Redeeming Your Amazon Gift Card
To redeem an Amazon gift card, you go to Amazon.com, sign into your account, and enter the code on the back or inside the card. Amazon adds the balance to your account when ready, and you can use it to pay for anything you buy on the site. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether the card came as a physical card or a digital code sent by email.
You do not need a credit card on file to redeem a gift card, and the balance stays in your account until you spend it. If you lose the code before you redeem it, Amazon cannot recover it, so write it down or take a photo as soon as you receive the card.
Key Takeaways
- Sign into your Amazon account, go to the gift card redemption page, and enter the code printed on the card or sent to your email.
- The balance appears in your account within seconds and you can use it when ready to buy anything on Amazon.
- If the code does not work, check that you typed it correctly — codes are case-sensitive and include hyphens in specific places.
- You can check your gift card balance anytime by going to Your Account and looking at the Gift Cards section.
- If you receive a code by email, do not click links in the email itself — go directly to Amazon.com instead to avoid phishing scams.
Where to Find the Redemption Page
The fastest way is to go directly to amazon.com/gc/redeem. You can also reach it from your account settings: sign in, click on "Your Account" in the top right, scroll down to "Gift cards", and click "Redeem a gift card".
On either route, you will see a box where you paste or type the code. The code is usually on the back of a physical card or in the body of an email if someone sent it digitally. Do not copy the code from a link in an email — type it yourself or copy it from the email text, because links in gift card emails are a common phishing target.
Entering the Code Correctly
Amazon gift card codes are case-sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase letters matter. They also include hyphens in specific places. If you type or paste the code wrong, Amazon will tell you it is invalid and ask you to try again.
The easiest approach is to copy and paste the code directly from your email or from a photo you took of the card. If you type it by hand, go slowly and double-check each character. If Amazon rejects the code three times, stop and contact Amazon customer service — the code itself may be damaged or already redeemed.
What Happens After You Redeem
Once you enter a valid code, Amazon adds the balance to your account within seconds. The money appears as "Amazon.com Gift Card Balance" in your account, separate from any credit card or bank account you have on file. You can use this balance to pay for anything sold by Amazon or by third-party sellers on the site.
If an item costs more than your gift card balance, Amazon will ask you to add another payment method for the difference. You can also split a purchase between your gift card balance and a credit card, debit card, or bank account.
Checking Your Balance Anytime
To see how much money you have left on your gift card, sign into your account and go to "Your Account" in the top right corner. Scroll down to the "Gift Cards" section and click on it. You will see your current balance and a list of every purchase you made with that balance.
You can also see your balance at the checkout page before you complete a purchase. Amazon shows your gift card balance at the top of the payment screen, so you always know how much you have to spend.
Troubleshooting a Code That Does Not Work
If Amazon says your code is invalid, the most common reason is a typing error. Check that you entered every letter, number, and hyphen exactly as it appears on the card or in the email. Codes are case-sensitive, so a lowercase "o" is different from a zero "0".
If you copied and pasted the code and it still does not work, the code may have already been redeemed by someone else, or it may be damaged. Contact Amazon customer service and have the code ready. If you received the card as a gift and someone else redeemed it without your permission, Amazon can sometimes issue a replacement, but you will need proof of purchase or a receipt.
Gift Card Balance and Expiration
Amazon gift card balances do not expire. Once you redeem a code, the money stays in your account indefinitely until you spend it. This means you can redeem a card and wait months or years before using the balance without losing any of it.
The code itself — the number on the card or in the email — does not expire either. You can redeem it whenever you want, as long as the code has not already been used by someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I redeem a gift card without an Amazon account?
No. You must have an Amazon account and be signed in to redeem a gift card. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one for free at amazon.com using an email address and password. Creating an account takes about two minutes.
What if I received a gift card code by email but the email looks suspicious?
Do not click any links in the email. Go directly to amazon.com/gc/redeem in your browser and enter the code there. Phishing emails often include fake links that look like they go to Amazon but actually steal your login information. Typing the code yourself or copying it from the email text is safer than clicking a link.
Can I transfer my gift card balance to someone else?
No. Once you redeem a code to your account, the balance is tied to that account and cannot be moved or transferred. If you want to give someone else money to spend on Amazon, you need to buy them a new gift card instead.
What if I redeem a gift card but do not use it right away?
Your balance stays in your account with no time limit. You can redeem a card today and use the money six months from now, and the full amount will still be there. The balance only goes down when you use it to pay for purchases.
Can I use a gift card balance 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 will be paid for with your existing balance, and the recipient will receive a code they can redeem to their own account.