Amazon Expands Ultrafast Delivery to Challenge Walmart

The e-commerce giant is offering 1-hour and 3-hour shipping in major US cities and smaller markets.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:00am

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Amazon is ramping up its speedy delivery service by offering 1-hour and 3-hour shipping in markets across the U.S., including Los Angeles and Chicago, in its latest efforts to stave off e-commerce competition from its biggest rival Walmart. The 1-hour delivery option is available on more than 90,000 products, while the 3-hour option has launched in over 2,000 cities and towns.

Why it matters

Fast delivery has been a key part of Amazon's strategy to increase customer loyalty and shopping frequency. This move puts additional pressure on Walmart, which has also been investing heavily in its own delivery capabilities to compete with Amazon's convenience and speed.

The details

To enable the faster delivery times, Amazon has introduced designated work stations for these orders within existing same-day delivery centers, new yellow labels for easy package identification, and updated signage to direct delivery partners. Prime members pay an extra $9.99 for 1-hour delivery and $4.99 for 3-hour delivery, while non-Prime customers pay $19.99 and $14.99 respectively.

  • Amazon announced the new 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options on March 17, 2026.

The players

Amazon

The e-commerce giant and one of the world's largest online retailers.

Walmart

Amazon's biggest rival in the e-commerce space, which has also been investing heavily in its own delivery capabilities.

Udit Madan

Amazon's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, who announced the new delivery options.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Udit Madan, Amazon Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations

What’s next

Amazon plans to continue expanding its 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options to more cities and towns across the United States in the coming months to further challenge Walmart's e-commerce dominance.

The takeaway

Amazon's latest delivery service upgrades demonstrate its relentless focus on convenience and speed, which has been a key driver of its e-commerce success. This move will likely force Walmart and other competitors to further invest in their own delivery capabilities to keep up with Amazon's industry-leading standards.