Amazon announced on August 19 that it plans to bring drone delivery to nearly 500 cities and towns across the United States by the end of 2026. This number represents about six times the current operation of Prime Air, which currently operates in 11 locations spread across seven states.
The company promises delivery in up to 30 minutes for items weighing up to five pounds, just over two kilograms. The lists released by the company so far do not include cities in Colorado or Washington state.
The height of the jump
Expanding from 11 locations to nearly 500 municipalities in just over four months is the largest expansion the service has ever attempted. Each current base covers a radius of about 175 square miles, and Amazon claims to have made hundreds of thousands of drone deliveries this year, with thousands per day.
David Carbon, vice president of Prime Air, summed up the strategy when announcing the expansion: "Customers already turn to Amazon for same-day and next-day delivery, and Prime Air gives them an even faster option when they need it, with deliveries in as little as 30 minutes."
Where the service already flies today
The operation is active in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. Base locations include Tolleson, near Phoenix; Ruskin, near Tampa; Kansas City; Papillion, in the Omaha area; Baton Rouge; Hazel Park and Pontiac, near Detroit; and Richmond, Richardson, San Antonio, and Waco, in Texas. Outside the United States, the company already operates in Darlington, England.
The next cities in line
The next announced markets are the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise, with other locations planned for later this year. Amazon has not released the full schedule for the nearly 500 cities, leaving it open when—and if—Western markets like Denver and Seattle will be included.
What fits on a drone, and how much does it cost?
The weight limit is five pounds, and the package needs to fit into something the size of a large shoebox. According to the company, this range covers more than 60% of the most purchased products on the platform, including groceries, medications, electronics, and cosmetics.
The charge varies according to the customer's profile. Prime subscribers pay nothing on eligible orders over US$50 and pay US$2.99 on orders below that amount. Non-subscribers pay US$4.99 per delivery. The company reports that most orders arrive approximately 60 minutes after the purchase is finalized.
How Amazon says it prevents accidents.
Prime Air operates under FAA Part 135 certification, the same framework used by commercial airlines. The drones carry a detection and avoidance system that monitors the airspace in real time using onboard cameras and sensors, without employees having live video monitoring.
The model in use is the MK30, which the company describes as having twice the range and half the noise of the previous generation. It is fully electric and flies in light rain and a wide range of temperatures.
The history that the expansion carries
The expansion comes after a series of incidents. In October 2025, two of the service's drones collided with the arm of a crane in Tolleson, Arizona. Before that, one device cut an internet cable in Texas, and others fell into a garden and an apartment building.
The noise from the aircraft and the presence of low-altitude air traffic over residential neighborhoods are among the issues that often generate complaints in the communities where the service operates.
Walmart and Wing on the other side
Amazon is not running alone. The partnership between Walmart and Wing, an Alphabet company, is described as the largest drone delivery network in the United States and is set to expand to seven new markets by June 2026. Walmart projects reaching 40 million customers with the service the following year.
Competition tends to drive up prices and coverage, and this is what could accelerate the arrival of the technology to metropolitan regions that are still off the map.
What changes for the consumer?
For those living in the covered cities, the practical effect is having a third delivery option, between the same day and the in-store purchase, especially useful for medicine, forgotten grocery items, or small, urgent parts. Outside of these cities, the announcement serves as an indication of where American retail is pushing logistics.
Where to confirm
- About Amazon—"Amazon Prime Air drone delivery expands to nearly 500 US cities and towns by 2026": aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion
- TechCrunch — "Amazon's Prime Air is taking off in nearly 500 US cities", 08/19/2026: techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/amazons-prime-air-is-taking-off-in-nearly-500-us-cities/
- ABC News — "Amazon will expand drone delivery to 500 US cities and towns by end of 2026, company says", 08/19/2026
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