How to become an Amazon affiliate and earn money online
The Amazon Associates program lets you earn a commission when people buy on Amazon through your links. This guide explains exactly how it works, what you can realistically earn, the rules you must follow, and how to apply — in plain English.
What is the Amazon Associates program?
Amazon Associates is Amazon's official affiliate marketing program. It has been running since 1996 and is one of the largest affiliate programs in the world. Bloggers, YouTubers, social media creators, newsletter writers and website owners use it to earn money by recommending products.
The idea is simple: you get a unique tracking link for any product on Amazon. When someone clicks your link and buys something, Amazon pays you a percentage of the sale. You never handle products, inventory, shipping or customer service — Amazon does all of that.
In one sentence: you recommend, Amazon sells, and you earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through your links.
"Amazon affiliate" and "Amazon Associate" mean the same thing — "Associates" is simply the official name of the program.
How it works, in four steps
Every commission follows the same path, from the moment you create a link to the moment money lands in your account.
Create a link
Inside your Associates account (or with the SiteStripe toolbar on Amazon), generate a link that contains your personal tracking ID.
Share it
Place the link in a review, a comparison article, a video description, a newsletter or a social post — anywhere your audience can find it.
Visitor buys
A visitor clicks, lands on Amazon and buys. Amazon tracks the visit for 24 hours and credits qualifying purchases to you.
You get paid
Commissions are confirmed after returns and cancellations clear, then paid monthly, roughly 60 days after the end of the month.
Bonus: you earn on the whole qualifying order, not just the product you linked. If you link to a $20 phone case and the visitor also buys headphones in the same session, both items can count.
Commission rates
Amazon pays a fixed percentage that depends on the product category, not on how much you sell. Rates generally range from about 1% to 10%, with a few special categories higher. The table below shows typical published rates for Amazon.com (US).
| Product category (examples) | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Amazon Games | up to 20% |
| Luxury Beauty, Luxury Stores, Amazon Coins | up to 10% |
| Furniture, Home, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden, Pets, Pantry | ~3–8% |
| Kitchen, Automotive, Beauty, Fashion, Jewelry, Luggage, Watches | ~4% |
| Toys, Baby, Health & Personal Care, Sports | ~1–3% |
| Computers, TVs, Electronics, Video Game Consoles | ~1–2.5% |
| Grocery, Physical Books, Outdoors | ~1–4.5% |
Important: Amazon changes its rates without much notice, and several categories were reduced during 2026. Always check the current Commission Income Statement inside Amazon Associates Central before choosing a niche. The figures above are for orientation only.
Bounties: fixed payments
Besides percentage commissions, Amazon runs a Bounty Program that pays a fixed fee when a visitor signs up for certain services — for example free trials of Prime, Audible, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Music. Bounty amounts typically range from a few dollars to around $25–30 per sign-up, depending on the service.
Quick example
You write a review of a kitchen blender that sells for $120. The kitchen category pays around 4%.
$120 × 4% = $4.80 per sale
If 50 readers buy it in a month, that's about $240 — plus whatever else they add to their carts. Commissions are calculated on the item price, excluding shipping, taxes and gift-wrap.
Requirements and the "3 sales in 180 days" rule
Joining is free and the initial sign-up is quick, but your account is only fully approved after Amazon reviews it. To qualify you need:
- To be at least 18 years old (the age of majority where you live).
- A website, blog, mobile app, YouTube channel or active social media account with original content.
- Accurate contact, tax and payment information (the tax interview is required to receive payments).
- A clear affiliate disclosure on every place where you use Amazon links.
The 3-sales rule: after you sign up, you have 180 days to generate at least three qualifying sales from real, independent customers. Only then does Amazon review your application. If you don't reach three sales, the application is closed — though you can apply again later.
Your own purchases, and purchases you ask friends or family to make, do not count and can get your account closed. Build some content and audience before applying so the 180-day clock works in your favor.
How and when you get paid
Amazon pays commissions monthly, about 60 days after the end of the month in which they were earned. That delay exists so returns and cancellations can be subtracted first. For example, commissions from March are usually paid at the end of May.
Direct deposit
Paid into your bank account. Minimum balance: $10.
Amazon gift card
Credited as Amazon gift card balance. Minimum balance: $10.
Check
Mailed paper check (where available). Minimum balance: $100, plus a processing fee.
International note: Amazon runs a separate Associates program for each marketplace (US, UK, Germany, Brazil, etc.). Each one has its own account, tracking ID and payment threshold. A US link only earns on purchases made on Amazon.com.
How to sign up, step by step
The whole application takes about 15–20 minutes. Have your website or social profile links and your tax information ready.
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Go to the official Amazon Associates website
Visit affiliate-program.amazon.com and click Sign up. Log in with an existing Amazon account or create a new one.
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Enter your account information
Provide the name, address and phone number of the person or company that will receive payments.
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Add your websites and apps
List every website, app or social media profile where you plan to use Amazon links (up to 50). Make sure each one has real, original content.
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Complete your profile
Choose your preferred Store ID (it becomes your tracking ID), describe your content, the topics you cover and how you drive traffic.
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Set up tax and payment
Complete the tax interview and choose your payment method. You can do this later, but you won't be paid until it's done.
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Create links and make your first 3 sales
Start sharing links with SiteStripe or the Product Linking tool. Once you reach three qualifying sales within 180 days, Amazon reviews and approves your account.
Where to share your affiliate links
Commissions depend on traffic from real people who trust your recommendations. These are the most common channels.
Blog or niche website
Product reviews, "best X for Y" lists, buying guides and comparisons. Search traffic builds slowly but can earn for years.
YouTube
Unboxings, reviews and tutorials with links in the description. Video builds trust quickly and ranks in Google too.
Social media
Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook. Use your link-in-bio or posts — always with a clear disclosure.
Email newsletter
Link to your own pages that contain Amazon links. Amazon does not allow its links directly inside emails or offline materials.
Choose a focused niche
Pick a topic you know and that people buy in: home office, coffee, camping, pets, fitness gear, baby products, etc.
Be genuinely useful
Honest pros and cons convert better and reduce returns — and returns cancel commissions.
Rules you must follow
Amazon closes accounts that break the Operating Agreement — and may withhold unpaid commissions. Read the official agreement and Program Policies before you start. The most important rules:
Do
- Display the disclosure: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
- Disclose affiliate links clearly, as required by the FTC and local laws.
- Use Amazon's official tools (SiteStripe, API) for prices and images.
- Keep your account information and website list up to date.
Don't
- Buy through your own links or ask friends and family to.
- Put Amazon links in emails, PDFs, eBooks or offline materials.
- Hard-code prices that can go out of date.
- Use "Amazon" in your domain name or imitate Amazon's branding.
- Hide or cloak links in ways that mislead visitors.
How much can you realistically earn?
There's no fixed income — it depends on your traffic, niche, product prices and how well your content converts. Most beginners earn little in their first months while they build content and audience. Sites with steady traffic in high-value niches can earn hundreds or thousands of dollars per month.
A simple way to estimate your potential:
Monthly clicks × conversion rate × average order value × commission rate
Example: 5,000 clicks × 8% conversion × $60 average order × 4% = ≈ $960 / month. If your traffic or conversion is lower, so is the result — treat any estimate as a target, not a promise.
Honest expectation: Amazon Associates is a long-term project, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Results usually come after months of consistent, useful content.
Pros and cons
Advantages
- Free to join and easy to start
- Millions of products in almost every niche
- Trusted brand with very high conversion rates
- Commission on the whole qualifying cart
- No inventory, shipping or customer service
- Low $10 payment threshold for direct deposit
Disadvantages
- Low commission rates in many categories
- Short 24-hour cookie window
- Rates can be cut without much notice
- Strict rules — accounts can be closed
- Separate account per country
- ~60-day payment delay
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to become an Amazon affiliate?
No. Joining the Amazon Associates program is completely free.
Do I need a website to join?
Not necessarily. You can apply with a YouTube channel, a mobile app or an active social media account, as long as it has original content and a real audience.
Can I join from outside the United States?
Yes. The US program accepts applicants from many countries, provided they complete the tax interview and choose a supported payment method. Amazon also runs local programs in other countries.
What happens if I don't make 3 sales in 180 days?
Your application is closed and any links stop earning. You can apply again later — ideally once your content gets more traffic.
Can I buy through my own affiliate links?
No. Personal purchases, and purchases made by friends or family at your request, don't qualify and can lead to account closure.
Can I put Amazon links in emails or PDFs?
No. Amazon doesn't allow its Special Links in emails, eBooks, PDFs or offline materials. Instead, link to a page on your website that contains the Amazon links.
When will I receive my first payment?
About 60 days after the end of the month in which you earned the commissions, once you reach the minimum balance ($10 for direct deposit or gift card) and have completed the tax and payment setup.
Ready to start earning?
Apply on the official Amazon Associates website. It's free, and you can start creating links as soon as you sign up.
Sign up for Amazon Associates →You will be taken to Amazon's official website. We are not affiliated with Amazon.