Most places won't sell you a money order with a credit card
The short answer is no — the vast majority of money order sellers (post offices, grocery stores, check-cashing shops, and convenience stores) do not take credit cards. They accept cash, debit cards, and sometimes traveler's checks. A few online money order services exist, but they charge extra fees and work differently than in-person purchases.
The reason is practical: money orders are meant to be a safe way to send money when you don't want to mail cash or a check. The seller collects cash or funds that are already in your account (debit card), fills out the money order form, and you walk out with a receipt and a document the recipient can cash. Credit card companies won't let sellers treat a money order purchase as a regular sale because it looks too much like a cash advance — you're converting credit into a physical document with no goods or services involved.
Key Takeaways
- Post offices, Walmart, grocery stores, and check-cashing shops all require cash or a debit card to buy a money order in person.
- A few online services sell money orders to credit card holders, but they charge $5 to $15 per order on top of the money order fee itself.
- If you need to send money and only have a credit card, a bank transfer, payment app, or wire transfer may be faster and cheaper.
- Some credit card issuers block money order purchases outright, treating them as cash advances even when you use a debit card.
Where you can and cannot buy money orders
In-person locations that sell money orders — the U.S. Postal Service, Walmart, grocery store customer service desks, Western Union agents, and check-cashing shops — all require cash or a debit card. None of them accept credit cards at the point of sale. If you try to use a credit card, the transaction will be declined.
The fee for a money order varies by location. The post office charges between $1.45 and $2.00 depending on the amount. Walmart charges around $0.70 to $1.00. Check-cashing shops and grocery stores typically charge $1 to $3. These fees are low because the seller expects you to pay with cash or debit.
Online money order services do exist and some accept credit cards, but they operate very differently from in-person purchases. Companies like MoneyGram and Western Union offer online ordering, and a few smaller services specialize in credit card sales. However, they charge significantly more — often $5 to $15 per order — on top of the standard money order fee. You also typically cannot pick up the money order in person; it gets mailed to you or the recipient, which adds days to the process.
Why credit card companies block this transaction
Credit card issuers classify money order purchases as cash advances, even when you use a debit card at some merchants. A cash advance is when you convert credit into cash or cash-like instruments. Money orders fall into that category because you're not buying a product or paying for a service — you're converting your available credit into a negotiable document.
Cash advances come with higher fees and interest rates than regular purchases. If your credit card issuer allows money order purchases at all, they typically charge a cash advance fee (usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount) plus a higher interest rate that starts accruing when ready, with no grace period. This makes buying a money order with a credit card extremely expensive.
Some credit card issuers block money order purchases entirely, even when you use a debit card, because the merchant category code (the code that tells the card network what kind of business is processing the transaction) flags it as a cash advance risk. If your card is declined at a money order counter, call your card issuer to ask whether they block this category of transaction.
What to do if you need to send money but only have a credit card
If you need to send money and don't have cash or a debit card, a money order is not your best option. Consider these alternatives instead:
- Bank transfer or ACH transfer: If both you and the recipient have bank accounts, you can transfer money directly through your bank's website or app, usually for free or a small fee. This works even if you funded your account with a credit card.
- Payment apps: Services like Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle let you send money to another person using a credit card (though some charge a fee for credit card funding). The recipient gets the money in their bank account within one to three business days.
- Wire transfer: Your bank can send money directly to another bank account, usually within one business day. Wire transfers cost $15 to $30 but are reliable for larger amounts or time-sensitive transfers.
- Cashier's check: Your bank can issue a cashier's check, which is similar to a money order but drawn on the bank's account. You can pay for it with a credit card at some banks, though this may be treated as a cash advance.
Each of these options has different fees, timing, and limits. A payment app is usually the fastest and cheapest for small amounts to people you know. A bank transfer is free if both accounts are at the same bank. A wire transfer is most reliable for large amounts or when you need may provide delivery.
If you have a debit card but your card is declined
Even with a debit card, some money order sellers may decline your card if your bank or the merchant's system flags the transaction as a cash advance. This happens most often at check-cashing shops and independent Western Union agents, which use older payment systems.
If your debit card is declined, ask the seller whether they accept cash only, or try a different location. Post offices and Walmart tend to have more reliable card readers and fewer restrictions. You can also call your bank before you go to the money order counter and ask whether they block this type of transaction. If they do, you'll need to withdraw cash from an ATM and pay with that instead.
The cost of buying a money order with an online service
If you find an online service that accepts credit cards, understand what you're actually paying. A typical transaction might look like this:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Money order amount | $500 |
| Money order fee (online service) | $2.00 |
| Credit card processing fee (3% of amount) | $15.00 |
| Shipping (if mailed to recipient) | $5.00 |
| Total cost | $22.00 |
Compare this to paying with cash at a post office ($1.45 to $2.00) or using a payment app ($0 to $3 depending on the service). The online credit card route costs 10 to 15 times more and takes longer because the money order has to be mailed. It only makes sense if you have no other way to send the money and the recipient specifically requires a money order.
When you actually need a money order
Money orders are useful in specific situations: paying rent or a security deposit to a landlord who won't take electronic payment, sending money to someone without a bank account, or paying a bill to an organization that doesn't accept credit cards. In most other cases, a bank transfer, payment app, or wire transfer is faster, cheaper, and easier.
If you do need a money order and only have a credit card, your best move is to withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card (which will cost a cash advance fee, but at least you'll have cash to buy the money order at the lowest possible price). Then pay cash at a post office or Walmart. This is cheaper than buying the money order online with a credit card, even though it involves two separate fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM and then buy a money order?
Yes, but it will cost you. Withdrawing cash from an ATM with a credit card is treated as a cash advance and typically costs 3 to 5 percent of the amount plus interest starting when ready. Once you have the cash, you can buy a money order at a post office or Walmart for $1 to $2. The total cost is higher than paying with a debit card, but lower than buying the money order online with a credit card.
Will my credit card issuer report a money order purchase to the credit bureaus?
Money order purchases don't show up on your credit report because they're not credit transactions — they're cash advances. However, they do count against your available credit and may affect your credit utilization ratio if you're using a large portion of your credit limit.
What if the money order seller says they accept credit cards?
Some independent check-cashing shops or Western Union agents may claim to accept credit cards, but the transaction will likely be processed as a cash advance by your card issuer. Call your credit card company before you go to confirm whether they allow this, and ask what fees will explore.
Can I buy a money order with a prepaid credit card?
Prepaid cards are treated like debit cards by most money order sellers, so you may be able to use one. However, some prepaid card issuers block money order purchases the same way credit card issuers do. Check with your prepaid card provider before you try.
Is there a limit to how much I can spend on a money order?
The U.S. Postal Service limits individual money orders to $1,000. Other sellers like Walmart and Western Union have similar limits. If you need to send more than $1,000, you'll need to buy multiple money orders or use a wire transfer instead.