Key Takeaways
- Amazon plans to grow Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, a sixfold jump from its current reach.
- Drones deliver items weighing 5 pounds or less in as fast as 30 minutes, covering more than 60% of the products customers buy most from Amazon.
Amazon’s Prime Air service plans to expand service to reach nearly 500 cities and towns in the United States by the end of 2026—a sixfold increase from its current footprint to communities with tens of millions of customers across the country.
Prime Air drone delivery sites currently serves customers in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. The expansion plans are targeted for Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho, and New York.
Nearly all items 5 pounds or less that fit in a large shoebox can be delivered by drone, meaning more than 60% of the items customers are most frequently purchasing from Amazon are eligible. Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout.
What Amazon Says About the Prime Air Expansion
David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air, stated the Seattle-based company is pairing the convenience of ultrafast drone delivery with the low prices and selection customers love.
“Customers already turn to Amazon for fast Same- and Next-Day Delivery, and Prime Air provides them an even speedier option when they need it, with deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes,” said Carbon in a statement. “We’ve already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages to customers by drone this year, and by the end of 2026 we plan to reach customers in nearly 500 cities and towns.”
Where Prime Air Drone Delivery Operates Now
Each Prime Air site serves an area of approximately 175 square miles and is currently offered in the following locations and the surrounding areas in the U.S., and:
- Tolleson, Arizona (Phoenix metro area)
- Ruskin, Florida (Tampa metro area)
- Kansas City, Kansas
- Papillion, Nebraska (Omaha metro area)
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Hazel Park, Michigan (Detroit metro area)
- Pontiac, Michigan (Detroit metro area)
- Richmond, Texas (Houston metro area)
- San Antonio, Texas
- Richardson, Texas (Dallas metro area)
- Waco, Texas
Prime Air plans to launch soon in the Chicago, Illinois; Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and Boise, Idaho metro areas, with more communities to come later this year.
How does Prime Air complement Amazon’s other delivery options?
Drone delivery is integrated into the existing Amazon shopping experience. Customers can check if their area has drone delivery and browse eligible items.
For customers who need everyday items right away, Amazon Now offers 30-minute delivery across dozens of cities in the U.S. This service focuses on the essentials people reach for most, including thousands of fresh groceries, household items and locally relevant products. Orders ship from specialized smaller locations placed in more populated areas, which helps keep delivery times short.
Customers will see and confirm their delivery point when placing their first drone delivery order. They can choose to keep the same delivery point for future orders or select a new area at any time. Once the drone arrives at the preferred delivery point with a customer’s order, it will check to confirm there are no people, pets, or vehicles in the way before safely delivering the package.