Add your gift card balance in three steps

To add an Amazon gift card to your account, go to amazon.com, sign in, and enter the card code on the gift card page. Amazon adds the balance to your account immediately, and you can use it for any purchase right away. The code is on the back of the physical card or in your email if you received a digital gift card.

You do not need to create a new account or link a separate payment method. The balance sits in your Amazon account and automatically applies when you check out. If you have multiple gift cards, you can add them all to the same account — the balances combine.

Key Takeaways

  • Find the gift card code on the back of a physical card or in the email for a digital card, then enter it on Amazon's gift card redemption page.
  • The balance appears in your account immediately and works for any Amazon purchase, including Prime membership renewals.
  • You can add multiple gift cards to one account, and the balances stack together.
  • If the code does not work, check for typos, spaces, or damage to the card — contact Amazon customer service with the card number if the problem continues.
  • Gift card balances do not expire, but they only work on Amazon.com in your country — a US card does not work on Amazon.co.uk, for example.

Where to find the gift card code

On a physical Amazon gift card, the code is printed on the back. It is a long string of letters and numbers, usually 14 to 16 characters. Scratch off the silver panel if there is one to reveal the code underneath. Do not lose this number — you will need it to add the card to your account.

If someone sent you a digital gift card by email, the code appears in the email itself. Amazon also sends a link you can click to go straight to the redemption page. Check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox — gift card emails sometimes get filtered.

How to redeem the code on Amazon

Step 1: Go to amazon.com and sign into your account. If you do not have an account yet, create one with your email address and a password.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Gift Cards" under the "Make Money with Us" section, or search for "redeem a gift card" in the search bar at the top.

Step 3: Click the button that says "Redeem a Gift Card" (the exact wording may vary slightly depending on your device).

Step 4: Enter the code from the back of your card or from the email. Type it exactly as it appears — spaces and capital letters matter. If you are not sure, copy and paste the code instead of typing it by hand.

Step 5: Click "Apply to Your Balance" or the equivalent button. Amazon confirms the amount and adds it to your account. You will see your new balance on the screen.

What to do if the code does not work

The most common reason a code fails is a typo. Check that you entered every letter and number correctly, including any zeros that might look like the letter O. If you copied and pasted the code, make sure you did not accidentally include a space before or after it.

If the card itself is damaged — scratched, faded, or torn — the code may be unreadable. Try cleaning the back of the card gently with a soft cloth. If you still cannot read it, contact Amazon customer service with the card number and the amount. Amazon can sometimes look up the code in their system.

Gift cards purchased from third-party sellers (not directly from Amazon) occasionally arrive with codes that do not work. If you bought the card from a retailer like Target or Walmart, contact that store first — they may replace it. If you bought it from an online marketplace, contact the seller.

Using your gift card balance at checkout

Once the balance is in your account, it appears automatically when you place an order. You do not have to do anything special. Amazon shows your gift card balance on the checkout page under "Payment Method" and applies it before charging any other payment method you have on file.

If your purchase is more than your gift card balance, Amazon charges the difference to your credit card, debit card, or other payment method. If your purchase is less than your balance, the leftover amount stays in your account for future orders.

Gift card balances work for almost everything on Amazon — books, electronics, groceries through Amazon Fresh, and Prime membership renewals. They do not work for certain things like Amazon Prime Video rentals or purchases on third-party seller sites that use their own checkout (though most third-party purchases do accept gift cards).

Gift card balance expiration and regional limits

Amazon gift card balances do not expire. You can add a card to your account and use it months or years later without losing the money. This is different from some retail gift cards that expire after a set time.

Gift cards are region-specific, meaning a card purchased in the United States only works on amazon.com. A US gift card does not work on Amazon.co.uk (UK), Amazon.ca (Canada), or any other Amazon site. If you received a card from another country, you need an account on that country's Amazon site to use it.

If you move to a different country, your existing balance stays in your original account. You can still use it if you have a payment method from that country, but you cannot transfer the balance to a new account in your new location.

Adding gift cards from different sources

Amazon gift cards come from several sources — retail stores, Amazon.com directly, corporate gifts, and promotional offers. Regardless of where the card came from, the redemption process is the same. Enter the code on the gift card page, and the balance adds to your account.

If you received a gift card as part of a promotion or reward program (like from a credit card company or a survey site), the code works the same way. Some promotional codes are longer or formatted differently, but Amazon's redemption page accepts them all.

You can add as many gift cards as you want to a single account. There is no limit on the total balance you can hold. If you have 10 gift cards, add all 10 — the balances combine into one account balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gift card on someone else's Amazon account?

No. Once you enter a gift card code into an account, that balance belongs to that account only. You cannot transfer it to another person's account or use it to pay for someone else's order. If you want to give the card to someone else, give them the physical card or email code before you redeem it.

What happens if I add a gift card but then return the item I bought?

The refund goes back to the payment method you used. If you paid with gift card balance, the refund returns to your gift card balance in your account. If you paid with a credit card, the refund goes to that credit card.

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 new gift card code will be emailed to the recipient, and your balance decreases by the amount of the new card.

Is there a way to check my gift card balance without redeeming it?

If you have not redeemed the card yet, you cannot check the balance without entering the code. Once you redeem it, your balance appears in your account under "Gift Card Balance" on your account settings page. For unredeemed cards, the balance is usually printed on the back or in the email.

What if my gift card code has a typo or printing error?

Contact Amazon customer service with the card itself or a photo of it. Provide the card number and the amount if you have it. Amazon can verify the card in their system and add the balance to your account manually if the code is damaged or incorrect.