Amazon has officially rolled out new ultra-fast delivery options — 1-hour delivery and 3-hour delivery — in hundreds of U.S. cities and towns to compete directly with quick-commerce players like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats.
Key Details & Pricing
- 1-Hour Delivery
- Prime members: $9.99 per order
- Non-Prime members: $19.99 per order
- Available in hundreds of cities, including major metros like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., plus smaller cities such as Des Moines (Iowa), Boise (Idaho), and American Fork (Utah).
- 3-Hour Delivery
- Prime members: $4.99 per order
- Non-Prime members: $14.99 per order
- Available in over 2,000 U.S. cities and towns, covering large cities, mid-size towns, suburbs, and rural-adjacent areas (examples: Cornwall, Pennsylvania; Harrah, Oklahoma; Arabi, Louisiana).
Eligible Items
More than 90,000 everyday essentials qualify, including household goods, over-the-counter medicines, electronics, toys, toilet paper, humidifiers, air mattresses, and even some perishable groceries in select areas. Amazon is leveraging its existing Same-Day fulfillment network (no new warehouses needed).
How to Shop & Check Availability
- A dedicated “Get It Fast” storefront is now live: www.amazon.com/getitfast
- Eligible items show a “1-hour” or “3-hour” label directly on the product page in the Amazon app or website.
- New filters for these delivery speeds are available.
- Service runs seven days a week.
Background & Context
This is Amazon’s latest push into ultra-fast delivery after retiring Prime Now in 2021 and piloting 30-minute delivery in late 2025. The company is revamping its standard Same-Day process to unlock these speeds without disrupting regular operations. Amazon plans to expand both options to even more areas in the coming months.
Executive Quote
Udit Madan, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations at Amazon:
“Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running. We saw an opportunity to use our unique operational expertise and delivery network to help make customers’ lives a little easier while unlocking even more value for Prime members.”
Why This Matters
Amazon is aggressively chasing the “instant delivery” trend that has grown rapidly in the U.S. The new paid options give Prime members a premium convenience tier while still offering free Same-Day and Two-Day shipping on millions of other items.
Sources confirmed across TechCrunch, AboutAmazon, Reuters, GeekWire, WSJ, and more — all published within the last few hours as of March 17, 2026. The rollout is live right now for eligible customers.
