Amazon announced on Tuesday the launch of one-hour and three-hour delivery services for a selection of products in various U.S. locations. The company stated the new services are part of its ongoing efforts to increase delivery speeds for customers.
According to the announcement, the three-hour delivery option is now available in approximately 2,000 cities and towns, while one-hour delivery is offered in several hundred of those areas. The selection includes over 90,000 items such as household goods, cleaning supplies, and apparel.
“Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running,” Udit Madan, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to say that two decades after Prime launched, we’re still innovating to make delivery even faster.”
Amazon confirmed it plans to expand the services to more locations in the coming months. To use the new options, customers in eligible areas can use a new storefront on the company’s website or filter search results for products available for expedited shipping.
The pricing structure for the services varies based on Amazon Prime membership status. For Prime members, one-hour delivery will cost $9.99 and three-hour delivery will cost $4.99. Customers without a Prime membership will be charged $19.99 for one-hour delivery and $14.99 for three-hour delivery.
This initiative follows previous programs by Amazon aimed at reducing delivery times. The company introduced its Prime two-day shipping service in 2005 and made one-day shipping a standard for many items in 2019. In recent years, Amazon has also tested other rapid delivery models, including Prime Now, a standalone service that was discontinued in 2021, and a program for fast delivery from mall-based retailers, which ended in 2024. The company has also been developing drone-based deliveries in limited markets.
Other major retailers have also established rapid delivery services. Walmart has stated that its delivery network can reach 95% of American households in under three hours. Delivery companies such as Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats also provide delivery of products from a range of retailers, often within a few hours.
