Amazon Relocation Package and Policy (2026)
The short answer: Amazon offers a lump-sum relocation package to qualifying new hires and transfers. This package is tax-assisted, and employees have reported figures ranging from about $7,000 to $20,000. The best way to stretch whatever you receive is to compare moving quotes before you spend with a free moving cost calculator.
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Here’s a snapshot of Amazon’s lump-sum relocation package:
| Package type | Lump-sum cash allowance (tax-assisted), coordinated through Graebel |
|---|---|
| Lump-sum amount | $7,000–$20,000 (Reported by employees on Blind and Reddit) |
| Tax gross-up | Yes, the lump sum is tax-assisted; Amazon covers taxes on the cash payment |
| What the lump sum covers | Anything you need, no receipts required: lease cancellation, temporary housing, home-finding trip, household goods shipment, vehicle shipment, pet travel |
| Additional travel benefits | One-way economy flights (or mileage reimbursement if driving) for employee + family; up to 2 hotel nights; excess baggage up to $300/person |
| Mover choice | You choose; CitySwitcher marketplace available |
| Repayment clause | Yes; prorated repayment required if you leave before 2 years |
| Managed by | Graebel (Amazon’s relocation management partner) |
| Payment timing | Via direct deposit, as early as 60 days before your start date |
| Sources | Program mechanics and coverage rules from the Amazon/Graebel “Understanding Your Relocation Benefits” policy document; dollar amounts reported by employees on Blind and Reddit |
How Amazon’s relocation works
After you accept an offer, Amazon connects you with Graebel, the relocation management company that handles all Amazon relocations. You’ll be assigned a personal relocation consultant and you’ll complete the required steps to unlock your relocation benefits. The details below on how the program works and what it covers come from Amazon’s Graebel relocation policy documentation. Amazon doesn’t publish the actual lump-sum dollar figures, so those amounts come from employee reports.
Amazon’s standard relocation policy for most new hires and transfers is a lump-sum cash allowance. This is a single deposit paid directly into your bank account and available as early as 60 days before your start date. There are no receipts required and no restrictions on how you spend it. Whether you need lease cancellation, a reliable moving company, temporary housing, a home-finding trip, vehicle shipping, or pet travel expenses, it’s up to you.
On top of the lump sum, Amazon also covers your final move travel separately. This includes economy airfare for your entire immediate family (or mileage and hotels if you drive), plus reimbursements for excess baggage and airport transportation. These travel reimbursements are submitted through the Graebel Expense Center and are separate from your lump-sum cash allowance. That said, employees on Reddit report some variation in how this works. A few indicated their lump sum was meant to be all-in, so confirm exactly what stacks on top of your lump sum with your Graebel consultant before you book anything.
Amazon is consolidating employees around its main hubs, so most relocations head to Seattle, Arlington, Virginia (HQ2), or Washington, D.C., with satellite offices in cities like New York, Boston, Dallas, and Austin.
Explore our cost breakdowns and neighborhood guides for wherever you’re headed. We have detailed information on popular moving routes to Seattle, a guide to the best movers in Arlington, and a look at how much it costs to move to Washington, DC.
Amazon’s 2025 return-to-hub mandate: In June 2025, Amazon began directing some corporate employees to relocate closer to their teams, as reported by Bloomberg via Transport Topics. Affected employees have reported short timelines, making it important to price your relocation early.
Pro tip: The lump sum is yours to keep, so every dollar you overpay a mover is a dollar out of your pocket. To get moving quotes early, ideally before you accept the offer, use moveBuddha’s free moving cost calculator.
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What Amazon’s lump sum covers
The lump-sum cash allowance is yours to use as you see fit. According to Amazon’s relocation policy document, examples of eligible uses include:
- Lease cancellation expenses: If you’re breaking a lease to move, the lump sum can cover early termination fees
- Temporary housing: Corporate apartments, extended-stay hotels, or short-term rentals while you find a permanent place to live in your new city
- Home-finding trip: Flights, hotel stays, and other costs to visit your destination city and look for housing before your start date
- Shipment of household goods and vehicles: Professional movers, portable storage containers, or vehicle shipping services
- Pet-related travel expenses: Airline pet fees, carrier costs, vet certificates, and anything else related to moving your pets
You don’t submit receipts for lump-sum spending. Whatever you don’t spend on moving is yours to keep.
Is the lump sum taxed?
Amazon’s lump sum is a tax-assisted payment. That means Amazon covers the taxes on the cash amount on your behalf, so you receive close to the full stated amount rather than having a significant portion withheld. This is a meaningful benefit, since without a gross-up, employees can lose 30–40% of their stipend to federal and state taxes before they ever see it. Amazon’s policy avoids that problem for the lump sum.
Graebel will also provide you with a relocation tax report (RTR) at year-end that outlines the expenses and taxes paid by Amazon. Keep this alongside your other tax documents from Amazon when you file.
Does Amazon offer a managed move option?
Amazon’s standard policy, as outlined in its Graebel documentation, is a lump-sum program. However, employees on Blind, particularly at senior levels (L6 and above), have reported being offered a fully managed move option in addition to or instead of the lump sum. Under this arrangement, Graebel coordinates professional movers, corporate housing, a house-hunting trip, and other services directly, without the employee paying out of pocket.
Employees at L6 who took the managed route have reported, on forums like Blind, total package values of $45,000–$65,000, including 30–90 days of corporate housing. These figures are employee-reported and not confirmed by Amazon. Whether this option is available to you depends on your level and role. Ask your recruiter or Graebel consultant directly rather than assuming the lump sum is the only path.
Final move travel reimbursements
In addition to your lump sum, Amazon reimburses your actual travel costs for the final move. These are separate from the lump sum and submitted through the Graebel Expense Center. The specifics depend on whether you fly or drive.
Employees on Reddit describe two ways to handle flights. You can book through Graebel’s travel partner, or book your own and submit for reimbursement. Several report that hotels and mileage were reimbursed without issue, while at least one noted a car rental that was not covered, consistent with the exclusions below. Read your relocation PDF and confirm with your consultant before booking.
If you fly
Amazon covers a one-way, one-time economy class ticket for you, your spouse or partner, and dependent children under 26. Family members don’t all have to travel on the same day. The following are also reimbursable:
- Excess baggage: Up to $300 per person, including baggage cart, porter fees, and baggage wrapping
- Meals: Reasonable meal costs on the day of travel (not during hotel stays)
- Airport transportation: Taxi or Uber/Lyft to and from the airport
- Hotel: Up to two nights at a 3-star hotel (Courtyard by Marriott level) at your origin or destination in connection with your travel
Flight upgrades, seat selection fees, rental cars, airline miles, and pet expenses are not reimbursable on the flight path. All receipts over $25 must be submitted through the Expense Center.
If you drive
If you drive to your new location, Amazon reimburses:
- Mileage: At the applicable IRS business rate for personal vehicles, calculated on the most direct route
- Rental car: The base daily rate of a mid-size sedan per 350 miles driven, plus collision damage waiver (CDW) and loss damage waiver (LDW)
- Fuel: When driving a rental car (not reimbursable for personal vehicles)
- Hotels: One night per every 350 miles along the most direct route, plus up to two nights at your origin or destination when directly related to your travel dates
- Tolls: Reimbursable for the most direct route
- Meals: Reasonable costs on travel days only
Moving truck rental costs are not reimbursable on the drive path. Only fuel is covered if you drive a moving truck. Extra nights due to weather or vehicle breakdowns are also not covered. If you’re moving cross-country, flying is often the simpler option in terms of the travel reimbursement.
Amazon’s relocation repayment clause
Amazon’s relocation agreement includes a two-year repayment clause. If you leave the company before your second work anniversary, you owe back a prorated portion of your relocation benefit.
The exact calculation is in your offer letter. Amazon and Graebel will have you acknowledge this clause before your move is processed. Employees report that Amazon enforces it, typically giving 30 days from separation to repay. Some employees report success with monthly installment agreements.
This clause shapes how people spend the money. One employee on Reddit described being hesitant to spend a $7,000 lump sum at all, noting that because it was prorated, leaving within the first year would mean paying about $3,500 back. If there’s any chance you’ll move on before the two years are up, factor that potential repayment into how much of the lump sum you actually commit.
Pro tip: If you’re moving to a new job after Amazon and still owe a repayment, ask your new employer to cover it. This is a common ask in tech and finance hiring.
How to maximize your Amazon relocation package
The lump sum is yours the moment it hits your account. How you spend it determines whether you come out ahead or end up covering extra costs out of pocket. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Get moving quotes before you commit to a number
The lump sum amount is fixed. If movers cost more than you budgeted, the difference comes out of your pocket. Get at least three quotes for your specific route before you decide how to allocate the rest of your lump sum to things like temporary housing, a home-finding trip, or other expenses. moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator lets you compare quotes from top long-distance moving companies for free.
Use the travel reimbursements
Your final move travel (flights, hotels, meals on travel days) is reimbursed on top of your lump sum through the Expense Center. Don’t spend lump-sum money on these items. Submit your flight and hotel receipts through Graebel and keep that cash for your actual moving costs.
Ask about the managed move option
If you’re at L6 or above, ask your recruiter directly whether a managed move is available. Employees report that the managed move’s value, particularly the corporate housing, often far exceeds the lump sum for cross-country relocations. It doesn’t hurt to ask before you sign.
Keep your receipts for anything over $25
You don’t need receipts for lump-sum spending. But for travel reimbursements, Amazon requires itemized receipts for any expense over $25. Keep documentation for flights, hotels, tolls, meals, and baggage fees the day you travel.
Know your repayment number before you move
Calculate your worst-case repayment amount before you spend a dollar of the lump sum. If there’s any chance you’ll leave within two years, knowing what you’d owe back changes the math on whether to take the package at all, or whether to negotiate a shorter repayment window with HR upfront.
Pros and cons of Amazon’s relocation package
- Lump sum is tax-assisted, so you keep close to the full amount
- No receipts required for lump-sum spending
- Travel reimbursements are typically separate from the lump sum
- Family travel covered for your spouse, partner, and dependent children up to 26
- Funds available up to 60 days before your start date
- Lump-sum amount not publicly disclosed, so it’s hard to benchmark
- Two-year repayment clause actively enforced
- Managed move availability varies and is not guaranteed
- Mover selection and logistics fall entirely on you with the lump sum
- Pet expenses not specifically covered under travel reimbursements (covered under your lump sum)
Why compare movers through moveBuddha?
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
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FAQ
Does Amazon pay for relocation?
Yes. Amazon offers a lump-sum relocation package to qualifying new hires and transfers, coordinated through its relocation management partner Graebel. The lump sum is deposited directly into your bank account and can be spent however you choose on moving expenses. Additional reimbursements for final move travel are provided on top of the lump sum.
How much is Amazon’s relocation package?
Amazon does not publicly disclose lump-sum amounts. Based on employee reports on Blind and Reddit, domestic lump-sum payments have typically ranged from about $7,000 to $20,000. Amazon’s lump sum is a tax-assisted payment, meaning Amazon covers the taxes on the cash amount on your behalf, so the figure you receive is closer to the full stated amount. Employees who choose a managed move option (where available) have reported total package values of $45,000 or more at senior levels.
Can I choose my own mover with Amazon’s relocation package?
Yes, if you take the lump sum, you can hire any mover you choose. Amazon also provides access to CitySwitcher, Graebel’s moving resource marketplace, which you can use to compare service providers at no obligation. There is no requirement to use CitySwitcher vendors.
Is Amazon’s lump-sum relocation taxable?
Amazon’s lump-sum relocation payment is tax-assisted, meaning Amazon pays the taxes on the lump sum amount on your behalf. You receive the full stated amount without a large tax withholding coming out of it. However, relocation benefits are still reported as income, so confirm the specific tax treatment with your Graebel consultant or HR contact.
Does Amazon have a relocation repayment clause?
Yes. If you leave Amazon before your second work anniversary, you must repay a prorated portion of your relocation benefit. The exact repayment calculation is spelled out in your offer letter. Amazon enforces this clause, and employees report being given 30 days from their separation date to pay, with payment plans sometimes negotiable.
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