amazon Now deliveries cost?
This is Amazon, so the extra convenience will cost you.
Amazon has two pricing structures for its Now delivery option, depending on whether you are a Prime member.
- If you are a Prime member, an Amazon Now delivery will cost you $3.99 for orders over $15. If your order is under $15, an additional small-order fee of $1.99 will apply.
- If you are not a Prime member, an Amazon Now delivery will cost you $13.99 for orders over $15. If your order is under $15, an additional small-order fee of $3.99 will apply.
