BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is expanding what it says is the nation’s largest retail drone delivery network through a new multi-year agreement with Zipline. The retailer plans to add 300 drone delivery sites across the U.S., building on a program that has already completed more than 2 million deliveries. Walmart and Zipline have partnered on drone delivery operations since 2021, with the latest expansion paving the way for broader service coverage in the years ahead.
Whether it’s the missing frosting for a birthday cake, running out of coffee and creamer on a Monday morning or a new pack of tennis balls before heading to the court, drone delivery gives customers a fast way to get what they need in just minutes. And as more customers discover the service, they find new ways to make it part of their everyday routines.
“We see customers try drone delivery for the novelty and then continue to come back to it for the convenience when they need something in minutes,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president, eCommerce Fulfillment Transformation, Walmart. “Walmart’s stores put us close to the communities we serve. With Zipline, we can build on that proximity and bring this fast delivery option to even more customers across the country.”
Now, Walmart is building on its success to bring drone delivery to even more communities nationwide, with tens of thousands of eligible items available for delivery in as fast as 30 minutes where available. With 90% of America living within 10 miles of a Walmart store, Walmart has a unique advantage to build on its existing store network to expand drone delivery.
"Five years ago, Walmart and Zipline made our first deliveries together. Back then, the idea of autonomous delivery seemed impossible to most people. Today, customers order from us multiple times a day. When you can get what you need in 10-30 minutes it takes a huge amount of anxiety out of life. People can plan their lives around their loved ones, not errands," said Keller Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline. "Now, with Walmart, we're going to expand this tech to homes throughout the country."
Zipline is the world’s largest drone delivery service by miles flown, with 150 million commercial autonomous miles without a major safety incident. Zipline’s home delivery drone uses a two-part architecture designed for quiet and safe operations by keeping the drone roughly 330ft above the ground during delivery while a pod containing the order descends on a tether.
"I could not live without drone delivery. It saves me so much time," said Melanie Millsap, a mom of four and Walmart customer in Royse City, TX. "It's nice when I'm cooking dinner and I forget an ingredient, and I can order it, and it's here before dinner's even done, or dinner's even halfway done. Zipline is now a part of my everyday life."
Customers will see drone delivery as an option when they open the Walmart app or visit Walmart.com if the address associated with their account is within the delivery range. Customers can then add items to their cart just like any other delivery order, place their order, and then track their items as they fly to their home. Orders are delivered to the customer’s home in the front yard, backyard or driveway. Eligible addresses can also place Walmart orders through the Zipline app.
Drone delivery fits into Walmart’s broader same-day delivery options designed to fit different shopping occasions and schedules:
- Drone Delivery: measured in minutes, for when customers need a handful of items
- 30-Minute-or-Less: Delivery for immediate and fill-in shopping needs in select markets.
- Express: Delivery in one hour or less.
- On-Demand: Delivery in as soon as three hours.
- Scheduled: Customers can choose a delivery window that works best for their schedule.
The next chapter of drone delivery isn't just about reaching more households. It's about giving customers another reason to turn to Walmart for the moments when convenience matters most.
