You can send a Kindle book directly to another person's email address
Amazon lets you buy a Kindle book and send it to someone else instead of keeping it yourself. You choose the recipient's email address, add a personal message, and pick a delivery date — the book arrives in their Kindle library on that date. The person receiving it doesn't have to do anything; the book just shows up.
This works for most Kindle books, but not all. Books with certain publisher restrictions cannot be sent as gifts. When you're looking at a book on Amazon, you'll see a "Give as a Gift" button if that book can be gifted. If you don't see the button, that publisher has blocked gift sending for that title.
The recipient needs a Kindle device or the free Kindle reading app (available for phones, tablets, and computers) to read the book. They don't need to own a Kindle device — the app is enough.
Key Takeaways
- The "Give as a Gift" button appears on Amazon's book page only if the publisher allows gifting; not all books can be sent this way.
- You enter the recipient's email address and can include a personal message and choose the delivery date during checkout.
- The book arrives in the recipient's Kindle library automatically on the date you select; they do not need to accept or read anything.
- The recipient can read the gifted book on any device with the free Kindle app, not just a Kindle device.
- You can send a gift to someone who does not yet have an Amazon account; the book will wait in their library once they create one.
How to send a Kindle book step by step
Start on Amazon.com and find the Kindle book you want to send. Look for the "Give as a Gift" button near the price and "Buy Now" button. Click it.
Amazon will ask you to enter the recipient's email address. Type the address exactly as it appears — this is how Amazon finds their account. If the person doesn't have an Amazon account yet, the book will still be sent to that email address, and they can claim it once they create an account.
Next, you'll see a box for a personal message. This is optional, but it's a good place to say why you're sending the book or add a birthday greeting. Keep it short — Amazon limits the message to a few sentences.
Choose a delivery date. You can send it when ready or pick a date up to a year in the future. This is useful if you're sending a birthday gift and want it to arrive on the right day.
Review the price (it's the same as buying the book for yourself) and complete the purchase like a normal order. The book will be delivered to the recipient's email on the date you chose.
What happens on the recipient's end
The recipient receives an email from Amazon saying they've been sent a Kindle book. The email includes your personal message and a link to the book in their Kindle library. They don't have to click anything or take any action — the book is already in their account.
If the recipient doesn't have a Kindle app installed yet, they can read it for free from Amazon or their device's app store. The Kindle app works on iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Android tablets, Mac computers, and Windows computers.
Once they open the Kindle app and sign in with their Amazon account, the gifted book appears in their library alongside any other books they own. They can start reading when ready.
Books that cannot be sent as gifts
Some publishers restrict gift sending on their Kindle books. This is a publisher decision, not an Amazon limitation. When you're on a book's page, if there's no "Give as a Gift" button, that book cannot be sent as a gift.
If you want to send a book that doesn't have gift sending available, you have two options: buy a physical copy and mail it, or buy the Kindle version for yourself and let the person know about it so they can purchase it themselves. Some publishers also sell their books through other retailers like Apple Books or Google Play Books, which may have different gifting rules.
Sending a gift to someone without an Amazon account
You can send a Kindle book to any email address, even if that person doesn't have an Amazon account yet. Enter their email address during checkout just as you normally would.
Amazon will send them an email with the gift notification and a link to claim the book. When they click the link, they'll be asked to create an Amazon account or sign in if they already have one. Once they do, the book appears in their Kindle library.
The book will wait in their account indefinitely, so there's no rush for them to claim it. They can read it whenever they're ready.
Changing or canceling a gift before delivery
If you sent a gift but haven't reached the delivery date yet, you can cancel it and get a refund. Go to your Amazon account, find the order in your order history, and look for a cancel option. This only works before the delivery date passes.
Once the delivery date arrives and the book is in the recipient's library, you cannot cancel it or take it back. The book is theirs to keep.
If you made a mistake with the recipient's email address before the delivery date, contact Amazon customer service. They can update the email address so the book goes to the right person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a Kindle book to someone who doesn't have a Kindle device?
Yes. The recipient can read it on the free Kindle app for their phone, tablet, or computer. They don't need to own a Kindle device. The app syncs across devices, so they can start reading on their phone and pick up where they left off on a tablet.
What if the person I'm sending the book to doesn't have an Amazon account?
That's fine. Send it to their email address anyway. Amazon will email them about the gift, and when they create an Amazon account using that same email, the book will automatically appear in their library.
Can I send a Kindle book to an international email address?
Yes, you can send to any email address worldwide. The recipient will receive the notification and can claim the book once they have an Amazon account, though they may need to use their regional Amazon site (like Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de) depending on where they live.
Is the price of a gifted book the same as buying it for myself?
Yes. You pay the same price whether you're buying the book for yourself or sending it as a gift. There are no extra fees for gifting.
Can I send a book that's currently on sale or in a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited?
You can send a book that's on sale at its current sale price. For books in Kindle Unlimited, you can only send them as a gift if the publisher allows it — check for the "Give as a Gift" button. Kindle Unlimited membership itself cannot be gifted.