Amazon delivery driver plays hopscotch while dropping off package at house
In Blaine, MN, an Amazon delivery driver makes his rounds and has a little fun with some hopscotch while dropping off a package.
Amazon is expanding its delivery network to offer same-day and next-day delivery to what it says are tens of millions of customers in more than 4,000 smaller communities across the U.S. by the end of the year.
The delivery expansion will especially help rural customers, who Amazon said typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have less product and brand choices, and face limited delivery when shopping online.
“Our Prime members tell us that one of their favorite benefits is their unlimited fast shipping,” Jamil Ghani, Amazon’s global vice president of Amazon Prime told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. “It is the way they access Amazon’s vast selection and we believe that shouldn’t depend on the zip code that our members live in.”
“Folks that have traditionally had some slower speeds now can get access to our fastest speeds,” he said.
Everyday items are popular
One of the biggest benefits of the expansion, Ghani said, is access to Amazon’s everyday essentials, the online retailer’s grocery and household goods.
Amazon said in the first quarter of 2025, its faster delivery speeds helped drive its everyday essentials sections to grow more than twice as fast as all other categories in the U.S. Amazon’s grocery sector had more than $100 billion in sales, excluding sales from Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh and that made it one of the largest grocers in the U.S., Amazon said.
The expansion has already started in 1,000 of the 4,000 smaller communities. More than 90% of the top 50 repurchased items for same-day delivery in those areas are Amazon everyday essential items, including coffee pods, water bottles, batteries and probiotics.
How can you get same-day and next-day delivery?
The free same-day delivery option is available to Prime members in most cities who spend more than $25 on an order. If your order doesn’t meet the minimum, you can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. Orders for Prime members placed with an Amazon gift card always have free same-day shipping.
If you’re not a Prime member, you can still choose same-day or next-day delivery for a $9.99 fee with no minimum purchase. Orders for non-Prime members using an Amazon gift card will cost $3.99 for same-day delivery.
Amazon investing more than $4 billion
Amazon said it is investing more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by the end of 2026. That will include transforming its existing rural delivery stations into hybrid hubs. Amazon has regionalized the supply chain, putting more inventory closer to the customer, Ghani said.
Amazon is using machine learning and AI to make sure items in high demand with customers in particular regions are stocked and ready for same-day or next-day delivery, Ghani said.
“Our AI systems help us manage our inventory and put it as close as possible to the customer based on the demand that we see from those customers,” he said.
To find out if your area has same-day delivery, go to www.amazon.com/samedaystore
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
