How to Shop Amazon US and Ship Internationally: Complete 2026 Guide

Amazon US is home to hundreds of millions of products, but a large share of them won't ship outside the United States. Whether it's an electronics brand that restricts international sales, a seller who only works with US customers, or a product that Amazon itself limits to domestic delivery, the barriers are real and frustrating.

There are two ways around them. For eligible items, Amazon ships abroad itself through AmazonGlobal. For everything else, shoppers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere use a US forwarding address. This guide explains both, when each one makes sense, and what you pay in the main destination countries in 2026.

Does Amazon US Ship Internationally?

Yes, but only some items. Through its AmazonGlobal program, Amazon.com ships eligible products to more than 100 countries. At checkout you see the shipping charge and, for many countries, an Import Fees Deposit that covers estimated duty and tax. Amazon says that for AmazonGlobal items you won't be charged more if the actual import fees are higher, and you get the difference back if they are lower.

The catch is eligibility. Many products sold and shipped by third-party sellers don't qualify, and neither do many brands, large items and hazmat items. Search results also change once your delivery address is outside the US, so a lot of the catalog simply disappears. That is when a US address helps.

AmazonGlobal vs. a US Forwarding Address

Use AmazonGlobal when the item ships to your country and you only want that one thing. It is one checkout, duty is estimated upfront, and returns go through Amazon. That is simpler than forwarding, and for a single eligible item it can work out cheaper.

Use a US address when the item does not ship to you, when you are buying several things, or when you want to combine Amazon with other US stores. With Forwardme you pick the carrier, combine several orders into one box, and pay one international shipping fee. Our discounted courier rates are up to 80% below the carriers' standard prices. Duty and tax are then paid when the parcel arrives, and you can estimate them in advance with our duty calculator.

Why Many Amazon US Items Won't Ship Internationally

Before diving into the solution, it helps to understand why the problem exists in the first place.

Amazon has its own international storefronts, such as Amazon UK, Amazon Germany and Amazon Japan, but these carry different inventories, different sellers, and often very different prices. The US marketplace is larger, with more competition, more deals, and products you cannot find on any other Amazon site.

Here's what typically blocks international shoppers on Amazon US:

• Third-party sellers who haven't enabled international shipping in their account settings
• Brand restrictions that limit where certain products can be sold
• Amazon itself restricting certain categories (some electronics, hazmat items, oversized goods) to US delivery only
• High shipping costs that make Amazon's own international rates uncompetitive for some items

The result: you find exactly what you want on Amazon US, add it to your cart, and then hit the wall: "This item does not ship to your location."

The Solution: Use a US Forwarding Address

The most reliable way to shop Amazon US from any country is to use a US package forwarding address. You ship your Amazon orders to a real warehouse address in the United States, and the forwarding service ships everything on to your home address.

To understand how forwarding works: you get a personal US street address, use it as your shipping address on any US store, and the forwarding company handles the international leg.

With Forwardme, the address is free and ready as soon as you sign up. Our US warehouse is in Delaware, which has no sales tax, so Amazon orders shipped there are not charged US sales tax. That holds on every plan, including the free one.

Step-by-Step: How to Shop Amazon US and Ship Internationally

Step 1: Get a Free US Address

Start by signing up to get a free US address. With Forwardme, you get a real street address in the United States the moment you create your account, with no setup fees. Every account also gets an Istanbul address for Turkish stores.

Keep this address saved. You'll use it every time you shop on Amazon US or any other US store.

Step 2: Shop Amazon US Like a US Customer

Head to Amazon.com and shop normally. Add the products you want to your cart and proceed to checkout. When you reach the shipping address step, enter your Forwardme US address, including your suite number.

A few tips to get the best experience:

• Add the address to your Amazon account. You can use your existing Amazon account; just save the Forwardme address as a shipping address. Use your card's real billing address. Amazon.com accepts most international credit and debit cards.
• Check item restrictions before buying. Items marked as hazmat, such as certain batteries, aerosols and flammable goods, often cannot be forwarded internationally under carrier rules. Check the restrictions lookup for your country.
• Compare prices across listings. The same product from different Amazon sellers can vary in price, and some sellers offer free US shipping.

Step 3: Your Packages Arrive at the US Warehouse

When your Amazon orders reach your Forwardme address, you get an email with box and label photos. Your dashboard shows each package's weight and dimensions. You also get photos of the contents on every plan, so you can check the items before anything leaves the US.

There's no rush to ship. Packages are stored free for 15 days on the Free plan, 45 days on Premium and 120 days on VIP, so you can keep ordering and ship once.

Step 4: Consolidate Your Packages (Save Big on Shipping)

This is one of the most valuable features of a forwarding service. If you've placed multiple Amazon orders, or shopped from several different US stores, you can consolidate Amazon orders into a single international shipment.

Instead of paying international shipping for five separate packages, you pay for one box. We also remove extra packaging where we can to bring the box size and weight down.

Step 5: Choose Your Shipping Method and Ship

When you're ready to ship, your dashboard shows live quotes from several international carriers for your destination, from economy to express. You pick the one that fits your budget and timeline.

You can calculate shipping cost before you buy anything. Enter the package weight, dimensions and destination country and get an estimate.

Shopping Amazon US by Country

Duty and tax are set by your destination country, not by Amazon or Forwardme, and Forwardme does not pay them for you. Here is what applies in the countries we ship to most. For any item, the duty calculator gives you an estimate before you buy.

Canada

Amazon.ca exists, but its range and prices differ from Amazon.com. Courier parcels from the US get Canada's CUSMA thresholds: up to CAD 40, no duty or tax; from CAD 40 to CAD 150, no duty but GST or HST applies; above CAD 150, duty and tax can both apply.

United Kingdom

Amazon.co.uk carries a different catalog. UK VAT at 20% applies to almost all imports. Parcels worth £135 or less currently pay no customs duty; above £135, duty may apply depending on the item. The UK government has announced it will remove the £135 duty relief by October 2028.

Australia

Amazon.com.au is smaller than Amazon US. Above AUD 1,000, customs duty and 10% GST are paid at the border. GST on lower-value goods is handled differently, so check the landed cost of your item with the duty calculator before you buy.

Germany and the Rest of the EU

Amazon.de and the other EU stores often have different prices and models. In the EU, import VAT applies from the first euro, and since July 1, 2026, parcels worth €150 or less also pay a flat €3 customs duty per item type.

UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

Amazon runs local stores in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but many US brands and sellers are not on them. Duty and VAT rules differ by country, so estimate the total with the duty calculator before ordering.

What Can and Can't Be Shipped Internationally?

Most products on Amazon US can be forwarded internationally without any issues. However, there are some categories to be aware of:

Generally fine to ship internationally:

• Clothing and apparel
• Electronics (phones, laptops, cameras; check warranty implications)
• Books, games, and media
• Beauty and skincare
• Home goods and décor
• Sporting goods and outdoor equipment
• Toys and baby products

Typically restricted:

• Lithium batteries (loose, not in devices), which airlines restrict
• Aerosols and flammable liquids
• Firearms and ammunition
• Certain food items
• Oversized items (freight-class items need special handling)

Rules depend on your country, so check the restrictions lookup. Our team also flags restricted items when they arrive at the warehouse.

Amazon US vs. Your Local Amazon: Is the Price Difference Worth It?

Many international shoppers ask whether shopping Amazon US through a forwarder actually saves money compared to buying from their local Amazon marketplace or local retailers. The honest answer: it depends on the product.

For US-exclusive products, things that simply aren't available in your country, the comparison is moot. You either import it or you don't have it.

For products that are available in both markets, compare the Amazon US price plus Forwardme fees, international shipping and import duty against the local price. Branded goods and niche US products often come out ahead even after shipping. Run the numbers with the shipping and duty calculators before you buy, especially for heavy items.

Beyond Amazon: Shop Any US Store the Same Way

Your Forwardme US address works on more than Amazon. You can use it to shop from Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Nike, and thousands of other US retailers that don't ship internationally. Target is the exception: it does not ship to forwarding addresses, so Target orders go through our Personal Shopper.

You can also shop eBay US, which has millions of listings from US-only sellers, including used, vintage, and hard-to-find items.

If you're unsure which forwarding service to choose, take a moment to compare forwarding services on address location, storage time, photos, consolidation and customer service.

Why Forwardme for Amazon US Shopping?

Forwardme is built for international shoppers who want access to US products. Here's what you get:

Free US address, instantly. No subscription required to get started. Sign up, get your address, and start shopping within minutes.

No US sales tax. Our warehouse is in Delaware, which has no sales tax, on every plan.

Free package storage. Packages are stored free for 15 days on the Free plan, 45 days on Premium and 120 days on VIP.

Package photos. Every package gets box and label photos on arrival. Content photos are included on every plan, including Free.

Package consolidation. Multiple orders go into one box, so you pay one international shipping fee instead of several.

Discounted carrier rates. Choose from economy to express carriers, at rates up to 80% below the carriers' standard prices.

Personal shopper service. If a US store doesn't accept your card, our personal shopper service can buy items on your behalf and forward them to you.

A quote before you ship. You see the full shipping quote in your dashboard before you pay.

Getting Started: Your First Amazon US Order

The whole setup takes about five minutes:

1. Start shopping Amazon US by creating your free Forwardme account
2. Copy your assigned US warehouse address from your dashboard
3. Go to Amazon.com, find what you want, and enter your Forwardme address at checkout
4. Wait for your package to arrive at the US warehouse (you'll get an email notification)
5. Log into your Forwardme dashboard, review your package, and request international shipping

Shopping for the holidays? Our Black Friday guide covers the 2026 sale dates and the last days to ship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a US address for my Amazon account? Yes. Add your Forwardme US address as a shipping address in your Amazon.com account and select it at checkout. Keep your card's real billing address.

Is it legal to use a forwarding service with Amazon? Yes. Buying from a US store and importing the goods is legal in most countries, as long as the items are allowed in and you pay any duty and tax. Some individual sellers may still decline to ship to forwarding addresses.

Can I use Amazon Prime with a forwarding address? Prime shipping benefits apply to the US leg of the trip, from Amazon to our warehouse, for eligible items. The international leg is handled and charged separately by your forwarding service.

What if my item arrives damaged? Every package gets box, label and content photos on arrival, on every plan. If there's visible damage, you'll see it in your dashboard before shipping internationally, and you can contact Amazon while the package is still in the US.

How long does international shipping take? It depends on the carrier and your destination. Your dashboard shows each option with its delivery estimate before you pay.

Can I return items to Amazon from overseas? Returns from overseas are more complicated. It is easiest to spot a problem while the items are still in our warehouse, before they leave the US. Ask our support team about sending an item back from there.

Shopping Amazon US from abroad in 2026 is simple once you know the options. If Amazon ships the item to you, AmazonGlobal is a fine choice. For everything else, get your free US address, shop as a US customer would, and let us handle the international delivery.