Amazon is so huge in the USA that it’s almost a shortcut for “online shopping.” If you’ve ever ordered anything online, you’ve probably checked Amazon first. When people wonder which eCommerce store is the biggest in the United States, Amazon is the clear answer—it has over 38% of the US online retail market just by itself. Walmart.com is a distant runner-up, but no one else comes close.
That doesn’t mean other sites don’t matter. Target, Best Buy, and a few strong niche shops still pull in serious business. But when you talk crazy scale, fast delivery, endless products, and loyal users—Amazon’s miles ahead. You see it everywhere: Prime trucks in your neighborhood, cardboard boxes piling up after the holidays, people saying “Can we get it on Amazon?” before hunting anyplace else.
If you want to get in on this action—whether you’re a seller, a small business, or just someone who wants the most dependable shipping—understanding why Amazon is number one helps you spot smart shortcuts and avoid rookie mistakes before you even hit ‘add to cart’ or stock your first virtual shelf.
- Who Rules the Market?
- How Amazon Got So Big
- Logistics That Changed the Game
- Tips for Sellers in Amazon’s World
Who Rules the Market?
If you ask anyone about the biggest ecommerce store in the USA, Amazon pops up instantly. Back in 2024, Amazon held around 38% of all US e-commerce sales. That’s almost two out of every five dollars spent online. Walmart comes next, but it’s way behind, typically with about 7% of the share according to Insider Intelligence.
| Online Retailer | US Market Share (2024) |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 38% |
| Walmart | 7% |
| Apple | 4% |
| eBay | 3.5% |
Amazon isn’t just leading—it's pretty much running the show. The site is packed with everything from groceries to gadgets, books to baby wipes. Amazon Prime alone has more than 170 million US users. That’s half the population logging onto one site for one-day shipping, streaming, and even groceries.
Of course, other names like eBay, Target, and Best Buy still make a dent, especially in things like electronics and home goods. Apple’s official store is powerful too, especially with new iPhones and Macs. But when it comes to scale, speed, and the sheer amount of stuff on offer, Amazon blows everyone away.
If you’re launching a product or starting a business, you can’t ignore Amazon’s shadow. Even huge brands now have dedicated Amazon stores, not just a listing or two. Sellers flock there for the traffic, and buyers like the no-hassle returns, competitive prices, and shipping options that make everything else look a bit slow.
How Amazon Got So Big
Amazon’s road to being the biggest ecommerce store in USA wasn’t magic or luck. It started in 1994, when Jeff Bezos launched a scrappy online bookstore out of his garage. The wild part? Within just a couple years, it was selling more than books—CDs, toys, gadgets, you name it. The real explosion came when Amazon went from just selling stuff itself to letting anyone—big brands, small businesses, and regular folks—use its site to sell to the world.
One of Amazon’s smartest moves: investing insane amounts of money in its logistics network early on. While other sites scrambled to mail orders from random warehouses, Amazon built its own fulfillment centers, bought vans, and now even flies packages on its own cargo planes. This setup meant they could promise two-day shipping with Prime (launched in 2005), and actually deliver. Fast.
Let’s look at some numbers that show just how wild Amazon’s growth has been:
| Year | Net Sales (billion USD) | Prime Subscribers (million, USA) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 34.2 | 10 |
| 2015 | 107 | 40 |
| 2020 | 386 | 112 |
| 2024 | 574 | 168 |
Another key? Amazon just never stopped adding stuff. They brought in Kindle eBooks, streaming movies, Alexa devices, even groceries (think Whole Foods). Every move made it harder for shoppers to look anywhere else. That endless aisle of products is a huge part of why Amazon owns the online shopping space.
If you’re looking to sell online, pay attention: the thing that keeps Amazon on top is their obsession with customer experience. Easy returns, reliable reviews, super-clear product pages, and quick support make shoppers feel safe. Sellers who lean into these features usually see results, even if the market’s crowded. If you want to succeed in the Amazon world, you have to bring your A-game on every single order—just like they do.
Logistics That Changed the Game
The main reason Amazon stomped ahead as the biggest ecommerce store USA is logistics. Regular online shops rely on warehouses, shipping partners, and a lot of waiting. Amazon, though? They built a network that runs almost like its own delivery universe.
Let’s break it down. Amazon’s got over 110 fulfillment centers across the U.S., so there’s usually a massive warehouse somewhere within a couple hours of your doorstep. Instead of waiting for stuff to get shipped across the country, orders get packed nearby and rushed out. And their robots? Not science fiction—they zoom around grabbing your order, which speeds things up way more than folks grabbing items off shelves by hand.
Another game-changer: Amazon Prime and fast shipping. By the end of 2024, more than 170 million people in the U.S. had a Prime membership. Amazon’s “order today, get it tomorrow” promise pushed every other online shopping site to step up. Some Prime members in big cities even get same-day delivery, which totally changes how people shop for essentials and fun stuff alike.
They didn’t stop at fast shipping, either. Amazon built out their own delivery network—ever seen Amazon-branded vans rolling down your street, or workers dropping off packages on Sundays? That’s not FedEx or UPS. Amazon’s delivery fleet now handles over half their U.S. parcels. This takes a ton of pressure off traditional shippers and puts Amazon in control of timing, quality, and, honestly, your unboxing happiness.
| Logistics Facts (2024) | Amazon | Walmart.com |
|---|---|---|
| US Fulfillment Centers | 110+ | 34 |
| Same/Next Day Delivery Cities | 140+ | 50 |
| Orders Delivered by Own Drivers | 55% | ~11% |
If you’re selling and want the kind of reach Amazon has, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a shortcut. You send your stuff to their warehouses, they handle storage, shipping, and even customer service. That’s a lifesaver for small sellers—many would never be able to match this scale on their own.
Tips for sellers? Always keep products stocked at the right warehouses, use FBA for bigger exposure, and read up on how fees work because logistics is where most surprises (good and bad) happen.
Tips for Sellers in Amazon’s World
If you’re thinking of selling on Amazon, you’re joining an insanely crowded space. But you can still stand out—and actually make money—if you play things smart. Here are real-world tips that work in 2025.
- Nail your listings. Fill out every bit of the product page. Use clear photos, tight descriptions, and pop in those SEO keywords people search for. Amazon’s search system (A9) is like a fussy robot: it only puts stuff in front of buyers if it sees exactly what it wants.
- Track your numbers. Don’t guess what’s selling. Use Amazon’s dashboards to watch your conversion rates, click-throughs, and review counts. The higher your conversion, the more Amazon boosts your stuff.
- Master Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA). Shipping with FBA bumps you up in search results and lets you slap that little ‘Prime’ badge on your products. Prime customers spend almost double what non-Prime folks do, so you want their eyes on your stuff.
- Watch your pricing. Amazon automatically checks your prices against competitors. Keep them competitive to stay in the Buy Box. Tools like SellerApp or Jungle Scout help keep you in line without babysitting your listings every hour.
- Get reviews—legally. Don’t bribe buyers or beg your friends. Use Amazon’s own programs, like Vine or Request a Review, to ask for feedback. Shady reviews will get you booted fast. Remember, most top sellers have thousands of reviews—real ones.
- Plan for returns (and scams). In the USA, Amazon refunds fast without asking many questions. Budget for a certain return rate—usually 5-8% depending on your category—so you’re not caught off guard.
Here’s a quick look at average benchmarks for new Amazon sellers in 2025:
| Metric | Average for New Sellers (2025) |
|---|---|
| Monthly Revenue | $3,000 - $7,000 |
| Profit Margin | 15% - 22% |
| Return Rate | 5% - 8% |
| Average Reviews per Product (first year) | 10 - 30 |
Amazon isn’t just a huge sales platform—it’s a machine with tons of moving parts. Getting a product up and running can feel like a game, but those who hustle, tweak, and monitor the details win out. Just remember, being flexible and keeping an eye on the numbers makes all the difference in this world.
