Walmart has officially raised the bar in the race to dominate drone deliveries in the United States. The retail giant began its aggressive push to enable drone deliveries in 2021 with pilot programs in Northwest Arkansas and the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metro area. These early trials set the stage for a broader rollout, as Walmart aimed to reshape how consumers think about convenience and speed in retail. By early 2024, Walmart had scaled its drone operations to 31 hubs across six states, logging more than 150,000 successful deliveries.

The most frequently delivered items included groceries, over-the-counter medicine, baby formula, pet food, and even ice cream, demonstrating the drones’ ability to handle both fragile and temperature-sensitive products. Walmart launched its drone operations through partnerships with drone delivery experts Zipline and Wing. The company trialed Zipline’s Platform 2, a fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, alongside Wing’s quadcopter-style drones designed for rapid, tethered drop-offs.

Wing’s flagship delivery drones, in particular, bring impressive specifications to Walmart’s operations. Each drone weighs just over 10 pounds and can carry an additional 5 lbs payload. With a 5 ft wingspan, it can cruise at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour and operate at altitudes between 200 and 400 ft. Powered by a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery, the drone can sustain a 25-minute flight, giving it an operational range of approximately 6 miles round trip.

Orders are gently lowered to the ground using a tethering system, ensuring a secure and contactless delivery without the drone needing to land, ultimately saving both time and energy. Additionally, Wing’s Autoloader system allows drones to autonomously pick up pre-loaded packages, further streamlining delivery logistics.

In June 2025, Walmart announced an expansion into five new major metropolitan areas through its partnership with Wing. These new hubs include Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa. Walmart says the drone delivery program will be fully operational at these locations within the next 12 months. This brings Walmart’s drone delivery capabilities to 100 Walmart Supercenters throughout the nation.

With this expansion, Walmart has become the first U.S. retailer to implement drone delivery at such a scale. “This is real drone delivery at scale,” said Wing CEO Adam Woodworth. “People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year. Now we’re excited to share this ultra-fast delivery experience with millions more people across many more U.S. cities.”

Deliveries can be scheduled through the Walmart app, website, or Wing’s dedicated app. Once an eligible item is selected, customers are prompted to designate a clear, safe landing zone, typically a driveway or backyard. Once airborne, the drone completes its journey in under half an hour and delivers the package with precision, hovering before lowering it via a tether. When the package is securely on the ground, a mechanism on the drone unlatches the tether and recoils it before returning to the loading station. The drone delivery service is free for Walmart+ members with no order minimum. For nonmembers, a flat fee of $19.99 is applied per delivery.

Walmart executives believe that the drone program has the potential to revolutionize retail logistics. Greg Cathey, Senior Vice President of Transformation and Innovation at Walmart U.S., noted, “As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail. We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before.” He added that this latest expansion reinforces Walmart’s role as a technology leader in the retail space.

The implications of Walmart’s drone delivery program extend beyond customer convenience. Environmentally, the use of electric drones for last-mile delivery has the potential to reduce emissions compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles. As consumer curiosity and trust in drone technology grow, fueled by positive experiences and increased exposure, drone delivery is moving from novelty to the norm. Walmart’s early and aggressive adoption of the technology positions it as a leader in this space, setting a precedent that other retailers may soon follow. With hundreds of thousands of deliveries already completed and expansion continuing, Walmart’s drone program is redefining what fast, convenient delivery means in the digital age.

Previous Drone News: