You can lend most Kindle books for 14 days, but only once per book
Amazon lets you lend a Kindle book to another person for 14 days using the Lending feature. The person you lend to does not need to own a Kindle device — they can read it on any device with the free Kindle app, including phones, tablets, and computers. Once the 14-day loan period ends, the book returns to your library automatically.
Not every book can be lent. Publishers decide whether to allow lending on each title. If lending is available, you will see a "Lend this book" button in your Kindle library. If you do not see that button, the publisher has disabled lending for that book.
You can only lend each book once. After someone borrows it from you, you cannot lend that same copy to anyone else until they return it or the 14 days pass. While someone else is borrowing your book, you cannot read it yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Lending is available only if the publisher allows it — you will see a "Lend this book" button in your library if the option is turned on.
- The person you lend to has 14 days to read the book, and it returns to your library automatically after that time.
- You can lend each book only once, and you cannot read it while someone else is borrowing it.
- The borrower can read on any device with the Kindle app — they do not need to own a Kindle device.
- You send the loan through Amazon's system by entering the recipient's email address or name associated with their Amazon account.
How to send a book to someone through your Kindle library
Open your Kindle library on Amazon.com and find the book you want to lend. Hover over the book cover and click the three dots menu that appears. Select "Lend this book" from the dropdown menu.
A window will open asking for the recipient's information. You can enter either their email address or the name associated with their Amazon account. Type in their details and click "Send." Amazon will send them a message with instructions on how to accept the loan.
The recipient will receive an email from Amazon with a link to accept the loan. They click that link, and the book appears in their Kindle library. They have 14 days from the moment they accept the loan to read it.
What happens when the loan period ends
After 14 days, the book automatically returns to your library. You do not have to do anything — Amazon handles the return without requiring action from either you or the borrower. The book disappears from their library and reappears in yours.
If the borrower finishes reading before the 14 days are up, they can return it early by going to their Kindle library, finding the borrowed book, and clicking "Return this book." Once they return it, the book comes back to your library when ready instead of waiting for the timer to expire.
Lending through a Kindle device instead of online
If you read on a Kindle device like a Paperwhite or Oasis, you can also lend books directly from the device. Open your library, find the book, and press and hold it until a menu appears. Select "Lend this book" and enter the recipient's email address or Amazon account name.
The process works the same way as lending through Amazon.com — the recipient gets an email with instructions, accepts the loan, and has 14 days to read. The only difference is where you start the process.
Books you cannot lend and why
Publishers control whether lending is available for each book. Some authors and publishers allow lending to encourage sharing, while others disable it to protect their sales. You have no control over this setting — it is set by whoever published the book.
If you try to lend a book and do not see the "Lend this book" button, that publisher has turned off lending for that title. You cannot work around this restriction. The same book might be lendable from a different publisher if multiple editions exist.
Borrowing a book someone lends to you
When someone lends you a book, you will receive an email from Amazon with the subject line "You've been sent a Kindle book." The email contains a link to accept the loan. Click that link and sign into your Amazon account if prompted.
After you accept, the book appears in your Kindle library with a label showing when it will be returned. You can read it on any device where you have the Kindle app installed — your phone, tablet, computer, or a Kindle device. The book works exactly like any other Kindle book while you have it.
Lending limits and restrictions to know
You can only lend a book once per copy. If you own multiple copies of the same book (which is rare but possible), you could lend each copy separately, but most people own just one. After someone returns a book or the 14 days expire, you can lend that same copy to a different person.
You cannot lend a book to someone who does not have an Amazon account. The recipient needs to be able to receive and accept the loan through their Amazon account, so they must have one set up before you send the loan.
Lending is not the same as sharing your account. If you share your Amazon account password with someone, they can read all your books anytime, but that violates Amazon's terms of service. Lending is the official way to share individual books without giving someone access to your entire library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lend a book to someone who does not have a Kindle device?
Yes. The borrower can read on their phone, tablet, or computer using the free Kindle app. They do not need to own any Kindle hardware. They do need an Amazon account to accept the loan.
What happens if the person I lend to does not accept the loan?
The loan invitation stays in their email. If they do not accept within a certain period, the invitation expires and the book returns to your library. You can then lend it to someone else or keep it for yourself.
Can I get my book back before 14 days if I need to read it?
Only if the borrower returns it early. You cannot force a return, but you can ask them to return it through their Kindle library. Once they click "Return this book," it comes back to you when ready.
If I lend a book, does the person who borrows it get to keep it after 14 days?
No. The book automatically returns to your library after 14 days. The borrower cannot extend the loan or keep it longer. If they want to read it again, you would need to lend it to them a second time.
Can I lend a book I borrowed from someone else?
No. You can only lend books that you own. If you are borrowing a book from another person, you cannot lend it to a third person. The lending feature only works with books in your permanent library.