You can gift a Kindle book directly through Amazon, and the recipient gets it on their device within minutes
Amazon lets you send a Kindle book to someone else's email address, and they'll receive it in their Kindle library immediately. The process takes about two minutes and works whether the recipient has a Kindle device, a Kindle app on their phone or tablet, or reads on a computer. You don't need to know their Amazon password or account details — just their email address.
The recipient can start reading right away on whatever device they use. If they don't have a Kindle account yet, Amazon will prompt them to create one when they claim the gift. You can also include a personal message that appears when they open the gift.
Key Takeaways
- You can gift a Kindle book through Amazon's website or the Kindle app by finding the book and selecting the gift option at checkout.
- The recipient receives the book instantly in their Kindle library and can read it on any device that has the Kindle app or a Kindle e-reader.
- You need only the recipient's email address, and you can include a personal message with the gift.
- Gifted books are tied to the recipient's Amazon account and cannot be returned or refunded by either person.
- Some books cannot be gifted due to publisher restrictions, and you'll see this noted on the product page before you purchase.
How to gift a book from Amazon's website
Go to the Kindle book's product page on Amazon and look for the price button. Below or next to the "Buy Now" button, you'll see a link that says "Give as a Gift" or "Buy for Someone Else." Click that link.
Enter the recipient's email address and choose a delivery date. You can send it immediately or schedule it for up to 30 days in the future — useful if you want the gift to arrive on a specific date. Add a personal message if you want, then complete the purchase using your payment method. Amazon will send a notification to the recipient's email with instructions on how to claim the book.
The book will appear in the recipient's Kindle library under their account. If they don't have a Kindle account yet, the email will include a link to set one up.
Gifting through the Kindle app on your phone or tablet
Open the Kindle app and search for the book you want to gift. Tap the book cover to open the product page. Look for a menu icon (usually three dots) or a "More" option and select "Send as Gift" or "Gift This Book."
Enter the recipient's email address and add a message if you'd like. Choose your delivery date and confirm the purchase. The process is the same as the website version, just adapted for a mobile screen. The recipient will receive an email notification with their gift.
What happens when the recipient claims the book
The recipient will receive an email from Amazon with the subject line "You've Received a Kindle Book Gift." The email includes your personal message (if you included one) and a button to claim the book. They click the button, and the book is added to their Kindle library.
If the recipient doesn't have an Amazon account, they'll be prompted to create one during the claiming process. Once they do, the book is immediately available on any device where they're signed into that account. They can start reading on a Kindle device, the Kindle app for iPhone or Android, the Kindle Cloud Reader on a computer, or through a web browser.
Books that cannot be gifted
Some publishers restrict gifting on certain books. When you're on a book's product page, you'll see a note if the book cannot be sent as a gift — it usually appears near the price or the gift button. This restriction is set by the publisher, not Amazon, so you cannot work around it.
If a book can't be gifted, you have other options: you can buy a physical copy, purchase a gift card for the recipient to use on any Kindle book, or suggest they purchase the book themselves. Gift cards work on any Kindle content and give the recipient the freedom to choose what they want to read.
Gifting to someone without an email address or Amazon account
You need an email address to send a Kindle book gift, but it doesn't have to be associated with an existing Amazon account. If the recipient has an email address but no Amazon account, they'll create one when they claim the gift. The process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.
If someone doesn't have an email address at all, a Kindle gift card is the better option. You can purchase a digital gift card and send it via email, or buy a physical gift card if you're giving it in person. The recipient can then use the card balance to purchase any Kindle book they want.
Refunds and returns on gifted books
Once a book is gifted and claimed, neither you nor the recipient can return it or request a refund. This is true even if the recipient hasn't opened or read the book yet. Amazon treats gifted books the same as purchased books in this regard.
If there's an issue with the book itself — such as corrupted text or formatting problems — the recipient can contact Amazon support and may be able to get a replacement or refund. But if the recipient simply doesn't want the book, there's no return option. This is why including a personal message can be helpful — it gives context for why you chose that particular book.
Using Kindle gift cards instead
If you're unsure what book someone wants to read, or if the book you want to gift has gifting restrictions, a Kindle gift card is an alternative. You can purchase a digital gift card for any amount and send it via email, or buy a physical card to give in person.
The recipient can use the card balance to buy any Kindle book, magazine, or newspaper available on Amazon. Gift cards don't expire, so there's no rush to use them. This option gives the recipient complete control over what they read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I gift a book to someone in a different country?
No. The recipient must have an email address associated with an Amazon account in the same region as yours. If you're in the US Amazon store and the recipient is in the UK Amazon store, the gift won't work. You would need to purchase from the UK store instead, which may require a UK payment method.
What if the recipient already owns the book?
Amazon will still send the gift. When the recipient claims it, they'll have two copies in their library — one they owned and one from your gift. They can keep both or delete the duplicate. There's no way to check beforehand if someone already owns a book.
Can I gift a book I borrowed from Kindle Unlimited?
No. You can only gift books you've purchased. Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service, and borrowed books cannot be sent as gifts. You would need to purchase the book outright to gift it.
How long does it take for the recipient to receive the gift?
If you choose immediate delivery, the recipient gets the email notification within minutes. If you schedule it for a future date, it arrives on that date. Once they claim the gift, the book appears in their library instantly and is ready to read.
Can I send a gift to my own email address?
Technically yes, but Amazon may flag this as unusual activity. It's simpler to just purchase the book normally for yourself. If you're trying to buy a book for your own Kindle device, use the standard purchase option instead of the gift option.