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. The recipient receives a gift notification, accepts it, and the book appears on their Kindle device or reading app. You do not need to know their Amazon account details — only their email address. The process takes about five minutes and costs the same as buying the book for yourself.
Kindle gifts work across devices. If someone has a Kindle e-reader, a tablet, a phone, or a computer, they can read a gifted book on any of those as long as they have the free Kindle app installed. The book stays in their library permanently once they accept the gift.
Key Takeaways
- You gift a Kindle book through Amazon's website by finding the book, selecting "Give as a Gift," and entering the recipient's email address.
- The recipient gets an email notification and can accept the gift when ready, or Amazon holds it for 30 days if they do not have an account yet.
- You can include a personal message with the gift, and you choose the delivery date if you want to send it on a specific day.
- Kindle gifts work on any device that has the Kindle app — phones, tablets, e-readers, and computers — not just Amazon hardware.
- Some books cannot be gifted because of publisher restrictions, and the book must be available in the country where the recipient lives.
How to send a Kindle book gift step by step
Go to Amazon.com and search for the book you want to gift. Open the book's product page. Below the price and "Buy Now" button, you will see a link that says "Give as a Gift" or a gift icon. Click it.
Amazon will ask you to enter the recipient's email address and choose a delivery date. You can send it when ready or pick a date up to 30 days in the future. Add a personal message if you want — this appears in the gift notification email. Then review the price (it is the same as the regular Kindle price) and confirm the purchase with your payment method.
The recipient receives an email from Amazon with your message and a link to accept the gift. They click the link, and if they already have an Amazon account, the book appears in their Kindle library right away. If they do not have an account, Amazon holds the gift for 30 days while they create one. Once they accept, the book syncs to all their devices that have the Kindle app.
What happens if the book cannot be gifted
Some books are not available as gifts because publishers restrict them. When you click "Give as a Gift," Amazon will tell you when ready if that book cannot be sent this way. You will see a message saying the title is not available for gifting.
If a book cannot be gifted, you have two other options. You can buy a physical copy and mail it, or you can buy the Kindle version for yourself and share your library with the recipient if you live in the same household. Library sharing through Amazon lets family members read books you own, though there are limits on how many people can share one account.
Gifting to someone outside the United States
Kindle books are region-locked, meaning a book you buy in the US Kindle store may not be available to gift to someone in another country. Before you try to gift, check whether the book is available in the recipient's country.
If the recipient lives outside the US, ask them which country's Amazon site they use (Amazon.co.uk for the UK, Amazon.ca for Canada, and so on). You may need to create an account on that regional site and purchase the gift there instead. Prices and availability vary by region.
Using Kindle gift cards instead
If you are not sure which book someone wants, you can send a Kindle gift card instead. The recipient can use it to buy any Kindle book themselves. Gift cards come in amounts you choose and are delivered by email. The recipient has one year to use the balance.
Kindle gift cards work the same way as book gifts — you enter an email address, add a message, and choose a delivery date. The recipient gets an email notification and can explore the balance to their account when ready. This is useful if the person reads in genres you are unfamiliar with or if they prefer to choose their own titles.
What the recipient needs to accept a gift
The recipient needs an Amazon account and a Kindle app or device to accept and read a gifted book. If they do not have an account, they can create one for free when they click the gift link in their email. The Kindle app is free to read on phones, tablets, and computers from the App Store, Google Play, or Amazon's website.
They do not need to own a Kindle e-reader. Many people read Kindle books on their phone or tablet using the app. Once they accept the gift, the book appears in their Kindle library and they can start reading on any device where they sign in with their Amazon account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I gift a Kindle book to someone who does not have an Amazon account?
Yes. Amazon holds the gift for 30 days while they create an account. They receive an email with the gift notification and a link to set up their account and accept it. If they do not accept within 30 days, the gift expires and your payment is refunded.
Can I gift a book I already own to someone else?
No. Kindle books are licensed to you personally and cannot be transferred. You have to purchase a separate copy to gift it. The recipient gets their own copy in their library, not access to your copy.
What if I send a gift to the wrong email address?
Contact Amazon customer service right away. If the recipient has not accepted the gift yet, Amazon can cancel it and refund your payment so you can send it to the correct address. If they have already accepted it, the refund is more complicated.
Do Kindle gifts cost more than regular Kindle books?
No. The price is exactly the same whether you buy a Kindle book for yourself or as a gift. You pay the standard Kindle price, which is usually lower than the paperback price.
Can I gift a book that is currently free on Kindle?
Yes. Free Kindle books can be gifted. You will not be charged, and the recipient receives it at no cost. This is a good way to share books that are part of free promotions or permanently free titles.