If you’re a UK-based blogger or content creator pondering whether to join Amazon affiliate program UK, Amazon Associates US—or both—you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in and compare the two offers.
Quick Snapshot of Both Programs
First of all, you apply to each programme independently: one for Amazon.co.uk, another for Amazon.com
The commission rates vary by product category and differ between UK and US. UK pays in pounds (GBP), US pays in dollars (USD). Different minimum thresholds for payment, too.
Signing Up: Separate Doors
You cannot use your .co.uk login for .com. Two applications. Two dashboards. Two tracking IDs. Simple as that.
Why? Because of different legal entities, tax rules, consumer protections—Amazon treats each market as a standalone business. If you’re UK-based, the UK form avoids foreign-currency headaches, while US lets you tap into a giant audience.
Commission Rates
Commission tables change, but here’s the current breakdown:
Amazon UK
- 8% on Fashion Private Brands, Clothing & Accessories, Luxury Stores Fashion, Shoes & Handbags
- 6% on Beauty, DVD, Home, Home Improvement, Kitchen & Dining, Luggage, Luxury Stores Beauty
- 5.5% on Jewellery, Digital Music, Furniture, Handmade, Music, Power & Hand Tools
- 4.5% on Audible Audiobooks, Automotive, Books, Health & Personal Care, Musical Instruments, Outdoors
- 4% on Personal Care Appliances, Sports & Fitness
- 3.5% on Office Products
- 3% on all other eligible categories (e.g., Amazon Fresh, Baby, Camera, Cell Phones & Accessories, Electronics, etc.)
- 2.5% on Appliances, Fire TV Devices, Mobile Electronics
- 1% on Grocery, Video Game Consoles, Video Games
- 0% on Android Apps, Gift Cards, Prime promotions
Amazon US
- 10% on Luxury Beauty, Luxury Stores Beauty, Amazon Explore
- 5% on Digital Music, Physical Music, Handmade, Digital Videos
- 4.5% on Physical Books, Kitchen, Automotive
- 4% on Amazon devices (Fire Tablets, Kindle, Echo, Fire TV), Apparel & Accessories (including Private Label), Watches, Jewellery, Luggage, Shoes & Handbags
- 3% on Toys, Furniture, Home, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden, Pets, Headphones, Beauty, Musical Instruments, Business & Industrial Supplies, Outdoors, Tools, Sports, Baby Products, Amazon Coins
- 2.5% on PC, PC Components, DVD & Blu-Ray
- 2% on Televisions, Digital Video Games
- 1% on Amazon Fresh, Physical Video Games & Consoles, Grocery, Health & Personal Care
- 0% on Gift Cards; Wireless Service Plans; Alcoholic Beverages; Digital Kindle Subscriptions; Vehicles leasing/sales; Amazon Appstore, Prime Now, Amazon Pay Places
Seasonal events (Prime Day, Christmas) can bump rates, and US also has bounty payouts for Prime sign-ups, Audible trials, etc.
Cookie Duration & Special Events
The programmes have a standard 24 hours cookie—click a link, make a purchase within a day, earn the commission.
If a visitor adds an item to their cart within 24 hours, you’ll still earn on that item even if they check out up to 90 days later.
Amazon Associates US offers fixed payouts (e.g., $3 for Prime Free Trial) for specific actions. UK occasionally runs local bounty events (e.g., £1 for Music Unlimited trial).
OneLink: The International Traffic Tamer
Got a US reader who clicks your UK link but buys on Amazon.com? Chasing cross-border clicks without OneLink is like herding cats. Amazon’s geo-redirection tool detects a visitor’s country and sends them to the right Amazon site.
With OneLink properly set up, you’ll earn at the local rate. Handy, right?
Setup takes minutes, but it keeps links tidy, prevents lost commissions, and makes analytics clearer.
Without it, UK visitors could end up on .com—and you’d be paid peanuts (or nothing).
Payments & Thresholds
UK
- Minimum threshold: £25 (direct deposit or gift certificate); commissions under £25 roll into the next month
- Check threshold: £50 minimum (you can set higher thresholds; commissions under threshold roll into the next month)
- Payment schedule: Monthly, roughly 60 days after month-end
US
- Minimum threshold: $10 (direct deposit) or $100 (check)
- Payment schedule: Approximately 60 days after month-end
- Watch those currency conversion fees if you funnel USD into a GBP account.
Pro tip: UK publishers often use Wise or Payoneer to avoid check headaches.
VAT, Taxes & Reporting
The UK commissions themselves aren’t VAT-able, but VAT can apply to any service fees (e.g., link-management tools). Declare earnings to HMRC under “other income.”
For the US, you’ll receive a 1099-NEC if you earn over $600. Make sure your US sign-up has correct tax info—or Amazon may withhold up to 30% for non-US associates.
Terms, Policies, and Pitfalls
Both programmes share core rules—no cookie-stealing, no misleading promotions, no self-purchases to game the system.
The UK has stricter guidance on price claims and coupon sharing.
The US allows broader email promotion but insists on clear, prominent disclosure of affiliate status.
Always read the “Operating Agreement” and “Program Policies” pages for each region—Amazon updates them mid-year without shouting about it.
Which One Should You Join (Or Both)?
Audience 90% UK? Stick with .co.uk, avoid currency pain.
Significant US traffic? .com for volume—just mind lower tiers on some categories.
Best case? Join both and let OneLink sort your traffic.
Wrapping Up
So, yes, the US and UK Amazon affiliate programmes are siblings, but not twins. They share DNA, yet pay out differently, have unique rules, and treat your audience based on geography. Grab both if you can; if not, pick the one that matches your crowd.
Have you tried OneLink? Or stumbled over a weird policy clause? Drop your affiliate stories below, and let’s commiserate (or celebrate). Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram for more affiliate tips, and hey—share the love if this helped you!
Sources
- www.affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/
- www.affiliate-program.amazon.com/
- www.affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/node/topic/G84KVZ7BTNXHF4UH
- www.getlasso.co/affiliate/amazon-associates/
- www.cuelinks.com/blog/amazon-affiliate-commission-rates-guide/
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