How to check your Amazon.com gift card balance
You can see your Amazon gift card balance in your account at any time. Sign into your Amazon account, go to "Account & Lists," then select "Your Account." Look for "Gift cards" in the left menu and click it. Your total balance appears at the top of that page, along with a history of when each card was added and how much you spent from it.
If you have not yet redeemed the card, you can also check the balance without an account. Go to amazon.com/gc/redeem, enter the claim code from the back of the card, and the balance will display. This does not add it to your account — it just shows you what is there.
Your balance never expires once it is added to your account. Amazon stopped expiring gift card balances in 2007, so even if you do not use it for years, the money stays available.
Key Takeaways
- Your Amazon gift card balance appears in your account under "Gift cards" and is always visible once you sign in.
- You can check an unredeemed card's balance without an account by visiting amazon.com/gc/redeem and entering the claim code.
- Gift card balances do not expire after they are added to your Amazon account.
- Your balance can be used for almost anything sold on Amazon, including physical items, digital content, and subscriptions, but not for third-party seller fees or certain services.
- If your balance is wrong or you suspect fraud, contact Amazon customer service with your order history or the original card receipt.
What your Amazon gift card balance can and cannot buy
Your balance covers most things on Amazon: physical products, books, movies, music, apps, and Kindle content. It also works toward Amazon Prime membership renewals and some subscription services sold through Amazon.
Your balance cannot be used for certain purchases. You cannot use it to pay fees charged by third-party sellers (such as restocking fees), to buy gift cards themselves, or to pay for services like Amazon Prime Video subscriptions purchased outside the Amazon store. Some digital content from third-party publishers may also exclude gift card payment, though this is rare.
If you try to buy something and your gift card balance is not accepted, the item description or checkout page usually explains why. Contact Amazon customer service if you believe the restriction is an error.
What to do if your balance seems wrong
Check your transaction history first. Go to "Your Account," then "Returns, Orders & Receipts" to see every purchase and refund. Gift card balances update immediately after a purchase, so if you bought something recently, that amount should already be subtracted from your total.
Refunds can take time to appear. If you returned an item, the refund may take three to five business days to show up in your gift card balance, depending on the payment method used and your bank. If a refund was issued more than a week ago and your balance still has not changed, contact Amazon customer service with your order number.
If you believe someone else used your balance without permission, report it to Amazon immediately. Have your account login history and any suspicious orders ready. Amazon can reverse unauthorized charges and may issue a replacement balance.
Redeeming a physical or digital gift card code
A physical Amazon gift card has a claim code on the back, usually under a scratch-off panel. A digital gift card arrives by email with the code in the message. To add either one to your account, sign in and go to amazon.com/gc/redeem, paste or type the code, and click "Apply to Your Balance." The amount is added instantly and appears in your account.
You do not have to redeem a card immediately. The code itself does not expire, so you can wait weeks or months before adding it to your account. Once it is added, the balance never expires.
If the code does not work, make sure you typed it correctly — codes are case-sensitive and include hyphens. If it still fails, the card may have already been redeemed by someone else, or it may be damaged. Contact Amazon with the original receipt or the email confirmation, and they can investigate.
Using your balance across devices and accounts
Your gift card balance is tied to your Amazon account, not to a device or app. You can spend it on amazon.com using a web browser, through the Amazon mobile app, or on a Kindle or Fire tablet — as long as you are signed into the same account.
If you have multiple Amazon accounts, each one has its own separate gift card balance. A balance added to one account cannot be transferred to another. If you accidentally redeemed a card to the wrong account, contact Amazon customer service right away; they may be able to move it if you act quickly.
Your balance is also separate from any promotional credits or store credit you may have received. Promotional credits usually have their own expiration date and appear as a separate line item in your account.
Protecting your gift card code before you redeem it
If you receive a physical card, keep it in a safe place until you are ready to redeem it. Once you scratch off the code, photograph it or write it down somewhere secure. If the card is lost or stolen before you redeem it, Amazon cannot replace it — the code is the proof of ownership.
For digital gift cards sent by email, do not forward the email to others or post the code online. Anyone with the code can redeem it. If you receive a gift card email that looks suspicious — misspelled sender address, urgent language, or a link that does not go to amazon.com — it may be a phishing attempt. Do not click the link; instead, go directly to amazon.com and sign in to check your account.
Once you have redeemed the code and added the balance to your account, the code is no longer useful to anyone else. Your account login is what protects the balance after that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else?
No. Once a gift card is redeemed to your account, the balance cannot be transferred, refunded as cash, or moved to another person's account. If you want to give money to someone else, you must purchase a new gift card in their name.
What happens to my gift card balance if I close my Amazon account?
Your balance is held in your account. If you close the account, you lose access to the balance. Before closing your account, spend your remaining balance or contact Amazon customer service to discuss your options.
Does my gift card balance work with Amazon Fresh or Amazon Go?
Yes, your balance works with Amazon Fresh online orders. For Amazon Go physical stores, you must use an Amazon account and payment method at checkout, so your gift card balance can be used there as well.
Can I see a detailed breakdown of what I spent my gift card balance on?
Yes. Go to "Your Account," then "Returns, Orders & Receipts" to see every order. Each order shows the date, items, and amount charged. You can also download your order history as a file if you need records for budgeting or tax purposes.
What if I received a gift card but the code does not work?
Contact Amazon customer service with the original receipt, the email confirmation, or a photo of the card. Provide the code if you have it. Amazon can check whether the code was already used, is damaged, or has another issue, and they can issue a replacement if the card was defective.