Steam gift cards are sold at retail stores, online retailers, and directly from Steam
You can buy a Steam gift card at most places that sell video game products: Best Buy, Target, Walmart, GameStop, and Amazon all stock them in physical or digital form. You can also buy them directly from Steam's website without leaving your computer. Physical cards come in $20, $50, and $100 denominations at most retailers. Digital cards — sent by email — are available in any amount from $5 to $2,000 directly from Steam.
The main difference is delivery speed and where you shop. A physical card takes a trip to the store but works when ready once you scratch off the code. A digital card arrives in your email within minutes but only if you buy it from Steam itself or a retailer that sends codes electronically. If you buy a digital card from a third-party seller on Amazon or eBay, you depend on that seller to send you the code, which adds a delay and a small fraud risk.
Key Takeaways
- Physical Steam gift cards are available at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, GameStop, and most grocery stores with game sections, in $20, $50, and $100 amounts.
- Digital Steam gift cards can be bought directly from Steam in any amount from $5 to $2,000 and arrive by email within minutes.
- Buying from the official Steam store or major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy is safer than buying from third-party resellers, which carry a higher risk of invalid or stolen codes.
- Steam gift cards have no expiration date and can be used to buy any game, DLC, or in-game item on the Steam platform.
Physical cards at major retailers
Best Buy, Target, and Walmart carry Steam gift cards in their video game sections, both in-store and online. Best Buy stocks them in $20, $50, and $100 denominations. Target and Walmart do the same. GameStop also carries them, though fewer locations remain open than in previous years — check their website to confirm your nearest store has them in stock before you go.
Grocery stores and drugstores sometimes stock them too. Safeway, Kroger, and CVS often have a small game card section near the checkout or in the electronics aisle. Call ahead if you are not sure, because smaller locations may not carry them. When you buy a physical card, you scratch off a silver panel to reveal a 16-character code, then enter that code into your Steam account to add the balance. The card itself has no value once you have used the code.
Digital cards from Steam directly
The fastest way to get a Steam gift card is to buy one directly from Steam's website. Log into your Steam account, go to the "Gift Cards" section under Account, and choose the amount you want — anywhere from $5 to $2,000. You can send it to your own email address or to someone else's. Steam sends the code within minutes, and you can redeem it when ready.
Buying directly from Steam also means there is no middleman and no risk of a code being invalid or already used. You pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. The code is tied to your Steam account the moment you redeem it, so it cannot be stolen or resold. This is the safest route if you are buying for yourself.
Digital cards from other online retailers
Amazon, Best Buy, and other major retailers sell digital Steam gift cards that are delivered by email. These are legitimate and usually arrive within an hour. The advantage is that you may have a gift card balance at one of these retailers already, or you may earn rewards points on the purchase. Best Buy's rewards program, for example, gives you points on gift card purchases that you can use toward future buys.
The risk with third-party sellers on Amazon or eBay is higher. Some sellers buy cards in bulk at a discount and resell them, which is legal. Others sell codes that were obtained fraudulently or already redeemed. If you buy from a third-party seller and the code does not work, you have to contact that seller for a refund, which can take days or not happen at all. Stick to Amazon's official store or Best Buy's own listings, not marketplace sellers.
What to check before you buy
Make sure the card is for the right region. Steam gift cards sold in the United States work only in US Steam accounts. If you are buying for someone in another country, you need a card from that region. A US card sent to a UK account will not work. Check the packaging or product listing — it should say "US" or the country name clearly.
Also check the denomination. A $20 card is not the same as a 20-euro card, and prices vary by region. If you are buying for someone outside the US, confirm they need a US card or if they need one for their own country instead. Steam's website shows the price of games in your local currency, so a $20 US card may not buy the same game as a 20-euro card in Europe.
How to redeem a Steam gift card
Once you have the code, log into your Steam account on your computer or the Steam app. Go to "Account" in the top right, then select "Manage Account" and "Redeem a Product Code." Paste or type the 16-character code from your card. Steam will add the balance to your account when ready. You can then use that balance to buy any game, DLC, in-game currency, or cosmetic item available on Steam.
If you are redeeming a card someone sent you by email, copy the code from the email and paste it into the same redemption page. Do not click links in the email itself — go directly to Steam's website to redeem. This protects you from phishing emails that look like they are from Steam but are not.
Gift cards versus account funds
Once you redeem a Steam gift card, the balance becomes account funds tied to your Steam account. You cannot transfer it to another account, refund it, or convert it back to cash. You can only spend it on Steam. This is different from a physical gift card, which could theoretically be given to someone else before it is redeemed — once the code is entered, it is locked to that account forever.
Steam does not charge fees for holding a balance, and the balance does not expire. You can sit on $100 in Steam funds for years without losing it. However, if your account is banned or deleted, the balance is gone. Keep your account find with a strong password and two-factor authentication to avoid losing access to your funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Steam gift card to buy games for other people?
Yes. Once you redeem the card and have the balance in your account, you can buy a game and send it as a gift to another Steam user. You can also buy a gift card and send it directly to someone else's email address without redeeming it yourself. That person will receive the code and can redeem it into their own account.
What happens if I lose the code before I redeem it?
If you bought a physical card and lost the code, contact the retailer where you bought it with your receipt. They can sometimes issue a replacement. If you bought a digital card and lost the email, check your email spam folder or contact Steam support with proof of purchase. If you bought from a third-party seller, contact that seller first.
Are Steam gift cards ever on sale?
Steam itself does not discount gift cards. However, some retailers occasionally run promotions — Best Buy or Target might offer bonus rewards points on a gift card purchase, or a discount if you buy multiple cards. Check the retailer's website before you buy. The card's value does not change, but you may save money on the purchase itself.
Can I use a Steam gift card outside the United States?
No. A US Steam gift card only works on a US Steam account. If you are traveling or living abroad, you need a gift card from that country's Steam store. Some countries do not have official Steam gift cards available at retail, in which case buying directly from Steam's website in that region is your only option.
What if the code does not work when I try to redeem it?
First, make sure you typed it correctly — codes are case-sensitive and 16 characters long. If it still does not work, the code may be invalid, already used, or from the wrong region. Contact the retailer or seller where you bought it with proof of purchase. If you bought from Steam directly, contact Steam support. Do not buy from the same third-party seller again if the code was bad.