When you can change your Amazon delivery address

You can change your delivery address on an Amazon order only if the order hasn't shipped yet. Once Amazon has handed the package to a carrier—UPS, FedEx, USPS, or Amazon's own delivery service—the address is locked and cannot be changed through your account. The window to make changes is usually a few hours after you place the order, though this varies depending on how quickly Amazon processes it.

If your order has already shipped, you'll need to either refuse the package when it arrives and have it returned, or contact the carrier directly to see if they can redirect it. Amazon's customer service can also help you arrange a return and reorder to the correct address, though this takes longer than changing it before shipment.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only change your delivery address before Amazon ships the order, which is usually within a few hours of placing it.
  • The fastest way to change the address is through Your Orders in your Amazon account—select the order and choose "Change Address" if that option appears.
  • If the Change Address button is not available, the order has already shipped and you'll need to contact Amazon customer service or refuse the delivery.
  • Amazon customer service can sometimes redirect a package after it ships, but this depends on the carrier and how far along the delivery is.
  • If you miss the window to change the address, reordering to the correct address and returning the original package is often faster than trying to redirect it.

How to change the address through Your Orders

Open your Amazon account and go to Your Orders (you can find this by clicking the account menu in the top right corner). Find the order you want to change and look for a "Change Address" button or link next to it. If that button is there, click it, enter your new address, and confirm the change. Amazon will show you whether the new address is may be able to access for delivery and whether it will affect your shipping speed or cost.

The Change Address option only appears if the order hasn't entered the shipping process yet. If you don't see the button, the order has already been picked and packed, and you'll need to use a different method. Check the order status—if it says "Preparing to ship" or "Shipping soon," you may still have a narrow window to contact customer service before it leaves the warehouse.

What to do if Change Address is not available

If the Change Address button doesn't appear on your order, contact Amazon customer service through the Contact Us option in Your Orders. Select the order, choose "Something else," and explain that you need to change the delivery address. Amazon's chat or phone support can sometimes manually update the address even after the order has left the warehouse, depending on how far the package has traveled and which carrier is handling it.

Be honest about the timeline—tell them exactly when you placed the order and when you noticed the wrong address. If the package is already in transit with a carrier like UPS or FedEx, Amazon may not be able to change it, but they can help you refuse the delivery and arrange a replacement order to the correct address. This process usually takes a few extra days compared to changing the address before shipment.

Redirecting a package that has already shipped

If your order has already shipped and left Amazon's warehouse, you have two main options: refuse the package when it arrives, or contact the carrier directly to ask for a redirect. To refuse it, you'll need to be present when the delivery driver arrives, or you can use the carrier's app or website to request that the driver leave it with a neighbor or return it to the facility.

Some carriers, particularly UPS and FedEx, allow you to redirect a package to a different address through their tracking pages if the package hasn't been delivered yet. Log into the carrier's website using the tracking number from your Amazon order, and look for options to change the delivery address or hold the package for pickup. USPS and Amazon's own delivery service have more limited redirect options, so contacting Amazon customer service is usually faster for those carriers.

Preventing address mistakes on future orders

Before you click "Place your order," always verify that the delivery address shown matches where you want the package to go. Amazon displays your address prominently on the checkout page—take a few seconds to read it carefully, especially the street number, apartment or suite number, and ZIP code. These are the details most often entered wrong.

If you frequently ship to multiple addresses, add them all to your address book in your Amazon account. Go to Your Account, select "Addresses," and add each location with a clear label like "Home," "Office," or "Mom's house." When you check out, you can then select the correct address from a dropdown instead of typing it in each time, which cuts down on typos. You can also set a default address so it's already selected unless you deliberately change it.

How long you typically have to make changes

Most Amazon orders remain changeable for 30 minutes to 2 hours after you place them, though this window is shorter during peak shopping times like holidays. The exact timing depends on how quickly Amazon's warehouse processes your order—some items are picked and packed almost when ready, while others sit in the queue for a bit longer. You won't know exactly when your window closes unless you try to change the address and see whether the option is still available.

If you realize you've made a mistake with the address, don't wait. Log into Your Orders right away and attempt to change it. If the button is there, you're in time. If it's not, contact customer service when ready—the sooner you reach out, the better the chance they can catch the order before it leaves the building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my address if the order is already out for delivery?

No, once a package is out for delivery, you cannot change the address through Amazon. You can refuse the delivery when the driver arrives, or contact the carrier to see if they can redirect it to a nearby location. After you refuse it, you can place a new order to the correct address.

What happens if I change my address after the order ships?

If you change your address after the order has shipped, the change won't take effect—the package will still go to the original address. You'll need to refuse the delivery or contact the carrier to redirect it. Amazon customer service can help you arrange a return and reorder if needed.

Will changing my address affect my shipping speed or cost?

It may. If you change your address to a location farther away or outside your original shipping zone, Amazon might adjust the delivery date or add a shipping fee. The checkout page will show you any changes before you confirm the new address.

Can I change the address on a Prime order?

Yes, Prime orders follow the same rules as regular orders—you can change the address before it ships, but not after. Prime shipping speed is not affected by changing the address, as long as the new location is also may be able to access for Prime delivery.

What if the carrier won't redirect my package?

If the carrier refuses to redirect the package, you can refuse delivery when it arrives and have it returned to Amazon. Once it's back in Amazon's system, you can place a new order to the correct address. Contact Amazon customer service to confirm the return is processed before you reorder.