Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Walmart to Expand Drone Deliveries to 4M Households

In partnership with DroneUp, Walmart plans to expand its delivery network to 34 sites by the end of the year, providing the potential to reach four million U.S. households across six states.

Walmart to Expand Drone Deliveries to 4M Households

Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Walmart customers can choose from many eligible items for drone delivery in as little as 30 minutes. The company is expanding its drone delivery to 34 sites by the end of the year.

Photo: Walmart

2 min to read


Walmart has announced its plan to expand drone deliveries by the end of the year.

In partnership with DroneUp, Walmart will increase its drone delivery network to 34 sites, providing the possibility to reach 4 million U.S. households across six states, according to a Walmart press release. These states include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Ad Loading...

Expanding its drone delivery network can provide Walmart the ability to deliver over 1 million packages by drone each year, according to the release.

For a delivery fee of $3.99, a customer’s drone order can total up to 10 pounds. Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., customers can choose from many eligible items for delivery by air in as little as 30 minutes.

Participating Walmart stores will have a DroneUp delivery hub that includes a team of certified pilots managing flight operations for the drone deliveries, according to the company.  Once the order is placed, the item is packaged, loaded into the drone, and delivered to the customer’s yard using a cable that lowers the package.

“After completing hundreds of deliveries within a matter of months across our existing DroneUp hubs, we’ve seen firsthand how drones can offer customers a practical solution for getting certain items, fast,” Walmart stated in its press release. “While we initially thought customers could use the service for emergency items, we’re finding they use it for its sheer convenience, like a quick fix for a weeknight meal. Case in point: The top-selling item at one of our current hubs is Hamburger Helper.”

However, Walmart’s drone system does have some restrictions. Because the FAA requires that a drone be operated within view of a human operator, Walmart has constructed 30-feet-tall control towers in its stores’ parking lots to offer the drone service, according to a report by Ars Technica. This means deliveries need to happen within a 1.5-mile radius of each store (about as far as an operator in this control tower can see a drone).

More Fleet Forward

FFC updates and news template
Fleet Forwardby StaffAugust 22, 2026

What Fleets Want: FFC Panel to Examine the Future of the Fleet-OEM Relationship

Fleet and OEM leaders will tackle how connected vehicles, embedded telematics, and data are changing the relationship between commercial fleets and automakers.

Read More →
A graphic with the 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year finalists
Fleet Forwardby Faith HowellAugust 19, 2026

2026 Fleet Manager of the Year Finalists Announced

Who are the 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year finalists?

Read More →
John Rossant speaker keynote image
Fleet Forwardby StaffAugust 18, 2026

John Rossant to Deliver Opening Keynote at 2026 Fleet Forward Conference

The CoMotion founder will draw on developments across Europe, China, the Middle East, and other international markets to identify trends that could influence how U.S. fleets plan for the coming decade.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Fleet Forwardby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
speaker card for Fresh Voices seminar at FFC
Fleet Forwardby StaffAugust 10, 2026

Is Fleet Ready for Its New Disruptors?

Three emerging leaders from a corporate fleet, public fleet, and the automotive supply chain will bring new ideas and a willingness to challenge industry norms to the Fleet Forward Conference stage.

Read More →
A fleet forward safety symposium announcement photo from NAFA
Fleet Forwardby News/Media ReleaseAugust 5, 2026

NAFA Announces 2026 Fleet Safety Symposium Education Program

Register for NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium and save $200 on your Fleet Forward Conference registration.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Speaker card for vibe code session at Fleet Forward Conference
Fleet Forwardby Chris BrownAugust 3, 2026

Fleet Managers Take the Lead in Hands-On AI Workshop at FFC

The fleet manager-led session will show how to use “vibe coding” to build practical fleet tools without a traditional programming background.

Read More →
FFC seminar speaker card Cost of Crashes
Fleet Forwardby StaffJuly 31, 2026

NETS Crash-Cost Data and CoolSys’ 80% Loss Reduction Take Center Stage at FFC

NETS will present findings from its latest Cost of Crashes research, then CoolSys safety leader and author Shawn Martinez will explain how the company built a safer driving culture across 3,500 employees.

Read More →
seminar card for Gray Fleet Risk session at Fleet Forward Conference
Fleet Forwardby StaffJuly 24, 2026

Is Your Grey Fleet Creating an Unmanaged Safety Risk?

NCR Atleos Fleet Manager Jose Rocha will join Cardata and SambaSafety experts at Fleet Forward Conference to examine how fleets can extend safety oversight to every employee who drives for business.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
speaker image for Fleet Forward Conference session on agentic AI
Fleet Forwardby StaffJuly 22, 2026

Agentic AI Session at FFC Will Help Fleets Turn Data Into TCO Action

Mike Albert Fleet Solutions and Motorq will show how agentic AI can uncover maintenance, fuel, and utilization savings buried across disconnected fleet data.

Read More →