Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, up from 11 current locations, with orders arriving in as fast as 30 minutes.
The company says the expansion will bring drone delivery to communities serving tens of millions of customers, with its delivery sites already handling thousands of deliveries daily at the highest average volumes in the country.
Prime Air currently operates from 11 U.S. locations, and Amazon says the planned footprint represents a roughly sixfold increase.
The service is built around highly autonomous drones delivering packages from sites in primarily suburban areas, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout and some in as fast as 30 minutes.
Nearly all items weighing 5 pounds or less that fit in a large shoebox are eligible for drone delivery, which Amazon says covers more than 60% of the items customers most frequently purchase. Most Prime Air locations offer millions of items at everyday low prices across categories including groceries, cosmetics, medications, and electronics.
Prime members get free ultrafast drone delivery as an exclusive perk on orders of $50 or more.
Customers in eligible locations will see the drone delivery option as they shop and at checkout, with the service integrated into the existing Amazon app, checkout flow, and customer service including returns and the A-to-Z Guarantee. Shoppers can check availability at amazon.com/dronedelivery, and first-time users confirm their preferred delivery point before ordering.
When a drone arrives, it checks for people, pets, or vehicles in the way before safely lowering the package.
Amazon says Prime Air's advanced safety systems are designed to land safely in severe weather or unexpected events to protect people, pets, and property. The operation holds Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 certification, the same framework used for commercial air carriers and the highest level of FAA oversight for drone delivery operations.
Amazon has also opened its first drone delivery site outside the U.S. in Darlington, England.
The expansion comes as Amazon's same-day delivery network already reaches more than 10,000 cities and towns, with the company positioning Prime Air as a faster option alongside its standard delivery offerings.
