Is Amazon Flex Worth It in 2025? A Brutally Honest Look at the Real Numbers

Amazon Flex offers the promise of flexibility and decent pay, but what’s the real story once you factor in all the costs? 

Let’s break down what actually lands in your pocket.

The Quick Answer (If You’re in a Rush)

If you need the short version: Amazon Flex can be worth it if you’re looking for flexible side income with predictable scheduling. 

Most drivers earn between $18-25 per hour before expenses, but your actual take-home pay will likely be $10-20 per hour after factoring in gas, vehicle wear and tear, and taxes.

I’ve talked with dozens of drivers, analyzed the numbers, and the truth is that your mileage (literally) will vary. 

Your vehicle type, local gas prices, and the routes you get assigned can dramatically impact whether this gig makes financial sense for you.

What Amazon Flex Actually Is (Without the Corporate Jargon)

Amazon Flex is pretty straightforward: you use your own car to deliver Amazon packages. 

You pick delivery blocks through the app, which typically run 2-6 hours, and get paid a guaranteed minimum amount that you can see upfront.

You might deliver regular Amazon.com packages, Prime Now orders, Amazon Fresh groceries, or store orders depending on what’s available in your area.

The sign-up process works like this:

1. Download the Amazon Flex app
2. Pass a background check
3. Choose available delivery blocks in your area
4. Start delivering

Let’s Talk Real Money: What You Actually Make

This is where things get interesting. Amazon advertises earnings of $18-25 per hour, but that’s before you account for any expenses.

Here’s a real-world breakdown of what a typical 4-hour block might look like:

• 4-hour block payment: $72 ($18/hour)
• Miles driven: 50
• Gas cost (at $3/gallon, 25 MPG): $6
• Vehicle depreciation and maintenance (at IRS rate of $0.65/mile): $32.50
• Net earnings: $39.50 ($9.87/hour)

If you only count gas as your expense, you’d net $66 ($16.50/hour), but that’s not accounting for the real cost of putting miles on your vehicle.

Some drivers on Reddit report making $1,200-1,400 weekly, but these are often people working 40+ hours and not fully accounting for expenses.

The Good Stuff: Why People Stick With It

Despite the math not always looking great on paper, there are solid reasons why people continue driving for Amazon Flex:

Complete Schedule Control
You pick which blocks you want to work. Got a doctor’s appointment? No problem. Want to work only weekends? You can do that. One driver I spoke with mentioned fitting 25-30 hours around his college classes each week. 

Predictable Pay Structure
Unlike Uber or DoorDash, where your earnings depend heavily on tips, Amazon Flex offers guaranteed pay for each block. You know exactly what you’ll earn before accepting a block.

Surge Pricing Opportunities
During peak times, holidays, or bad weather, block rates can surge significantly. Some drivers report seeing rates as high as $30-35 per hour during these periods, according to Ridester.

Amazon Flex Rewards Program
Regular drivers can earn perks through the Amazon Flex Rewards program, including cash back on gas and vehicle maintenance.

The Downsides: What Most Recruiters Won’t Tell You

Your Vehicle Takes a Beating
The constant stopping and starting, plus all those miles, means accelerated wear and tear. One driver shared that he needed new brakes after just 8 months of Flex driving.

No Benefits Whatsoever
As an independent contractor, you get zero health insurance, no paid time off, no retirement contributions. This is a big deal if you’re considering this as your main income source.

Physical Demands Are Real
You’ll be lifting packages (sometimes heavy ones), dealing with weather conditions, navigating unfamiliar areas, and potentially climbing lots of stairs. Several drivers on Trustpilot mention exhaustion after completing blocks.

Route Roulette
Sometimes you’ll get lucky with a dense urban route with lots of deliveries close together. Other times, you might get stuck with rural deliveries that have you driving 100+ miles for the same pay. One reviewer mentioned a 130-mile round trip that made the block completely unprofitable.

The Legal Question Mark Hanging Over Everything

This is something you need to know about: Amazon Flex is facing serious legal challenges about how it classifies drivers.

Thousands of drivers have filed claims arguing they should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors, seeking unpaid wages and benefits, according to AP News.

A Virginia court has already ruled that Flex drivers should be considered employees for unemployment benefit purposes, noted by Bean, Kinney & Korman.

This matters because:

• The outcome could affect your legal rights as a driver
• It might change how Amazon structures pay and benefits in the future
• It highlights the precarious nature of gig work in general

How Amazon Flex Stacks Up Against Other Delivery Gigs

I’ve talked with drivers who work multiple platforms, and here’s how they compare:

Amazon Flex vs. DoorDash

• Flex offers more predictable earnings; DoorDash has higher earning potential with tips
• Flex has scheduled blocks at specific times; DoorDash lets you work whenever you want
• Flex packages don’t require food handling or customer interaction at delivery

According to SideHusl, Flex drivers report more stable earnings ($18-25/hour) compared to DoorDash ($10-20/hour with more volatility).

Amazon Flex vs. Uber Eats

• Flex has set block times; Uber Eats offers true on-demand work
• Flex has no in-person customer service; Uber Eats requires customer interaction
• Flex blocks can be harder to get in some markets than Uber Eats orders

A Reddit comparison showed many drivers prefer the predictability of Flex but keep Uber Eats as a fill-in option when blocks aren’t available.

Real Talk From Actual Drivers

The Good: “I make about $600-700 a week after gas working 25-30 hours. The flexibility lets me work around my other commitments.” – Reddit driver

“Made $35,000 last year just doing this part-time. That covered all my living expenses while I built my business.” – Reddit discussion

The Bad: “Got paid $64 for a route that took me 130 miles round trip. After expenses, I made about $40 for 4 hours of work. Not worth it.” – Trustpilot review

“I stopped doing Flex in early 2024. Gas prices in NY made it impossible to turn a profit unless you got surge pricing.” – Trustindex review

Is Amazon Flex Right For You? The Bottom Line

After digging through all the data and talking with drivers, here’s who should and shouldn’t consider Amazon Flex:

Amazon Flex might work for you if:

• You need flexible side income that fits around other commitments
• You own a fuel-efficient, reliable vehicle that’s paid off
• You live in an area with dense delivery routes
• You’re physically able to handle the demands of package delivery
• You’ve calculated your true costs and the math works in your favor

Skip Amazon Flex if:

• You need stable, full-time income with benefits
• Your vehicle is expensive to maintain or gas-hungry
• You live in a rural area with spread-out delivery routes
• You have physical limitations that make carrying packages difficult
• You’re not prepared to set aside money for taxes and vehicle maintenance

One Last Thought

I’ve seen too many drivers get excited about the advertised hourly rate without running the numbers on their actual expenses. 

Before you jump in, track every mile, every gas fill-up, and every maintenance cost so you know your true hourly rate.