What Time Does Amazon Deliver? Know Before You Order

what time does amazon deliver

Editorial Process:

Our guides and reviews are written by experts who use their real-life experience. You can learn how we write our reviews by checking our editorial process.

Some links in this article are special affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we might get a small reward at no extra cost to you. We recommend these products because we’ve used them and really like them. This site isn’t intended to give out financial advice. You can see more about our affiliate links in our privacy policy.

Table of Contents
  • What time does Amazon deliver?
  • Does Amazon do Saturday deliveries? What about Sunday deliveries?
  • Does Amazon deliver late into the night?
  • How late does Amazon deliver?

These questions are likely on your mind whenever you expect an Amazon package.

Amazon’s delivery times vary depending on your chosen shipping option (standard shipping, priority shipping, two-day shipping, etc.), location, day of the week, and whether you’re a Prime member.

If all this seems confusing, don’t worry. I’m here to help.

I wrote this guide to discuss Amazon’s delivery times, how Amazon delivery works, what time you can expect Amazon to deliver packages, and more.

Let’s begin.

What Time Does Amazon Deliver?

Amazon delivery drivers generally deliver packages from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time. For scheduled and signature-required deliveries, delivery personnel will only contact you and attempt deliveries between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. local time to avoid disturbing you.

How Early Does Amazon Deliver?

According to Amazon’s delivery information, Amazon drivers can deliver packages as early as 6 a.m.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can enjoy early morning delivery options by requesting deliveries at 6 a.m.

Amazon often works with carriers like the US Postal Service to manage their early delivery service. 

How Late Does Amazon Deliver on Weekdays?

What time does Amazon stop delivering?

You’ll be happy to know that Amazon delivers up to 8 p.m., although there can be times they deliver as late as 10 p.m. 

Amazon now offers the Amazon Key In-Garage delivery service for Amazon Prime members to help prevent your packages from getting stolen late at night. 

In-Garage delivery service how it works

With the Amazon Key delivery service, the Amazon delivery driver has a unique key or code to access your garage, place your package inside, and lock your garage afterward. 

However, this service has a specific delivery window: a four-hour period during which the driver can deliver packages to you. 

This four-hour delivery window falls between Amazon’s standard delivery time of 8 AM to 8 p.m. 

How Late Does Amazon Deliver On Weekends (Saturday and Sunday Delivery)?

Amazon also does weekend delivery. Drivers follow the same schedule for Saturday and Sunday deliveries. 

Remember, weekend deliveries aren’t available in all areas. For areas where Sunday delivery is available, expect your packages to arrive between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

How Late Does Amazon Deliver Groceries? 

Amazon strives to make people’s lives easier with Amazon Fresh, Amazon’s grocery delivery service.

How does Amazon Fresh work? Amazon Fresh allows people to order groceries that Amazon delivers to their homes. This service is available to all shoppers, not just Amazon Prime members.

You can expect delivery between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the Amazon Fresh program and choose from various two-hour delivery windows. 

Amazon Fresh program delivery window

This two-hour delivery window is necessary to give Amazon workers enough time to shop for your order and then deliver it to your home safely. 

However, if you want same-day delivery via Amazon Fresh, you must place your order by 6 p.m.

You can also opt for a one-hour window for an additional fee. 

What Factors Affect Amazon’s Delivery Times?

Although Amazon generally makes most deliveries between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., not all drivers follow the same schedule. The time for Amazon deliveries also depends on the following factors.

Location

Your location and proximity to an Amazon fulfillment center significantly impact the speed at which Amazon ships your order.

You can expect to receive your orders quickly if you live close to an Amazon fulfillment center or warehouse.

Fulfillment Center Availability

The availability of your order at the nearest Amazon fulfillment center also affects delivery speeds.

Amazon has to ship your item from a farther warehouse if it’s not in stock at the fulfillment center nearest your location, thereby increasing the delivery time. 

Weather

Inclement weather can severely impact Amazon shipping times.

Hurricanes, snowstorms, and floods in your area or the area of the Amazon fulfillment center can cause unexpected significant delays.

Unfortunately, neither you nor Amazon can do anything about adverse weather conditions except wait. The company won’t risk the life of an Amazon driver by having them deliver packages despite bad weather.

What Are the Reasons for Late Deliveries?

Amazon delivery logistics are incredibly complex. As much as Amazon drivers want to finish by 8 p.m., sometimes events beyond their control occur. 

Here are the most common reasons for late Amazon deliveries. 

Increased Deliveries

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping has increased to new heights. With Amazon being the largest e-commerce platform, it makes sense that more people choose to shop there. 

Thus, the company now deals with thousands of daily orders, if not hundreds of thousands. 

The massive number of orders means Amazon has to extend its hours, sometimes even up to 10 p.m., to ship out orders within a reasonable time frame.  

Order Time

The arrival of your order also depends on the time you placed it. 

Amazon sends orders out according to fixed blocks of time. For instance, if you order between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., your order will arrive by 6 p.m. 

On the other hand, if you order between 1 and 5 p.m., Amazon will send your order out on the last truck of the day. Your order might arrive at your doorstep around 10 p.m., which applies if you’re an Amazon Prime member who opted for same-day delivery. 

To check if your order qualifies for same-day or next-day delivery, look at the time left to make your order. 

same-day or next-day delivery

Driver Shortages

Sometimes, there aren’t enough available Amazon delivery drivers to meet demands. Amazon makes up for these situations by increasing the delivery window. 

That way, drivers have more time to accomplish their daily deliveries.

Unavoidable Conditions

On the road, any number of unexpected things can happen that would suddenly derail the schedules of Amazon delivery drivers. 

Events like bad weather, traffic congestion, route changes, a vehicle breakdown (and subsequent repair), or an emergency can cause delays. 

How Does Amazon Delivery Work?

Knowing how Amazon’s delivery process works lets you understand the logic behind the company’s delivery times. It also allows you to plan your orders accordingly, manage expectations regarding shipping times, and avoid delivery problems.

Here are the most important aspects of Amazon’s delivery process.

Order Processing

Order processing means Amazon is preparing your order for shipment, and the time starts once you check out an item.

Order processing times vary and depend largely on product availability.

In-Stock Items

Amazon’s order processing time for in-stock items is quick and generally takes one business day.

Out-Of-Stock Items

Out-of-stock items take longer to process because Amazon has to wait for the third-party seller to restock your ordered item. The processing time also depends on whether you pre-ordered the item. 

Amazon has no specific turnaround time for pre-ordered items because it depends on when the manufacturer or third-party seller will make the product publicly available. Sometimes, Amazon can take weeks or even months to fulfill your pre-ordered item.

Shipping

Shipping time depends on the shipping option you choose during checkout. It can also depend on your membership because Amazon offers Prime and non-Prime members different options.

Amazon Prime Members

You can enjoy the following free shipping options with an Amazon Prime membership.

  • Free same-day delivery
  • Free one-day delivery
  • Free two-day delivery

Non-Prime Members

Here are the shipping options you can choose from as a non-Prime member.

  • Standard – 3 to 7 business days
  • Expedited – 2 to 5 business days
  • Priority – 1 to 4 business days

Remember, Amazon’s estimated delivery time will still depend on your location. For example, standard shipping can take longer if you live outside the US. Your location will also affect the shipping fees you incur. Naturally, you’ll have to pay extra to ship an international order.

I recommend checking out Amazon’s Global Shipping Rates and Times to calculate how long your package will take to arrive and how much you’ll have to pay for shipping. 

How Do You Set Your Amazon Delivery Preferences?

You can fine-tune or update Amazon delivery preferences if you’re an Amazon Prime member to ensure you get your packages within the best time frame. 

You can customize your order in two ways. 

Before Placing an Order

The first way is to do it before placing an order. Amazon displays options for choosing your delivery day, whether you want a weekday or weekend delivery. 

You can also write any delivery instructions or notes for the delivery driver. 

write any delivery instructions

However, there’s no guarantee the delivery driver will always be able to accommodate your request, especially if Amazon assigns them a specific route.

Through Your Account Settings

The second way to update your delivery preferences is through your account settings. 

Go to the Addresses section of your account and click it. Choose the address where you want Amazon to deliver your package.

You’ll also find a form displaying other delivery preferences. 

You can then indicate your preferred delivery hours and if you want Saturday or Sunday deliveries.

indicate your preferred delivery hours

What Should You Do if Amazon Says Your Package Is Delivered, But It Hasn’t Arrived Yet?

Is your package delayed? Don’t panic. Delivery speeds depend on various factors. 

Use the tracking option to get an idea of the status of your order. Amazon tracking is very reliable, and many shoppers vouch for its accuracy.

If your order says Delivered on Amazon, but you haven’t received it, look for a notice of attempted delivery. Check around your location and ask neighbors if one of them received the package on your behalf. 

However, it’s best to contact Amazon’s customer service if your package still hasn’t arrived 48 hours after the expected delivery date. 

How Do I Contact Amazon Customer Service for Assistance Regarding My Order?

Here’s how to contact Amazon Customer Service if you need help.

1. Go to the Amazon website and log in to your account.

amazon login page

2. Hover over Account & Lists.

accounts and lists

3. Choose Customer Service from the dropdown menu.

customer service

4. Choose the item from the list on the new page that appears.

5. Click Help with a different item if the package isn’t on Amazon’s list of most recent items.

6. Choose the item from the list on the new page that appears or click Show more items to see your other recent orders.

7. Click the item once you find it to see a new menu.

8. Click the option appropriate for your situation or concern.

select the best option

9. Click the I need more help button. 

I need more help window

10. A new page will appear asking whether you’d like to request a phone call or chat with an Amazon Customer Service representative. Choose whichever is more convenient for you.

chat with us feature on amazon

How Do You Get a Refund From Amazon for a Late Package?

Here’s how to request a refund for a late delivery.

1. Log in to your Amazon account.

2. Hover over Account & Lists.

3. Choose Orders from the dropdown menu that appears.

Choose Orders from the dropdown menu

4. Find the item you want a refund for.

5. Click Return Items.

select return item

6. Choose the product then click on Item Arrived Too Late.

seect arrived too late

7. Add a reason, then choose how you want to be compensated.

choose the compensation method

8. Click Contniue

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can You Change Your Amazon Delivery Time? 

No. You can’t request a specific time of delivery from Amazon.

If you’re a Prime member, you can contact Amazon Customer Service to see if they’ll accommodate your request. However, there’s no guarantee they will.

How Accurate Is Amazon’s Estimated Delivery Time?

In my years of experience as an Amazon shopper, I can say that Amazon’s estimated delivery speeds are highly accurate.

The only reasons for unexpected delays are those described above, including inclement weather events.

How Late Does Amazon Deliver?

According to Amazon’s delivery information, you can expect deliveries up to 10:00 p.m. local time.

Is There an Amazon Customer Service Number I Can Call?

Yes. You can call Amazon Customer Service at  1-888-280-4331 if you’re a US customer.

How Much Do Amazon Flex Drivers Make?

Amazon Flex Drivers can make around $18 to $25 per hour.

The Bottom Line

I hope my guide on Amazon delivery times helps you set the proper expectations when ordering from this popular ecommerce marketplace.

Amazon’s reliable delivery drivers always do their best to deliver your orders safely. 

If you think you won’t be at home during Amazon’s estimated delivery times, I recommend changing the delivery date of your package. 

Written by: Omar Deryan

Founder of OJ Digital Solutions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request a Quote

Do you need help with anything in particular? Fill out this form and we'll get back to you.