How Late Does Amazon Deliver?

By Adam Wood
Updated on March 22, 2024

How late Amazon delivers depends on various factors , including location and the time you place your order (more on that later).

Generally, Amazon delivers between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily . However, Amazon drivers will only knock on your door, ring the doorbell, or call you between 8:00 am – 8:00 pm local time , except for scheduled or signature deliveries.

In this post, I’ll walk you through Amazon’s late delivery schedules for different days and situations. That way, you can better anticipate and plan your orders.

Key Takeaways

The regular Amazon delivery times are between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. local time.
How late Amazon delivers your package hinges on several factors like time of day, week, holiday status, etc.
Amazon will try to deliver orders past 8 PM to avoid rescheduling the day’s orders for the next day.

How Late Does Amazon Deliver Packages on a Weekday?

You can expect Amazon to deliver your order as late as 10 PM on weekdays.

Once the driver arrives at your door, they’ll knock, ring the bell, or call you.

If you don’t respond, they’ll leave the package so you can pick it up at your convenience. However, this only applies to unscheduled deliveries or those that don’t require your signature .

Amazon won’t deliver scheduled or signature orders past 8:00 p.m . if drivers can’t reach you on the phone. Instead, the retailer will reschedule your parcel for dispatch between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

How Late Does Amazon Deliver Packages on Weekends and Holidays?

Amazon late delivery times differ for Saturday and Sunday. On Saturdays, the retailer stops delivering at 8:00 p.m. for non-Prime shoppers. However, you can set your late delivery preference to 10:00 p.m. if you’re a Prime member .

On Sundays , Amazon partners with 3rd party carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS for deliveries. Amazon’s service to deliver your parcel may affect how late your order arrives.

You can get more insights from the table below.

Sunday Delivery Services	How Late?
UPS	6:00 PM
Amazon Flex	8:00 PM
FedEx	8:00 PM
USPS	5:00 PM

As for the holidays, Amazon delivers customer orders up to 10:00 p.m.

However, the retailer doesn’t do any FBA deliveries during these holidays:

Memorial Day
Thanksgiving Day
Labor Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day

Furthermore, Amazon doesn’t do FBM deliveries on the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Washington’s Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Finally, Amazon doesn’t offer late deliveries for New Year’s and Christmas Eve but runs the standard 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. delivery schedule .

How Late Does Amazon Deliver Groceries?

You can order groceries via Amazon Fresh from participating stores and have the retailer deliver them to your doorstep between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Non-Prime members can get their groceries delivered within 5 hours of ordering .

On the other hand, Amazon Fresh runs a series of 2-hour delivery windows throughout the day for Prime members .

Note:

The cut-off time to place your order with Amazon Fresh is 6:00 p.m. Any orders past 6:00 p.m. are rescheduled for delivery the next day,

How Late Does Amazon Deliver Key Packages?

Amazon Key is a Prime-exclusive service developed by the eCommerce giant to fight porch piracy.

Unlike the standard delivery, the Amazon Key driver can access your garage using a unique code or passkey. That way, you don’t have to worry about people stealing your order if you’re not at home during delivery or can’t respond to the driver’s call.

Amazon Key runs a series of 4-hour delivery windows throughout the day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, you can extend delivery time to 9:00 p.m., but you must place your order before noon.

Factors Influencing Amazon’s Delivery Times

Several factors affect how late (or early) you can get your Amazon order.

I’ve explained some of these below.

Location/Proximity to Fulfillment Centers

The farther your home is from an Amazon fulfillment center, the higher the chances of your order arriving late. Closeness to an Amazon fulfillment center means a shorter logistical chain, hence faster deliveries.

In addition, your home’s proximity to fulfillment centers often correlates with the availability of same-day or next-day delivery options.

Note:

You can always check the estimated shipping on the order summary before purchasing.

Incorrect Address

Giving an inaccurate address may often lead to failed delivery attempts, as the Amazon delivery driver could struggle to locate your home.

Equally, a missing building floor, unit number, or apartment are possible reasons your package won’t arrive on time.

Inventory Status

The availability of a product directly affects how late Amazon delivers your order.

If the item is in stock, processing is quicker; hence faster delivery.

On the contrary, you’re likely to experience delays for back-ordered or temporarily out-of-stock products.

The Time of Day You Place Your Order

While many shoppers ignore this, the time you place your order determines when the item ships out.

Fortunately, Amazon tells you when to order for the fastest delivery.

Weather Conditions and Unforeseen Delays

Severe weather, like storms or snow, can interfere with transportation networks, leading to road closures, flight cancellations, and transit delays.

The ripple effect is logistical challenges for Amazon delivery services, affecting how late you receive your order.

Furthermore, supply chain interruptions and facility disruptions from extreme weather conditions can impact the overall order fulfillment timeline.

Carrier Workload and Efficiency

High carrier workload can cause late Amazon deliveries as a surge in package volume strains sorting and transit.

Furthermore, the carrier’s ability to navigate delivery locations, optimize routes, and adhere to schedules may influence how late your package arrives.

Order Volume During Peak Seasons

High customer orders during holidays or events like Prime Day or Black Friday strains Amazon’s fulfillment centers and logistics network.

During this time, order processing delays are common as fulfillment centers strive to handle larger orders, affecting shipments. In addition, the “last mile” of delivery becomes more complex, with carriers trying to deliver to multiple locations, causing delays.

International Customs Procedures

Customs inspections, compliance checks, and adherence to local regulations may impact how late you receive your order.

Besides, backlogs in customs offices during peak periods can introduce further delays.

What to Do if Your Amazon Delivery Is Late?

While most Amazon orders arrive on time, getting your package past the estimated date is possible. Here are some actions you can take if you don’t get your order on time.

Track your order to confirm the estimated delivery date.
Check if your shipping address is correct.
Ensure your address information and delivery instructions are current.
Confirm that your payment has been processed.

You can also contact Amazon directly to check what’s causing the delay.

Here’s how:

Log in to your Amazon account.
Click “ Help ” at the bottom of Amazon’s webpage.

Select “ A delivery , order , or return .”

Specify what you need help with. Describe your situation, and let Amazon provide an appropriate answer based on your problem.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for, click “ Contact Us ” to book a call with an Amazon customer service representative.

Note:

Amazon recommends waiting 48 hours for late or unexpected deliveries.

What if You’re Not at Home When Amazon Delivers?

Suppose you’re not at home or at the specified delivery address when Amazon is around to deliver your order. In that case, the Amazon delivery driver will leave the parcel at your doorstep or a secure location.

If your order requires you to be present, the driver will call you but won’t leave the package at your address unless you’re available.

In such a case, Amazon will re-attempt to deliver your package three times on successive days.

If the delivery is still impossible, the retailer will return your order for a refund.

How to Ensure Timely Delivery of Your Amazon Packages?

Signing up for Amazon Prime is the best proactive step to speed up deliveries.

As a Prime member, you can:

Choose one-day, two-day, or same-day deliveries.
Personalize and schedule delivery times.
Set preference for deliveries past 8:00 p.m.
Request “ No Late ” drop off for your order to receive your package before 8:00 p.m.

The best bet for non-Prime members is to leverage Amazon Lockers, usually in public places like shopping centers. While this doesn’t guarantee faster deliveries, you can pick up your order at your convenience and prevent order theft.

Pro Tip:

Non-Prime members should always check item availability before placing an order to help anticipate potential delays. Pick in-stock products to minimize processing time and avoid late deliveries.

Does Amazon Have a Refund Policy for Late Deliveries?

Yes, Amazon offers shipping refunds for late deliveries . However, your order has to meet the following conditions:

The shipment must have gone to an eligible address.
Your shipping option should be the same as the one recommended on the product page.
You must have placed the order within the countdown on the product page.

The payment method must be successfully charged before the deadline indicated during checkout.

Amazon lists other conditions, so I recommend reading guaranteed delivery terms and conditions before initiating a shipping refund.

In some circumstances, your order may not qualify for a shipping refund even if it meets the conditions above.

For instance, Amazon won’t issue a shipping refund if the late delivery was due to unexpected occurrences beyond the retailer’s control , such as:

Severe winter storms
Natural disasters
Strikes

To initiate a refund for late deliveries:

Log into your Amazon account.
Go to “ Your Orders .”
Identify the order.
Select “ Problem with Order .”
Select the issue from a list that pops up. In this case, that’s late delivery.
Select “ Request a Refund .”
Describe the reason you’re requesting a shipping refund in the text box.
Select “ Submit .”

Note:

It can take up to 30 days to receive your refund.

How to Track Your Amazon Delivery?

When experiencing a late Amazon delivery, you’ll want to track your parcel to know its current location and estimated delivery time. Plus, you can address potential issues to speed up delivery.

Luckily, you can track your order with four simple steps:

Log in to your Amazon account .
Go to “ Your Orders ” to find the parcel you want to track.
Click “ Track Page ” next to your order.
Check the shipping and delivery status of your parcel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Amazon Prime and Non-prime Delivery Times Similar?

Amazon Prime and non-Prime delivery times differ significantly.

Prime members enjoy faster shipping options like same-day or two-day delivery.

Non-prime orders have inconsistent standard shipping times based on factors such as chosen shipping methods and delivery locations.

Can I Set Preferences Against Amazon Late Night Deliveries?

You can set preferences against Amazon late-night deliveries if you’re a Prime member.

To customize your late-night preferences, go to Your account > Your address > Edit delivery preferences .

Your Order Hasn’t Arrived Yet? Don’t Panic

Amazon is known for reliable delivery services.

If your order hasn’t arrived, you can track it to find out why. But rest assured it’ll get to your doorstep sooner or later.

The most important thing to remember is that Amazon’s standard delivery schedule runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. However, if you don’t get your order during this window, you can expect it to arrive as late as 10:00 p.m.

That said, Amazon drivers will never knock on your door past 10:00 p.m.

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Adam Wood

Adam Wood is a seasoned E-commerce Strategist and SaaS Analyst, acclaimed for empowering Amazon sellers with actionable strategies and advanced analytics insight. His expertise in leveraging technology for market success makes him a pivotal resource for both budding entrepreneurs and established online merchants. Adam's approach combines rigorous data analysis with a deep understanding of the nuances of e-commerce, positioning him as a leading authority in the Amazon FBA sphere.