Amazon Flex pays you to deliver Amazon orders with your own car in scheduled blocks of a few hours. You see what a block pays before you accept it, and Amazon says most drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour. You need to be 21 or older and have a four-door, mid-size or larger vehicle.
At a glance
| Type of work | Package, grocery and same-day delivery in your own vehicle |
| How you earn | A set amount per block, plus tips on some delivery types |
| Pay range | Most drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour, per Amazon |
| Cost to join | None |
| Payout | Direct deposit twice a week |
| Requirements | 21+, valid US driver’s license, background check, smartphone, 4-door mid-size or larger vehicle with insurance |
| Where it works | Selected US cities, plus a few other countries |
How Amazon Flex works
You download the Flex app, answer the eligibility questions, upload your documents and pass a background check. Training is a set of short videos in the app. Once approved, you reserve delivery blocks, which are shifts of a few hours at a set delivery station or store, and each block shows its pay before you take it.
When your block starts, you check in at the station, scan your packages, load your car and follow the route in the app. You bring back anything you couldn’t deliver. Some block types are package routes from a delivery station; others are grocery runs for Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, or same-day orders from local stores.
How pay works
The big difference from apps like DoorDash is that you don’t earn per order. You earn per block, and the number is fixed when you accept it. A block may pay more if demand jumps, and Amazon sometimes posts higher rates for hard-to-fill blocks. On grocery and some same-day blocks, customers can tip, and the driver gets the tip.
Earnings go out by direct deposit twice a week, which is faster than the weekly cycle on most delivery apps.
What it costs you
Flex has no sign-up fee, but you supply the car, the fuel and the insurance, and a full package block can put real miles on a vehicle. The hourly figure Amazon quotes is gross pay. Your actual earnings per hour are lower once you take out fuel, wear and the time spent driving to the station. In the US you work as an independent contractor, so set money aside for taxes and log your mileage.
Getting blocks
The hardest part of Flex for many new drivers is not the work itself but getting blocks. In busy markets, blocks are released at different times and taken quickly. Checking the app regularly, staying flexible on hours and building a clean delivery record all help. Blocks are not guaranteed, so Flex works better as one income source among several than as the only one.
Owen’s take
Flex is the delivery gig for people who want to know the number before they start. A block is a block: no waiting at restaurants, no guessing whether a tip will turn up. That predictability is worth something. The trade-off is that you work on Amazon’s schedule, not yours, and in some cities the blocks vanish within seconds. If your car is big, your area has a station nearby and you are happy to grab blocks when they appear, it is one of the steadier app-based gigs.
Who it suits
It suits drivers aged 21 or older with a roomy, reliable car, who live near a delivery station and like a set shift with a set price. It suits less well anyone with a small car, anyone under 21, or anyone who needs to work at random moments.
Similar options
- DoorDash and Uber Eats let you sign on whenever you like and earn per order.
- Roadie pays per delivery for larger or longer-distance items.
- GoShare suits drivers with a pickup, van or box truck.
- FedEx and UPS hire seasonal and part-time delivery staff, as employees rather than contractors.
More local options are in Gig Work, and US-only platforms are in USA.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Pay is fixed and shown before you accept a block
- Paid twice a week
- No restaurant waits or per-order haggling
Cons
- Blocks can be hard to get in busy markets
- 21+ and a mid-size or larger 4-door vehicle required
- Package routes can put heavy mileage on your car
FAQ
How much does Amazon Flex pay?
Amazon says most drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour. You see the exact pay for a block before you accept it, and tips are added on some delivery types.
How old do you have to be for Amazon Flex?
21 or older, with a valid US driver’s license.
What car do you need for Amazon Flex?
A four-door mid-size sedan or larger, such as an SUV, minivan, van or a pickup with a covered bed. Two-door cars and open-bed trucks don’t qualify.
When does Amazon Flex pay?
Twice a week by direct deposit to your bank account.
