Amazon adds 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options in the US

Amazon has announced the introduction of one-hour and three-hour delivery options across numerous cities in the United States, aiming to enhance its competitive edge against instant delivery services like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. This new initiative allows over 90,000 products to be delivered swiftly, with eligible items clearly marked within the Amazon app. Customers can easily find these rapid delivery options through a dedicated filter on both the app and the website. For Amazon Prime members, the cost for one-hour delivery is set at $9.99, while the three-hour option is available for $4.99. Non-Prime subscribers will face higher fees at $19.99 for the one-hour service and $14.99 for three hours. This service will be rolled out in hundreds of cities, including major urban centers such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., along with smaller locations like Des Moines, Boise, and American Fork. The three-hour delivery option will be accessible in over 2,000 towns and cities across the U.S. To facilitate this new service, Amazon is launching a specialized storefront that will feature items eligible for these expedited delivery times. Udit Madan, Amazon's senior vice president of Worldwide Operations, stated, "Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running." He emphasized the company's commitment to leveraging its operational capabilities to enhance convenience for customers, especially Prime members. This is not the first attempt by Amazon to delve into rapid delivery services. The company previously offered one-hour deliveries through its “Prime Now” platform, which was launched in 2014 but was phased out in 2021. In late 2025, Amazon also tested a 30-minute delivery service in Seattle and Philadelphia. Additionally, the company has made strides in quick commerce globally, launching a 10-minute delivery service called Amazon Now in India in 2024, which has since expanded to multiple cities, and introducing a 15-minute delivery service in the United Arab Emirates last October.