How to Get Free Shipping on Amazon: The Ultimate Guide
Getting free shipping on Amazon is easier than you think – you just need to know the tricks of the trade. With the right strategy, you can avoid common shipping fees and constraints.
In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, we’ll explore all the insider techniques for scoring free delivery on your Amazon purchases. You’ll learn how to leverage promos, meet order minimums, and maximize Amazon Prime to become a free shipping pro.
Let’s dive in!
Leverage Amazon Prime for Free 2-Day Shipping
Amazon Prime is key for consistent free shipping. For $139/year, a Prime membership nets you:
- Free 2-day shipping on over 100 million items. No minimum orders required.
- Early access to lightning deals and promotions.
- Streaming entertainment like movies, music, and more.
The two-day free delivery alone pays for itself if you frequently shop Amazon.
As the above data highlights, Prime members spend over 2X more per year on Amazon than non-Prime shoppers. This makes the $139 annual fee pale in comparison to the elevated purchase activity and shipping perks.
Let‘s analyze projected annual savings across member profiles:
By eliminating shipping fees, a Prime membership saves regular Amazon shoppers $140-500+ per year. The above projection compares estimated annual shipping costs with and without Prime across purchasing levels. The $139 membership pays for itself quickly even for light buyers.
Starting a Free Amazon Prime Trial
If you aren’t ready to commit, Amazon offers a 30-day free Prime trial. You still get full benefits, including free 2-day shipping for a month.
Since launch, over 200 million shoppers have signed up for a Prime free trial. Of those, 64% convert to a paid membership – showcasing the value consumers find.
To qualify, you need:
- A valid credit card (for registration only – you won’t get charged during the trial).
- To be a new Prime member. Existing/past trial members don’t qualify.
Step 1) Visit amazon.com/prime and click “Start your 30-day free trial.”
Step 2) Enter your account and payment information to complete sign-up.
And that’s it! You can now enjoy Prime perks like free expedited shipping for 30 days. If you decide Prime isn‘t for you, be sure to cancel before day 30 to avoid charges.
Score Free Standard Shipping on Select Items
Even without Prime, Amazon offers free shipping on over 100,000 items. These products have a “FREE Shipping” tag and ship free to all US addresses, no minimum required.
Year-over-year, the number of always-free shipping eligible items has grown over 18%. Amazon continues expanding this offer across best selling listings.
Finding Free Shipping Eligible Items on Amazon
We’ll cover the easy methods for unearthing these gems:
1. Use Amazon’s Search Bar
Simply type in your desired item + “free shipping” and browse the results. For example: “laptop cases free shipping.” Filter by Prime eligibility for more options.
2. Check Individual Product Pages
When viewing an item, look for “FREE Shipping” in green. This confirms it ships gratis.
3. Enable Free Shipping Filters
Select “FREE Shipping” in the left sidebar when browsing categories. This displays only items with no-fee delivery.
4. Add a Qualifying Filler Item
We’ll explore fillers more shortly – these cheap products help small orders reach free shipping minimums.
Through these tactics, you can easily pinpoint products shipping free – no strings attached.
As displayed above, over 75% of the 100k+ always-free items fall into the top five categories of consumer electronics, health & personal care, beauty, tools, and home goods. This showcases where Amazon has prioritized expanding the offer.
Meet Free Shipping Order Minimums
Outside select free shipping items, Amazon requires a minimum order value for free standard 5-8 day delivery.
Purchases of $25+ on eligible products qualify when shipped and sold by Amazon. Exclusions apply so double check item pages before buying.
Maximize Your Cart to Unlock Free Shipping
With strategy, squeezing free transport out of Amazon is smooth sailing:
1. Pick Qualifying Items
Ensure your products are shipped and sold by Amazon, not third-party. Check for “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com” on item pages.
2. Mix & Match if Needed
Getting to $25 across multiple eligible purchases unlocks site-wide free shipping. No need to repeat items.
3. Add a Filler If Just Shy
We’ll dive into filler items shortly – these affordable products bridge the gap to $25.
4. Check Out Selecting “FREE Shipping”
On the final checkout page, choose “FREE Shipping” as your delivery method.
And voila – those Amazon orders will now ship free!
As the above data indicates, the average order value of $46 allows 41% of Amazon orders to cross the free shipping minimum. Given the distribution of order sizes, that $25 minimum nets free delivery nearly half the time.
Comparison of Amazon Shipping Options
Beyond standard ground shipping, Amazon provides an array of delivery alternatives:
The above visual comparison highlights key variables among methods. Let‘s analyze specifics.
Free Amazon Prime Shipping
As highlighted earlier, a Prime membership grants free 2-day shipping on over 100 million Prime-eligible products. No minimum order value required.
This expedited delivery is estimated to be worth $9 per shipment on average compared to standard speeds. For the 100+ million Prime-eligible items, the annual savings add up fast.
Amazon Prime Now
Available in select metro areas, Prime Now offers 1-hour delivery on essential household items, gifts, and more. Delivery incurs a fee unless you meet order minimums.
Since launching in 2014, Amazon Prime Now has expanded to over 10,000 cities & towns in the US according to latest metrics. Adoption continues rising for this premium accelerated delivery.
Same-Day Delivery
Get items in as little as 5 hours with same-day delivery. Eligibility varies by item and region. Expect added fees unless you have a Prime membership.
Roughly 8 million products can be delivered same-day depending on end buyer zip code. Qualifying categories span grocery, household, pet supplies, and more.
Two-Day Shipping
Prime members enjoy free two-day shipping while non-members can opt-in for a per order fee. No minimum spend needed.
When comparing the annual cost of incidental 2-day shipping fees vs. a $139 Prime membership, you only need 7-8 two-day shipments for Prime to pay dividends. The average Prime member taps expedited delivery for nearly 50 orders per year.
This analysis displays how those one-off charges rack up, eclipsing a Prime membership fee quickly.
Release-Date Delivery
Ensure timely delivery of pre-ordered products like books, games, and movies. Release-date delivery is free for Prime members.
Over 5 million items spanning books, music, movies, & games can be pre-ordered with Prime release-date delivery. This allows seamless coordination upon launch day.
Amazon Day Delivery
Choose a weekly delivery day to consolidate orders and reduce packaging. Free for all customers. Helpful for subscriptions, household goods, and other repeat purchases.
Since launching in 2019, Amazon Day now facilitates millions of deliveries weekly – showcasing sustained customer adoption. Feedback remains highly positive.
Scheduled Delivery
Pick an exact date for delivery within the standard 5-8 day delivery window. Helps coordinate person-to-person drop-offs or plan around events/milestones.
Roughly one-third of Amazon merchants opt into scheudled delivery given plannability benefits. Weekend and evening times fill up fastest when available.
Qualify Items for Free Shipping
While Amazon offers many free and fast shipping options, some limitations apply:
Item Restrictions
- Size & weight – Extra large and heavy items like furniture often require freight shipping and are ineligible for standard delivery timelines.
- Alcohol – Subject to service limitations. Must provide ID upon delivery.
- Hazardous materials – Flammable liquids, chemicals, batteries etc. are prohibited from Amazon fulfillment and shipping.
- Perishable or temperature-sensitive items – May require expedited handling with pricing premiums given constraints.
Delivery Location Restrictions
- P.O. boxes – Physical address required for all item types given size and legal limitations. Packages can not be left.
- Military addresses (APO/FPO) – Extra transit time of 5-10+ days expected based on geography. Limited Prime eligibility.
- Alaska & Hawaii – Extended delivery duration of 6-10+ days. Free Prime eligibility restricted for Hawaii.
Always confirm item eligibility and delivery to your location before purchase. Restrictions display on confirmation screens if applicable.
Supercharge Savings with an Amazon Prime Credit Card
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa turbocharges your free shipping strategy. With approval, gain:
- 5% back on Amazon & Whole Foods purchases.
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations & drugstores
- 1% back elsewhere
Rewards redeem as statement credits or cash. At 5% back, this earns $170/year for the average Prime user. Stack this against waived shipping costs and Prime pays for itself twice over.
Between bonus categories and Prime perks, avid Amazon shoppers quickly offset the $139 fee through rewards and free delivery alone.
Creative Techniques to Unlock Free Shipping
Finesse Amazon’s policies like a pro with these complimentary tricks:
Use an Amazon Gift Card Balance
Gift card funds apply toward the $25 minimum. If you have a balance, this is an easy way to edge closer to gratis delivery.
Amazon shoppers have an average of $15-30 in outstanding gift card balances at any given time. Put it toward qualified items ASAP.
Purchase Amazon Fillers
Stuck at $23 and don’t want to pay shipping? Fillers to the rescue – affordable add-on products that boost free shipping eligibility.
As displayed above, over 10 million filler products get purchased annually saving millions in fees. eBooks reign given accessibility and ultra-low pricing.
When comparing $3-5 for a filler vs $10 shipping, penny-pinchers come out ahead every time.
Share Prime via Amazon Households
Link 2 adults + kids/teens to share Prime benefits. Both adults enjoy free shipping perks at no added cost.
Since launching in 2014, over 14 million households have been created. 68% of these elect to share payment methods for easer expense splitting too.
Shop Third Party Listings
Fulfilled by Amazon merchants may have better shipping rates, coupons, or policies.
Roughly 55% of third party sellers on Amazon Marketplace offer free shipping compared to the standard $25 order minimum. This jumps to 85% for top rated sellers fulfilling 50+ daily orders.
When combined with stellar reviews, third party Amazon sellers are considered dependable by 93% of shoppers according to research. Don‘t hesitate to unlock free delivery through their listings.
Crushing Amazon Shipping Fees: Key Takeaways
Scoring free Amazon shipping boils down mastering to a few key skills:
🔑 Know Prime benefits – sign up for 2-day delivery or test with a 30-day trial
🔑 Find hidden always-free & filler shipping eligible items
🔑 Strategically optimize orders to unlock minimum-based delivery perks
🔑 Compare pricing across the range of Amazon shipping methods
🔑 Watch for item restrictions and location eligibility
🔑 Maximize rewards from the Amazon Visa & gift card balances
🔑 Shop third party listings for concealed shipping promotions
Through savvy cart adjustments, policy proficiency, and access to the right tools, free shipping can be yours anytime on Amazon.
What’s your favorite trick for dodging delivery fees? Share the love in the comments!
