Amazon is well-established as the largest e-commerce company in the world, with net sales of over $469 billion in 2021 alone. What started as an online bookseller 25 years ago has transformed into a one-stop shop for almost any physical product you can imagine.
But Amazon isn‘t just for American consumers. The Seattle-based company has been steadily expanding its international presence and now ships to over 100 countries worldwide, including Indonesia. This is welcome news for Indonesian online shoppers looking for more variety, value, and quality in their purchases.
Indonesia has one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world. With a population of over 276 million people, the island nation saw e-commerce sales top $30 billion in 2021 and are projected to double by 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated the growth of online shopping in the region. And thanks to rising internet and smartphone penetration rates, Indonesia‘s digital economy is expected to be worth over $146 billion by 2025, according to the latest e-Conomy SEA report from Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
All of this adds up to a ripe opportunity for cross-border e-commerce players like Amazon to serve Indonesian consumers with high quality, authentic products delivered directly to their door.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to successfully shop on Amazon from Indonesia or Bali, including:
- How to determine which products are eligible for shipping to Indonesia
- Approximate shipping costs and delivery times from Amazon US to Indonesia
- Step-by-step instructions for placing an order on Amazon from Indonesia
- Import duties, taxes, and customs clearance processes
- Details on Amazon‘s international return and refund policies
- Expert tips for finding the best deals and saving money on your Indonesian Amazon orders
Whether you‘re an Indonesian citizen living throughout the archipelago, an expat staying in Jakarta or Bali, or even just a tourist visiting Indonesia and wanting to take advantage of Amazon‘s global shipping options, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to shop on Amazon like a pro.
Does Amazon Ship to Indonesia? Which Products are Eligible?
First, the good news: Yes, Amazon does ship many of its products to Indonesia. Amazon‘s US store offers international shipping to over 100 countries and territories worldwide through its Amazon International Shopping program. Indonesia is one of the eligible countries where Amazon will deliver many items.
In general, the following product categories sold on Amazon US are able to be shipped to Indonesia:
- Books
- Movies & TV Shows
- Music
- Software
- Video Games
- Consumer Electronics
- Camera & Photo
- Home & Kitchen
- Tools & Home Improvement
- Pet Supplies
- Toys & Games
- Baby Products
- Health & Personal Care
- Beauty & Grooming
- Luggage & Travel Accessories
- Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry
- Watches
- Sports & Outdoors
However, not 100% of Amazon‘s catalog is available for international shipping to Indonesia. Some items are too large, heavy, or fragile to be shipped overseas. Hazardous materials, flammable items, and fresh food or produce are also ineligible. Certain high-value items like collectible coins may be restricted.
Additionally, some brands and product categories are not covered by Amazon‘s international shipping, such as:
- Kindle E-readers and Fire Tablets
- Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and other Grocery items
- Amazon Pharmacy Prescriptions
- Gift Cards
- Customized/Handmade Goods
- Certified Refurbished Products
- Textbooks with Access Codes
- Heavy/Bulky Items over 20 lbs
But for the majority of physical products sold on Amazon US, you should have the option to get them delivered to Indonesia. Amazon makes it easy to check whether an individual item can be shipped internationally. Simply look for the "International Shipping" section on any product detail page. If you see a note that says "This item ships to Indonesia", then you‘re good to go and can add it to your cart.
How Much Does Amazon Charge for Shipping to Indonesia? How Long Will it Take to Arrive?
The cost of shipping an Amazon order from the US to Indonesia depends primarily on 3 factors:
- The weight and dimensions of the item(s)
- The total value of the order
- The shipping speed you select
Based on those variables, here are the estimated shipping & handling fees you can expect to pay for Amazon US orders delivered to Indonesia:
| Shipping Method | Starting Price Per Item | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard International Shipping | $6.99 | 8-14 business days |
| Expedited International Shipping | $29.99 | 5-10 business days |
| Priority International Shipping | $39.99 | 3-7 business days |
So as a baseline, you‘ll pay $6.99 per item to have most products shipped to Indonesia via standard international shipping, which usually takes about 2 weeks from the time of order. Rush shipping is available for an added cost and faster turnaround time.
Keep in mind those shipping rates are just a starting point. The fees may increase for larger, heavier, or more valuable items. Some orders over $2000 may have an additional shipping surcharge. To see the final shipping cost for your specific order, you‘ll need to add the items to your cart and begin the Amazon checkout process. On the "Choose your shipping options" page, you can select Indonesia as the shipping destination and see a breakdown of the shipping fees based on the speed you select.
You‘ll notice that Amazon US‘s standard fast shipping benefits for Prime subscribers do not apply to Indonesia. Services like Prime FREE One-Day, FREE Same-Day, or 2-hour delivery are not supported for international locations. All Indonesian Amazon orders are subject to the standard, expedited, or priority international shipping rates and timelines, even if you have a valid Amazon Prime membership.
Of course, the shipping estimates provided by Amazon at checkout are not always guaranteed. Your actual delivery date may vary based on product availability, order processing time, and customs clearance. On occasion, packages get stuck in customs which can add days or even weeks to the delivery time.
Based on our research though, most Amazon orders shipped to major Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Denpasar (Bali), and Makassar arrive within 7-21 days from the order date.
What Import Duties and Taxes Do Indonesian Shoppers Have to Pay?
In addition to the product price and Amazon‘s international shipping fees, your order may also be subject to import fees like customs duties and taxes when it arrives in Indonesia. These charges will be calculated and levied by the Indonesian customs agency (Direktorat Jenderal Bea dan Cukai), not Amazon.
The amount of import duties owed is based on the Harmonized Tariff System (HS) code of your product and its declared value. You can look up the basic customs duty rates for Indonesia in the Indonesian Economic Information Database. Different products are assigned different import duty rates ranging from 0% to over 150%.
On top of any customs duties owed, all imported goods arriving in Indonesia by air freight are subject to the following taxes and fees:
- 10% Value-Added Tax (Pajak Pertambahan Nilai or PPN) assessed on the Cost + Insurance + Freight (CIF) value
- 7.5% Income Tax (PPh Pasal 22) on the CIF value + duty amount
- 2.5% Article 22 income tax (for some goods)
Here‘s an example calculation of the taxes and duties that would be owed on a $500 USD item with a 5% customs duty rate shipped to Indonesia via air freight:
CIF Value = $500
Customs Duty = $500 * 5% = $25
PPN Tax = ($500 + $25) * 10% = $52.50
PPh Tax = ($500 + $25) * 7.5% = $39.38
Total import taxes and duties = $25 + $52.50 + $39.38 = $116.88 USD
Note that Indonesia does offer a duty and tax exemption for items imported by air with a value of less than USD $3 per shipment. Packages valued between $3-$100 are eligible for informal clearance and only the PPN and PPh taxes would apply, but no customs duty. The $100 threshold amount was recently lowered from $1500 in 2022 as part of an effort to equalize tax collection on e-commerce purchases.
Luckily for Amazon shoppers, there‘s no need to calculate all of these complex fees yourself at checkout. For orders where Amazon determines that import fees are likely to apply, they will provide an Import Fees Deposit amount that you can pre-pay along with your product and shipping total.
This deposit is just an estimate of the duties and taxes that will likely be assessed on your package when it reaches Indonesia. It allows your goods to be cleared through customs more efficiently and prevents unexpected charges upon delivery. If the actual import fees end up being less than the deposit amount, Amazon will automatically refund you the difference. In the unlikely event that customs charges more than the original deposit, you would have to pay the remainder to the carrier or government agency before the package can be released to you.
What is Amazon‘s Return Policy for Purchases Sent to Indonesia?
The same international returns policy that Amazon provides for overseas orders in other countries also applies to Indonesia. Most items shipped and sold by Amazon.com can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, as long as the item is new, unopened, and in its original packaging.
Some product categories have different policies or are not eligible for international returns, including:
- Kindles more than 14 days after delivery
- Downloadable software products
- Prepaid game cards (World of Warcraft, Xbox 360 Live, etc.)
- Prepaid phone cards
- Gift cards
- Customized items or anything made-to-order
- Hazardous materials
- Items shipped from non-Amazon sellers
For Indonesian orders, you‘ll have to use Amazon‘s Online Returns Center to process your return, repackage the item securely, and arrange for international return shipping at your own expense.
To make the return process easier, Amazon has partnered with DHL Express for pick-up service on most returns originating in Indonesia. You can schedule a return pick-up with DHL online and they‘ll come to your location to retrieve the package and send it back to Amazon‘s US fulfillment centers. The return shipping fee will be deducted from your final refund amount.
Expert Tips for Indonesian Shoppers on Amazon
Based on our experience, here are some pro tips to get the most out of your Amazon orders to Indonesia:
-
Always check the individual product page and look for "This item ships to Indonesia" before adding something to your cart and beginning checkout. Not all items will be eligible for international delivery.
-
Amazon offers over 60 different currencies to display prices in, but Indonesian Rupiah is not one of the options. It‘s best to shop in USD on the US site and let your credit card provider convert the total to IDR.
-
Provide a local Indonesian mobile number during checkout and on your Amazon account. If there are issues with customs clearance or the courier needs to contact you about the delivery, it will be much easier if they have a valid local phone number to call.
-
Double check that your Indonesian shipping address includes a valid post code and all the necessary details and recipient info. Incorrect or incomplete shipping details can lead to delays or failed deliveries.
-
Comparison shop to calculate the final landed cost of the item you want from Amazon US vs other international sites that deliver to Indonesia like eBay, AliExpress, or Shopee. Don‘t forget to factor in shipping, duties, and taxes – not just the product price.
-
Buying in bulk or bundling multiple items into a single shipment can help spread out the international shipping fees and make them more economical on a per-item basis than placing lots of small one-off orders.
-
Consider shipping speeds and total costs when choosing a courier. Sometimes paying slightly more for expedited international shipping can be worth it to get your items sooner and reduce the risk of packages getting held up.
If you follow these tips and keep the aforementioned details about import duties and shipping times in mind, shopping on Amazon from Indonesia is a great way to access a broader selection of products at low prices.
The Future of Amazon in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
It‘s clear that Amazon sees significant potential in the Indonesian e-commerce market. Although Amazon‘s main US site remains the primary way for Indonesian consumers to purchase its products for now, the Seattle tech giant has been steadily laying the groundwork for a broader expansion into Southeast Asia.
In 2017, Amazon entered the region with the launch of Amazon.sg in Singapore. It has since built a 100,000 square foot fulfillment center in Singapore and offers over 20 million products on its localized site. Indonesian shoppers can also purchase products from the Singapore site, which offers slightly lower-cost standard shipping options for many items compared to the US one.
Industry insiders believe it‘s only a matter of time before Amazon sets up a dedicated e-commerce presence in Indonesia, likely through a major acquisition of a local player. The Indonesian e-commerce market is currently a three-way battle between Tokopedia, Bukalapak, and Lazada – which are all partially owned by giants like Alibaba, GoTo, and Softbank. By acquiring one of these market leaders, Amazon could accelerate its entry into Indonesia and avoid some of the regulatory and logistics challenges of building a local presence from scratch.
For now, Indonesian consumers should be glad that Amazon‘s US site makes it relatively simple to get millions of authentic, high-quality products delivered right to their doorsteps. The estimated shipping times of a week or two are reasonable considering the distance between the countries. And while some import duties and taxes are to be expected, they are generally not exorbitant enough to cancel out the benefits of accessing Amazon‘s low prices and wide global selection. If you‘re willing to pay a small premium for quality and peace of mind compared to local Indonesian marketplaces or other international sites, then Amazon US is a compelling way to online shop.
