How to check your Amazon gift card balance

You can see your Amazon gift card balance in your account at any time. Sign into your Amazon account, go to Your Account, then select Gift cards. Your total balance appears at the top of the page. This balance is the sum of all gift cards you have added to your account, whether you bought them yourself or received them from someone else.

If you have not yet added the gift card to your account, you can check the balance on the back of the physical card or on the email receipt if it was sent digitally. Physical cards have a 16-digit code; digital cards come with a claim code. You will need this code to add the balance to your account.

The balance does not expire as long as your Amazon account remains active. If your account is closed for a long period or flagged for suspicious activity, Amazon may freeze the balance, but the funds themselves do not disappear on a schedule.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Amazon gift card balance shows in your account under Your Account > Gift cards and covers all cards linked to that account.
  • You can spend the balance on almost anything sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon, but not on third-party marketplace sellers who do not accept gift cards.
  • The balance applies automatically at checkout and cannot be split across multiple transactions or transferred to another person's account.
  • If you lose access to your account, you will need to recover it through Amazon's account recovery process to regain access to the balance.
  • Amazon does not issue refunds to a gift card balance; refunds go back to the original payment method used to purchase the item.

What you can and cannot buy with Amazon gift card balance

Amazon gift card balance works on most items sold directly by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon (meaning Amazon handles the shipping and returns). This includes books, electronics, clothing, household goods, and digital content like Kindle books and Prime Video rentals.

You cannot use gift card balance to buy from third-party marketplace sellers unless Amazon is the fulfiller. You also cannot use it to pay for Amazon Prime membership, AWS (Amazon Web Services) charges, or purchases made through Amazon Business accounts. Some digital subscriptions and services, such as certain apps or in-game purchases, may not accept gift card balance either.

If an item is sold by a third-party seller and fulfilled by that seller (not by Amazon), the checkout page will show this clearly. In that case, you will need a credit card or debit card to complete the purchase, even if you have gift card balance available.

How the balance is applied at checkout

When you place an order for an may be able to access item, Amazon automatically deducts the full amount from your gift card balance first, before charging any other payment method. You do not have to do anything to trigger this — it happens by default.

If your gift card balance does not cover the full order, Amazon will charge the remaining amount to your default payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account). You cannot split a single order across multiple payment methods or choose to pay part of it with a different card.

Once the balance is spent, it is gone. You cannot request a refund back to the gift card; refunds for returned items go to the original payment method you used to buy the item, not back to the gift card balance.

What happens if you lose your Amazon account access

If you forget your password or lose access to the email address linked to your account, you can recover it through Amazon's account recovery process. Go to the Amazon sign-in page, select Can't sign in?, and follow the prompts to verify your identity using your phone number, email, or security questions.

Once you regain access to your account, your gift card balance will still be there. Amazon ties the balance to the account, not to a specific device or browser, so you can access it from anywhere once you are signed in.

If someone else has access to your account and spends your gift card balance without permission, contact Amazon Customer Service immediately. Amazon can sometimes reverse unauthorized purchases, but the sooner you report it, the better your chances.

Transferring or sharing your balance with someone else

You cannot transfer your Amazon gift card balance to another person's account. The balance is locked to your account and cannot be moved, split, or sent to a friend or family member.

If you want to give someone money to spend on Amazon, you have two options: buy them a new Amazon gift card (physical or digital) and give them the claim code, or let them use your account to make purchases. Giving someone your account login is not secure and means they can access your personal information and order history.

The safest way to share is to purchase a separate gift card in their name and provide the code. They can then add it to their own account.

Refunds and what happens to your balance

If you return an item you bought with your gift card balance, the refund does not go back to the gift card. Instead, it goes to the original payment method — the card or account you used to buy the item. If you used only gift card balance to buy it, the refund goes back to the payment method associated with your Amazon account (usually your default credit or debit card).

This means if you spent $50 in gift card balance and $20 in credit card balance on a $70 item, and you return it, the full $70 refund goes to your credit card. Your gift card balance does not increase.

Refunds typically process within 3 to 5 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my Amazon gift card balance without signing into my account?

If the card is physical, you can check the balance on the back of the card or on Amazon's website by entering the claim code. If it is a digital card, you will need the claim code from the email. Once you add the code to your account, the balance appears in your account settings.

What if my gift card balance shows zero but I never spent it?

Contact Amazon Customer Service with the claim code or card number. If the card was purchased from an authorized retailer and never used, Amazon can investigate whether it was activated or if there was an error during the claim process.

Can I use my Amazon gift card balance to buy things for someone else?

Yes. You can purchase items and have them shipped to another address or sent as a gift. The balance will be deducted from your account, but the recipient receives the item. You cannot transfer the balance itself to them.

Does my Amazon gift card balance work on Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods?

Amazon gift card balance works on items ordered through Amazon Fresh (Amazon's grocery delivery service) if they are fulfilled by Amazon. Some Whole Foods purchases may not accept gift card balance; check at checkout to confirm.

What if I have multiple gift cards added to my account?

All balances combine into one total in your account. At checkout, Amazon deducts from the combined balance automatically. You cannot choose which individual card to spend from.