Amazon Launches 30-Minute Delivery Service in Multiple U.S. Cities
The company announced the nationwide rollout of Amazon Now, which delivers select groceries, household essentials and other items within 30 minutes. The service begins in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Seattle and will expand to additional cities through the remainder of 2026.
pymnts.comAmazon announced on Tuesday the launch of a 30-minute delivery option called Amazon Now in dozens of U.S. cities. The service allows customers to order thousands of items including fresh groceries, household essentials and locally relevant products that are delivered to their doors in 30 minutes or less.
At launch the service is available in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Seattle. It is expanding to Austin, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oklahoma City and Phoenix. The company expects to reach tens of millions of customers in these and other cities by the end of 2026.
Eligible items are marked with “30-minute delivery” banners in the Amazon app and website. Offers for the service are also displayed to customers while they shop. In most areas the option is available 24 hours per day.
The company began pilot tests of 30-minute deliveries in Seattle and Philadelphia in December. The tests positioned the service against existing quick-delivery providers including DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart. In addition to speed, the service competes on price.
Prime members pay a $3.99 per-order fee compared with $13.99 for non-Prime members. An additional small order fee of $1.99 for Prime members or $3.99 for non-members applies to orders below $15.00.
The company uses a network of smaller fulfillment locations placed closer to where customers live and work rather than its larger warehouses. The more limited selection and reduced travel distances enable the faster delivery times. At launch, orders can include fresh produce, dairy and eggs, bakery items, healthcare and personal care products, baby and pet supplies, electronics, and alcohol where permitted.
A company statement said the service is intended for situations when customers need or want an order delivered in 30 minutes or less. It noted that thousands of items are available for ultra-fast delivery. The new option joins the company’s existing one-hour and three-hour delivery for more than 90,000 products as of March as well as same-day delivery across millions of items.
In eight U.S. locations the company is experimenting with under-60-minute drone deliveries. In 2025, Prime members received over 13 billion items via same-day or next-day delivery globally. The U.S. accounted for 8 billion of those items, an increase of 30 percent from the prior year.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- May 12, 10:03 AM ET
1 new source added: cnbc.com
1 sourcecnbc.com - December 2025
Amazon began pilot tests of 30-minute deliveries in Seattle and Philadelphia.
1 sourceTechCrunch - May 2026
Amazon announced the official launch of Amazon Now in multiple U.S. cities.
1 sourceTechCrunch - End of 2026
Amazon expects to reach tens of millions of customers with the service.
1 sourceTechCrunch
Potential Impact
- 01
Prime members gain a lower-cost 30-minute delivery option compared with non-members in the covered cities.
- 02
Amazon will expand its network of smaller fulfillment centers located closer to residential and work areas.
- 03
Quick-delivery competitors such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart face increased pressure in the listed metropolitan areas.
- 04
Customers in participating cities can order fresh groceries and other essentials around the clock in most locations.
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