Amazon Expands Ultrafast Delivery Nationwide

Prime members can pay extra for 1-hour or 3-hour shipping on over 90,000 items.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 8:57pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Amazon is rolling out one-hour and three-hour delivery options on tens of thousands of products in major metro areas as well as smaller cities across the country. The new ultrafast shipping services, which come with additional fees for Prime members and non-Prime customers, are aimed at keeping pace with competitors like Walmart and Target that have been expanding their own same-day and rapid delivery capabilities.

Why it matters

The race for faster delivery is intensifying among major retailers as they compete to meet consumer demand for near-immediate gratification. Amazon's move to offer even speedier shipping options nationwide signals the company's commitment to maintaining its logistics dominance, while also putting pressure on rivals to further invest in their own delivery infrastructure.

The details

Amazon says more than 90,000 products now qualify for one-hour delivery, which will cost Prime members an additional $9.99 and non-Prime customers $19.99. Three-hour delivery is priced at $4.99 for Prime members and $14.99 for non-Prime. The company has made operational changes in its warehouses, including special workstations and updated signage, to expedite the faster fulfillment process. Walmart currently offers same-day delivery to 95% of the U.S. in under three hours, up from 76% three years ago, while Target has expanded its partnership with Shipt to enable same-day delivery to about 80% of the population.

  • The new one-hour and three-hour delivery options are now available nationwide.

The players

Amazon

An e-commerce and technology company that provides a wide range of products and services, including online retail, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.

Walmart

The world's largest company by revenue and a leading retailer that operates a chain of supercenters, discount department stores, and grocery stores.

Target

A major American retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores and small-format stores.

Shipt

A same-day delivery service that partners with retailers to provide on-demand delivery of groceries, household essentials, and other products.

Udit Madan

The senior vice president of worldwide operations at Amazon.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We saw an opportunity to use our unique operational expertise ... while unlocking even more value for Prime members.”

— Udit Madan, Senior VP of Worldwide Operations, Amazon

The takeaway

Amazon's expansion of ultrafast delivery options nationwide underscores the intensifying competition among major retailers to provide the fastest and most convenient shipping services to consumers. This move puts pressure on Walmart, Target, and others to further invest in their own delivery infrastructure and capabilities to keep pace with Amazon's logistics dominance.