Amazon Launches 30-minute Delivery Service in the US, Expected to Cover Tens of Millions of Customers by Year-End

According to a TechCrunch report, Amazon announced on Tuesday the launch of its 30-minute delivery service, Amazon Now, in the United States, initially covering dozens of cities with thousands of products including fresh groceries, household essentials, and other high-frequency local goods.

This service pushes Amazon further from traditional e-commerce fulfillment to instant retail. For users, 30-minute delivery corresponds to immediate needs such as dinner ingredients, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and even AirPods before heading out, which are also the scenes that DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart have been vying for over the long term.

The first key markets include Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, and Seattle, with plans to expand to Austin, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix. Amazon states that by the end of the year, Amazon Now is expected to cover tens of millions of customers in these and other cities.

Compared to the variable delivery fees, service fees, expected tips, and some product markups common on local delivery platforms, Amazon Now's cost structure is more fixed and clearer. Prime members pay $3.99 per order, and non-members pay $13.99; for orders under $15, Prime members also need to pay an additional $1.99 for small orders, and non-members pay $3.99.