Amazon Introduces Business Hour Delivery Requirement for Seller-Fulfilled Shipments
Amazon is introducing a new Business Hour Delivery Rate (BHDR) requirement for seller-fulfilled orders shipped to Amazon Business customers in the US. The new policy aims to ensure business customers receive deliveries during their operating hours, reducing missed deliveries and improving the overall customer experience.
What’s Changing?
Beginning September 30, 2026, sellers must maintain a Business Hour Delivery Rate of at least 90% for seller-fulfilled shipments to Amazon Business customers.
The Business Hour Delivery Rate measures the percentage of eligible shipments delivered within a customer’s business operating hours over a rolling 14-day period.
What Happens If You Don’t Meet the Requirement?
If your Business Hour Delivery Rate falls below 90% on September 30, 2026:
- Amazon will notify you of the issue.
- You’ll receive recommendations to help improve your delivery performance.
- If your BHDR remains below 90% by October 30, 2026, your seller-fulfilled offers may be deactivated for Amazon Business customers.
This policy only affects seller-fulfilled listings. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) offers and Amazon Retail offers will not be impacted.
How to Maintain Compliance
Amazon recommends the following best practices to help meet the new requirement:
- Use reliable shipping carriers with consistent delivery performance.
- Set accurate handling and transit times.
- Enable Automated Handling Time.
- Turn on Shipping Settings Automation.
- Purchase labels through Amazon Buy Shipping.
Shipments fulfilled using all three Amazon shipping tools are guaranteed to meet the Business Hour Delivery Rate requirement.
Monitor Your Performance
Sellers can track their Business Hour Delivery Rate through the Account Health dashboard in Seller Central and take action if performance begins to decline.
Key Takeaways
- Effective Date: September 30, 2026
- Required Business Hour Delivery Rate: 90% or higher
- Measurement Period: Rolling 14-day average
- Enforcement Begins: October 30, 2026 (if performance does not improve)
- Affected Orders: Seller-fulfilled shipments to Amazon Business customers in the US
- Not Affected: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Amazon Retail offers
Sellers should review their shipping processes now to ensure they consistently deliver within business operating hours and avoid disruptions to their Amazon Business sales.
Need Help Staying Compliant with Amazon’s Latest Seller Requirements?
At SPCTEK, we help Amazon sellers stay ahead of platform policy changes and maintain healthy account performance. From shipping strategy optimization and Account Health monitoring to full-service account management, our experts can help you meet Amazon’s performance requirements while protecting your listings and sales.
