You can send a Kindle book directly to someone's email address through Amazon
When you buy a Kindle book on Amazon, you have the option to send it as a gift instead of keeping it for yourself. Amazon will email the book to the recipient with a message from you, and they can read it on any device that has the Kindle app — phone, tablet, computer, or actual Kindle device. The person receiving the gift does not need to own a Kindle device or even have an Amazon account yet.
The gift option appears during checkout, before you complete the purchase. You choose the recipient's email address, write a personal message, and pick a delivery date. Amazon sends the book on that date, and the recipient gets an email with instructions on how to open it.
Key Takeaways
- You send a Kindle book as a gift during checkout by selecting the gift option and entering the recipient's email address.
- The recipient receives an email from Amazon with a link to claim the book, and they can read it on any device with the free Kindle app.
- You can schedule the gift to arrive on a specific date, which is useful for birthdays or holidays.
- Some Kindle books cannot be sent as gifts — usually because of publisher restrictions — and Amazon will tell you at checkout if a book is not giftable.
- The recipient does not need an Amazon account to receive the gift, but they will need one to claim it.
How to send a Kindle book as a gift during checkout
Start by finding the book you want to send on Amazon's website or in the Kindle app. Click the price button to go to the purchase page. On that page, look for a link or button that says "Give as a Gift" — it usually appears near the main "Buy Now" button. Click it.
Amazon will ask you for the recipient's email address. Type it in carefully, because this is where Amazon will send the gift notification. Then write a personal message — this is optional, but the recipient will see it when they receive the email. You can also choose a delivery date. If you want the book to arrive today, leave the date as is. If you want it to arrive on a specific day, click "Schedule delivery" and pick the date.
Review the details one more time, then click the button to complete the purchase. Amazon will charge your payment method and send the gift email on the date you chose. You will get a confirmation email showing that the gift was sent.
What the recipient sees and how they claim the book
The recipient will receive an email from Amazon with the subject line "A Kindle Book Gift for You" or similar. The email contains a message from you, the title of the book, and a button or link that says "Claim Your Book" or "Get Your Kindle Book." They click that link.
If the recipient already has an Amazon account, they will be asked to sign in. If they do not have an account, Amazon will walk them through creating one — they just need an email address and password. After signing in or creating an account, the book is added to their Kindle library automatically.
Once the book is in their library, they can read it on any device where they have the Kindle app installed. That includes the Kindle app on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Mac, Windows, or a physical Kindle e-reader. They can also read it in a web browser at Amazon's Kindle Cloud Reader.
Books that cannot be sent as gifts
Not every Kindle book can be sent as a gift. Some publishers restrict gift-giving for certain titles, usually newer releases or bestsellers. When you click "Give as a Gift" on the product page, Amazon will tell you immediately if that book cannot be gifted. You will see a message saying the book is not available as a gift.
If a book is not giftable, you have two other options. You can buy a physical copy of the book and mail it to the person instead. Or you can buy an Amazon gift card and let them choose their own Kindle book. Gift cards can be sent by email and work for any Kindle book, regardless of publisher restrictions.
Scheduling a gift for a future date
When you select "Give as a Gift," Amazon lets you choose when the gift email should arrive. This is useful if you are buying a book for someone's birthday or holiday and want it to arrive on a specific day. During checkout, click "Schedule delivery" and pick the date from the calendar.
The recipient will receive the email on that date, and they can claim the book immediately. There is no limit to how far in the future you can schedule a gift — you can schedule it weeks or months ahead if you want. If you change your mind before the scheduled date, you can cancel the gift through your Amazon account under "Your Orders."
Sending a gift from the Kindle app instead of Amazon.com
You can also send a Kindle book as a gift directly from the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, though the process is slightly different. Open the Kindle app and find the book you want to send. Tap the three-dot menu button next to the book title and select "Send as a Gift" or "Gift This Book."
The app will ask for the recipient's email address and let you add a message. You can schedule the delivery date the same way you would on Amazon.com. After you confirm, the gift is sent. The process works the same way for the recipient — they get an email and claim the book by signing into their Amazon account.
What happens if the recipient's email address is wrong
If you enter the wrong email address during checkout, the gift email will go to that incorrect address and the intended recipient will never see it. Amazon does not have a way to redirect a gift email after it has been sent. If you realize the mistake right away, contact Amazon customer service and explain what happened. They may be able to cancel the gift and let you send it again to the correct address.
To avoid this problem, double-check the email address before you click the final purchase button. If you are not sure of the exact address, ask the person first or look it up in your email contacts. It only takes a few seconds and saves the trouble of having to contact Amazon later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a Kindle book as a gift if the person does not have an Amazon account?
Yes. The recipient does not need an Amazon account to receive the gift email, but they will need to create one to claim the book. Amazon will guide them through account creation when they click the claim link. It takes just a few minutes and only requires an email address and password.
Can I send a Kindle book to someone outside the United States?
Yes, you can send a Kindle book to any email address, regardless of where the person lives. However, the recipient will need to have access to an Amazon account or be able to create one. Some countries have restrictions on Amazon services, so if the recipient is in a country with limited Amazon access, they may run into problems claiming the book.
What if I send a gift to the wrong person by mistake?
Contact Amazon customer service as soon as possible and explain the situation. If the gift has not been claimed yet, Amazon may be able to cancel it and send it to the correct person instead. If the recipient has already claimed the book, Amazon cannot remove it from their account, but customer service can sometimes help depending on the circumstances.
Can I send the same Kindle book to multiple people at once?
No, you have to send each gift separately. Go through the checkout process once for each person you want to send the book to. You can schedule them all to arrive on the same date if you want, but each gift requires its own purchase and its own recipient email address.
Is there a limit to how many Kindle books I can send as gifts?
Amazon does not publish a specific limit on the number of gifts you can send. However, if you send a very large number of gifts in a short time, Amazon may flag your account for review to make sure you are not using the gift feature for resale or other prohibited purposes. For normal personal gift-giving, this is not a concern.