Amazon Prime lets you share your membership with up to five other people through Prime Household, but each person needs their own Amazon account
When you add someone to your Prime account, they get access to the same Prime benefits you do — fast shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and the rest — without paying a separate membership fee. Amazon calls this feature Prime Household. The person you add must have their own Amazon account (a separate email address and password), and they can be anywhere in the country, though Amazon does ask that household members share the same address for billing purposes.
The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your Amazon account settings. You do not need the other person to do anything on their end — once you add them, they will see Prime benefits in their own account the next time they log in.
Key Takeaways
- You can add up to five people to one Prime account, and each person needs their own Amazon account with a separate email address.
- The person you add will see Prime benefits in their own account when ready, without needing to enter a password or take any action.
- Amazon asks that household members share the same address for billing purposes, though the system does not strictly enforce this.
- Any adult in the household can remove another adult from Prime Household, so make sure you trust the people you add.
- If someone leaves your household, you can remove them from Prime Household in the same settings where you added them.
The steps to add someone to your Prime account
Start by going to amazon.com and signing into your own account. Click on the account menu in the top right corner (usually your name or "Account & Lists"), then scroll down and select Your Account. Look for a section called Login & security or Account settings — the exact name varies depending on whether you are on a computer or phone.
Once you are in account settings, find the option for Prime Household or Manage Your Household. Click it. You will see a button that says Add an adult or Invite someone. Click that button and enter the email address of the person you want to add. Amazon will send them an invitation email. They need to accept the invitation by clicking the link in that email and confirming they want to join your household.
After they accept, they should log out of their Amazon account completely and log back in. Prime benefits usually show up right away, but sometimes it takes a few minutes to appear in their account.
What happens when you add someone — and what they can see
Once someone joins your Prime Household, they can order items with Prime shipping from their own account, watch Prime Video on their own devices, and use Prime Music. They see their own order history and can manage their own payment methods — adding a credit card or changing how they want to be billed. They cannot see your order history, and you cannot see theirs.
The one exception is the payment method. Amazon charges the primary account holder (the person who pays for Prime) for all orders placed by anyone in the household. If you add someone and they start ordering things, those charges go to the credit card or payment method linked to your account, not theirs. This is why you should only add people you trust with spending.
Removing someone from Prime Household
If someone moves out, no longer needs Prime, or you want to end the arrangement for any reason, you can remove them from Prime Household in the same settings where you added them. Go back to Your Account, find Prime Household, and look for their name in the list of household members. Click Remove or Delete next to their name.
When you remove someone, they lose access to Prime benefits when ready. Any orders they placed before removal are not affected — those will still be delivered. But they will no longer be able to place new orders with Prime shipping or watch Prime Video through that account.
What you should know about security and trust
Because anyone in your Prime Household can order things and the charges go to your payment method, only add people you genuinely trust. Amazon does not require a password or PIN to place an order — once someone is added to the household, they can order as much as they want without asking permission first.
Any adult in the household can also remove any other adult from Prime Household. This means if you add someone and later have a disagreement, they could remove you from the account you created. If you are sharing Prime with a partner or roommate, talk about this beforehand so there are no surprises.
If you are concerned about unauthorized orders, you can set up 1-Click ordering restrictions in your account settings, which requires a password before any purchase. This applies to your whole household, so everyone will need to enter a password to buy something.
Adding children to your Prime account
Amazon also lets you add children under 18 to your Prime Household, but the process is different. Children do not get their own full Amazon account — instead, you create a child profile linked to your account. You can set spending limits, control what content they can see, and manage their access more closely than you can with an adult.
To add a child, go to Prime Household and look for Add a child instead of Add an adult. You will enter the child's name and birth date. They will not need their own email address or password — they use your account to access Prime benefits, but with restrictions you set.
Troubleshooting common problems
If someone you invited is not seeing Prime benefits after accepting the invitation, ask them to log out completely and log back in. Sometimes the system takes a few minutes to sync. If it has been more than an hour, have them try clearing their browser cache or using a different device.
If you cannot find the Prime Household option in your account settings, your account may not have an active Prime membership. Prime Household is only available to people with an active Prime subscription. If your membership has expired, you will need to renew it before you can add household members.
If you are trying to add someone and Amazon says you have reached the limit, you already have five people in your household (the maximum). You will need to remove someone before you can add anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add someone who lives in a different state?
Amazon asks that household members share the same address for billing purposes, but the system does not strictly verify this. You can technically add someone in a different state, though Amazon's terms say you should only add people who actually live with you. If Amazon suspects abuse, they may ask for proof of residency.
What if the person I want to add does not have an Amazon account?
They will need to create one before you can add them to Prime Household. They can sign up at amazon.com with any email address and a password. It takes about two minutes. Once they have an account, you can send them the Prime Household invitation.
Can someone be in two Prime Households at once?
No. Each Amazon account can belong to only one Prime Household. If someone is already in another household, they will need to be removed from that one before they can join yours.
Do I have to tell Amazon the real names of people I add?
Yes. Amazon requires the real name of anyone you add to Prime Household. You cannot use nicknames or fake names. The name you enter should match the name on the Amazon account you are inviting.
What happens to Prime Household if I cancel my Prime membership?
Everyone in your household loses Prime benefits when ready. If you reactivate Prime later, you can add them back, but they will need to accept new invitations.