Before 2013, buying an Amazon Kindle in Canada was a tricky affair...

Thanks to copyright issues, you had to jump through hoops, pay import taxes, and deal with multiple Amazon accounts if you wanted to buy books directly from Amazon to read.

Thankfully, today it's much simpler.

Simply head to the Amazon.ca website and pick out the model that is right for you. 

You can even buy one as gift by simply checking the "this is a gift" box on the site. Doing so tells Amazon not to tie the Kindle to your Amazon account. This means it'll be ready to set up as soon as the lucky person you're giving it to takes it out of the box.

You can find out more about Amazon's gifting policies for Kindle products on their support page.

Related Guide: Which Kindle Should I Buy? Amazon Kindle's Compared

What About Buying a Kindle in a Local Store?

Unfortunately, if you're looking for retail stores to buy a Kindle in Canada, things aren't looking so good.

There was a time when Staples, The Source, and Indigo Chapters carried these popular eReaders. Many of these are still listed on Amazon's official retail stores page.

However, it doesn't appear that any of them currently stock the devices -- many opting instead for Amazon's major competitor the Kobo series.

In our research, we called the toll-free numbers for the stores and checked their websites. None of them provided any options for local pickup that we could find.

So unless you want to check a local electronic repair shop, or happen to run across an independent seller re-selling them, it appears that Amazon is your only official option for where to buy a Kindle in Canada. 

What About Buying eBooks?

The simplest way to get books on your Kindle is to buy them from Amazon's store. While you can search and buy directly on the Kindle, the e-Reader interface isn't the snappiest thing in the world.

But you can also use your PC, phone, or virtually anything with a web browser to order books. Just find the book, choose your Kindle in the "Deliver to:" section of the page, and buy it.

If you're in Wi-Fi range -- or have a Kindle with Whispersync -- it will automatically sync to your e-reader or tablet within a few minutes. If it doesn't show up, just choosing sync from the menu should find it.

Can I give Kindle e-books as gifts?

Unfortunately, while you can gift e-books on the US Amazon site, the feature isn't available in Canada.

Purchasing a gift card is the closest option to gift books available to Canadian Kindle users. Since you can use Amazon gift cards to buy books for Kindle, just order one online or stop by just about any major retailer and grab a card off the rack. 

If you're not sure where to buy Kindle gift cards, Amazon lists the following stores:

  • Loblaws
  • T&T Supermarket
  • Sobeys
  • Safeway

There is no need for a special Kindle gift card or anything like that -- most any Amazon branded gift card will do.

Once you give someone the card, they can then use it to purchase the books that sound interesting to them. 

It's a bit less personal, but at least you don't have to worry about picking out the wrong book.

Conclusion

Easy access to one of the largest e-book stores on the planet and reliable build quality have make the Kindle series one of the most popular e-readers in Canada.

And thanks to updates to Amazon's store, buying one is a straight-forward affair -- so long as you don't mind buying online.

While you can gift a Kindle in Canada, you cannot gift books, so be sure to pick up a gift card if you're planning on giving a Kindle as a gift.


P.S. Unless access to the Amazon store's vast trove of media is the most important factor to you, there are a number of alternative options you might find at a local retailer instead of having to buy online. Our e-reader reviews and tablet reviews cover the best releases from a range of manufacturers to help you find the ideal option for your reading habits, budget, and buying preferences.