The short answer
For most shoppers in the Republic of Ireland, Amazon.ie should be the first stop. It prices in euro, items sold and dispatched by Amazon.ie ship from within the EU with no import VAT or customs to pay on arrival, Irish Prime covers it, and returns stay domestic. Amazon.co.uk is still useful when a product is not available on Amazon.ie, but because the UK is outside the EU, its orders to Ireland are imports: VAT is charged on everything, customs duty and the new EU €3 per-item charge may apply, and those costs are generally not refunded if you return the item.
A quick bit of background
For years Irish customers had no local Amazon store, so most people shopped on Amazon.co.uk and paid in sterling. Brexit changed that from January 2021, when UK parcels became imports, and the end of the €22 VAT exemption on 1 July 2021 meant VAT became due on all non-EU parcels regardless of value.
Amazon launched Amazon.ie on 18 March 2025 as its 23rd marketplace worldwide, with euro pricing, a local Prime membership and deliveries supported by its Dublin fulfilment centre and a partnership with An Post. At launch, Amazon said UK Prime members in Ireland could switch to Irish Prime and have their UK membership cancelled and refunded.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Amazon.ie | Amazon.co.uk | |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro, prices include Irish VAT | Sterling; card or Amazon currency conversion applies |
| Import VAT on arrival | None on items sold and dispatched by Amazon.ie | Yes, on all orders (often collected upfront as an Import Fees Deposit) |
| Customs duty | None on EU-dispatched items | Possible: a €3 per distinct item charge on most low-value parcels since 1 July 2026; normal duty may apply over €150 on non-UK-origin goods |
| Prime membership | Irish Prime, launch price €6.99/month or €69.90/year | UK Prime; delivery benefits are for UK addresses |
| Typical delivery | Often next-day for Prime in most areas | Usually several days; can be held for customs |
| Plug type | Mostly Irish/UK Type G (BS 1363) | UK Type G (BS 1363) |
| Consumer law | Irish and EU law (Consumer Rights Act 2022) | UK law for UK-based sellers |
| Returns | Domestic returns; no import costs to lose | Cross-border returns; import VAT, duty and fees usually not refunded |
| Range | Large and growing | Very wide, but not everything ships to Ireland |
Pricing in euro vs sterling
A sterling price on Amazon.co.uk can look cheaper once converted, but it is rarely the full cost. For Irish delivery, Amazon.co.uk generally removes UK VAT and instead adds an Import Fees Deposit at checkout to cover Irish VAT (23% on most goods) and any customs charges. Add the exchange-rate margin from your card or Amazon's currency converter, plus any delivery charge, and the gap often closes or reverses.
On Amazon.ie the price you see already includes Irish VAT, and items sold by Amazon.ie have no further import charges. The fair comparison is always the final checkout total on each site, not the headline price.
Delivery and Prime
Irish Prime launched at €6.99 a month or €69.90 a year, with a 30-day free trial; check Amazon.ie's Prime page for the current price. It includes free delivery on eligible items (including One-Day delivery), Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos. Our Prime explainer works through whether it pays for itself.
UK Prime delivery perks are designed for UK addresses, so a UK membership is not a substitute for Irish Prime if you live in the Republic. Non-Prime delivery charges and free-delivery thresholds differ between the two sites and change from time to time; check the delivery rates page on each site before you order.
Import fees on Amazon.co.uk orders
When you order from Amazon.co.uk for delivery to Ireland, Amazon usually shows an Import Fees Deposit at checkout. This is Amazon's estimate of the VAT and duty due; Amazon pays the customs charges on your behalf so the parcel is not held. If the actual charges are lower, the difference is refunded automatically. Some orders instead show fixed “Import Charges” which are not adjusted afterwards.
Third-party sellers on Amazon.co.uk who do not collect charges upfront leave the carrier to collect VAT, duty and an administration fee (reported at around €7 per parcel with An Post at the time of writing) before delivery. Our customs guide and customs calculator cover the maths in detail.
Returns and consumer rights
Buying from an EU business gives you the 14-day cooling-off period and the legal guarantee set out by the CCPC, and Irish law lets you seek a remedy for faulty goods for up to six years. Purchases from UK-based retailers fall under UK law, which ECC Ireland notes may differ from EU standards.
The practical difference shows up when you send something back. Returning an Amazon.ie order is a domestic return. Returning an Amazon.co.uk order means a cross-border parcel, and import VAT, duty and handling fees paid on the way in are generally not refunded.
Which to use when
- Use Amazon.ie for everyday purchases, anything plugged into the wall, gifts with a deadline, and anything you might want to return. Look for “Sold by Amazon.ie” in the buy box — our step-by-step guide shows how.
- Consider Amazon.co.uk when a specific product, edition or accessory is not available on Amazon.ie at all, and you have checked the final total including the Import Fees Deposit.
- Be careful with Amazon.co.uk for expensive items not made in the UK (full customs duty can apply above €150), for items you are unsure about keeping, and for third-party sellers who do not collect import charges at checkout.
- Compare like for like. Open the same product on both sites, go as far as the final checkout screen on each, and compare the euro totals.
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