Where to add your gift card balance
Amazon stores gift card balances in your account under a section called "Gift Cards." Once you add a card there, the balance sits in your account and Amazon deducts from it automatically when you buy something — you do not have to enter the code again for each purchase.
You can add a gift card on Amazon.com, in the Amazon mobile app, or through the Alexa app if you have an Echo device. The process is the same on all three: you enter a code, and the balance appears in your account within seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card codes are 14 or 16 characters long and usually printed on the back of physical cards or sent by email for digital cards.
- You add the code through your account settings under "Gift Cards," and the balance shows up when ready in your account.
- Once added, the balance stays in your account and Amazon automatically uses it for purchases until it runs out.
- If you lose or damage a physical card before redeeming it, contact Amazon customer service with your receipt and they can often recover the balance.
- Gift card balances do not expire, but the terms of service can change, so do not leave money sitting indefinitely.
How to add a gift card on Amazon.com
Start by going to Amazon.com and signing into your account. In the top right corner, click the account menu (it shows your name or "Account & Lists") and scroll down to find "Gift Cards." Click that option.
On the Gift Cards page, you will see a button that says "Redeem a Gift Card." Click it. A text box will appear asking for your code. Type or paste the 14 or 16-character code from your card — it is usually on the back of a physical card or in the email if you received a digital card. Do not include spaces or dashes; Amazon will ignore them anyway. Click "explore to Your Balance" and the money will appear in your account when ready.
Your gift card balance now shows at the top of the Gift Cards page. When you check out on any purchase, Amazon will automatically use this balance first before charging any other payment method.
How to add a gift card in the Amazon mobile app
Open the Amazon app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap "Account" and then scroll down to find "Gift Cards." Tap that option.
You will see a button labeled "Redeem a Gift Card" or sometimes "Redeem." Tap it, and a text box will open. Enter your code the same way you would on the website — just the characters, no spaces. Tap "explore" or "Redeem," and your balance will show up in the app within a few seconds.
What to do if your code does not work
If you enter a code and Amazon says it is invalid, check three things first. Make sure you typed the code exactly as it appears — some cards use the letter O and the number 0, or the letter I and the number 1, and mixing them up is the most common mistake. If the code came in an email, copy and paste it instead of typing it by hand.
If the code is correct and still does not work, the card may have already been redeemed. Physical cards can be redeemed by anyone who has them, so if you bought a used card or received one secondhand, someone else may have already added it to their account. Contact Amazon customer service with your receipt if you bought the card yourself — they can sometimes recover the balance if the card was redeemed fraudulently.
Digital gift cards sent by email can take a few minutes to arrive, especially if they came from a third-party seller. Wait 15 minutes and check your email again, including your spam folder. If it still has not arrived after an hour, contact the sender or the retailer you bought it from.
How your gift card balance works at checkout
When you place an order, Amazon shows your gift card balance at checkout. If your balance is enough to cover the entire order, Amazon deducts the full amount from your gift card and charges nothing to your other payment methods. If your balance is less than the order total, Amazon uses all of your gift card balance first and then charges the remaining amount to your default credit card or debit card.
You cannot split a payment between multiple gift cards or choose to use only part of your balance. Amazon will always use the full balance available before moving to another payment method. If you want to save your gift card balance for a specific purchase, you can add a different payment method as your default before checking out.
What happens if you lose the physical card before redeeming it
If you have the receipt showing you bought the card, Amazon customer service can help you recover the balance. Contact them through your account, explain that you lost the card before redeeming it, and provide your receipt. They will ask for the last four digits of the card if you remember them, but the receipt is what matters — it proves you bought it.
If you do not have a receipt and cannot remember any digits from the card, Amazon cannot recover the balance. This is why it is a good idea to redeem gift cards as soon as you receive them, even if you do not plan to spend the money right away. Once the balance is in your account, it is tied to your login and cannot be lost.
Gift card balance expiration and account changes
Amazon gift card balances do not expire. Once you add money to your account, it stays there indefinitely unless you spend it or Amazon closes your account for violating their terms of service. However, Amazon's terms can change, and they have the right to modify how gift cards work in the future. For that reason, do not treat your gift card balance as a long-term savings account — use it within a reasonable time frame.
If your account is closed or suspended, you lose access to any gift card balance in that account. If you think your account might be at risk, redeem the gift card to a different account if possible, or contact customer service to understand the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a gift card to buy another gift card?
Yes. You can use your gift card balance to purchase Amazon gift cards for other people. The balance will be deducted just like any other purchase, and the new gift card code will be sent to the recipient by email or printed for you to give them in person.
What if I received a gift card code but it says it has already been redeemed?
The code was redeemed by someone else before you received it. If you bought the card from a retailer, contact that retailer's customer service with your receipt — they may issue a replacement. If someone gave it to you as a gift, ask them where they bought it and have them contact the seller.
Can I transfer my gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Once you redeem a gift card code into your account, the balance is locked to that account and cannot be moved or transferred. The only way to give money to someone else is to buy them a new gift card code.
Do I need to add a payment method if I have a gift card balance?
You do not need one to make a purchase if your gift card balance covers the full amount. However, Amazon recommends keeping a backup payment method on file in case your balance runs out or you want to buy something that costs more than your balance.
What if my gift card code is partially visible or damaged?
If you cannot read the full code, you cannot redeem it yourself. Contact Amazon customer service with your receipt and explain that the code is damaged. They can sometimes help if you can prove you bought the card, but if you cannot provide a receipt, recovery is unlikely.