Business customers rely on timely deliveries to keep their operations running. To improve that experience, Amazon is introducing a new delivery performance requirement for seller-fulfilled orders shipped to Amazon Business customers in the US.
Beginning September 30, 2026, sellers must maintain a Business Hour Delivery Rate (BHDR) of at least 90%. Sellers who don't meet the requirement may lose eligibility to offer seller-fulfilled products to Amazon Business buyers if their performance isn't improved.
The update applies only to eligible seller-fulfilled orders for Amazon Business customers. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) offers and standard retail orders are not affected.
What is the Business Hour Delivery Rate?
The Business Hour Delivery Rate measures how often seller-fulfilled orders are delivered during a customer's business operating hours. Amazon calculates this performance metric over a rolling 14-day period.
The goal is simple: business customers should receive their orders when someone is available to accept the delivery. Deliveries that arrive outside normal operating hours can result in missed deliveries, delays, and a poor customer experience.
At a glance
- Applies to seller-fulfilled Amazon Business orders in the US.
- Minimum required BHDR: 90%.
- Measured over a rolling 14-day period.
- Effective from September 30, 2026.
- FBA offers are not included.
Why Amazon is Introducing This Requirement
Amazon Business customers often receive shipments at offices, warehouses, schools, hospitals, and other commercial locations where deliveries need to arrive during working hours.
By introducing the Business Hour Delivery Rate, Amazon aims to reduce failed delivery attempts and improve delivery reliability for business buyers. The new metric also encourages sellers to review their shipping processes and carrier performance before orders are dispatched.
For sellers, this means delivery accuracy is becoming just as important as shipping speed. Monitoring performance and making small operational improvements can help maintain compliance and provide a better customer experience.
What Happens if Your BHDR Falls Below 90%?
Amazon is introducing the new requirement in phases, giving sellers time to review their performance before any enforcement takes place.
If your Business Hour Delivery Rate drops below the required threshold, Amazon will first notify you and provide recommendations to improve. If performance doesn't recover, your seller-fulfilled offers for Amazon Business customers may become ineligible.
| Timeline | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | The Business Hour Delivery Rate requirement officially takes effect. |
| BHDR below 90% | Amazon notifies sellers and shares recommendations to improve delivery performance. |
| October 30, 2026 | Seller-fulfilled offers for Amazon Business customers may be deactivated if the required performance level is not met. |
This policy applies only to seller-fulfilled offers for Amazon Business customers. Regular Amazon retail offers and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) listings are not impacted.
How Sellers Can Prepare
Most sellers won't need to overhaul their fulfillment process. Instead, reviewing shipping settings and identifying delivery issues before the policy takes effect can help maintain compliance.
Amazon recommends a few practical steps to improve delivery reliability.
- Use reliable shipping carriers.
- Set accurate handling and transit times.
- Enable Automated Handling Time.
- Use Shipping Settings Automation where appropriate.
- Purchase shipping labels through Amazon Buy Shipping.
These tools can help improve delivery accuracy while reducing the risk of missed business-hour deliveries.
Why This Update Matters
The new requirement reflects Amazon's continued focus on improving the purchasing experience for business customers. Deliveries made during operating hours are more likely to be received on the first attempt, reducing delays and improving overall reliability.
For seller-fulfilled businesses, it's a good time to review carrier performance, shipping settings, and delivery metrics before the new requirement becomes effective. Small operational improvements today can help avoid disruptions later.
How RetailTantra Can Help
Keeping up with Amazon's evolving marketplace requirements takes more than simply monitoring policy updates. Sellers also need reliable fulfillment processes, healthy account performance, and accurate operational settings to stay compliant.
RetailTantra helps brands manage their Amazon Marketplace operations with services designed to improve fulfillment performance, optimize listings, monitor account health, and support long-term marketplace growth.
Whether you're preparing for the new Business Hour Delivery Rate requirement or looking to strengthen your overall marketplace performance, our team can help you build a more efficient selling strategy.
Related Insight
Carrier misrouting and hub delays can affect your Amazon On-Time Delivery Rate, even when orders are shipped on schedule. Understanding these issues can help you reduce delivery exceptions and protect your seller performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Business Hour Delivery Rate (BHDR)?
BHDR measures the percentage of seller-fulfilled Amazon Business orders delivered during a customer's operating hours. Amazon calculates the metric over a rolling 14-day period.
When does the new requirement take effect?
The Business Hour Delivery Rate requirement becomes effective on September 30, 2026.
Who does this policy apply to?
The requirement applies to seller-fulfilled (MFN) orders shipped to Amazon Business customers in the United States.
Does this affect FBA orders?
No. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) offers and standard retail offers are not affected by this policy.
What happens if my BHDR falls below 90%?
Amazon will notify you and recommend ways to improve. If performance remains below the required threshold, seller-fulfilled offers for Amazon Business customers may be deactivated.
How can I improve my delivery performance?
Using reliable carriers, setting accurate handling times, enabling Shipping Settings Automation, and purchasing labels through Amazon Buy Shipping can help improve delivery reliability.
Source
This article is based on information published in the Amazon Seller Newsletter regarding the Business Hour Delivery Rate requirement for seller-fulfilled shipments to Amazon Business customers.
Need Help Managing Your Amazon Marketplace Business?
From fulfillment performance and account health to catalog management and marketplace compliance, RetailTantra helps brands amazon seller account management build scalable operations for long-term growth on Amazon.
Book a Free Marketplace Consultation Explore Amazon Marketplace Services