Amazon doesn’t offer a way to check the balance of an Amazon.com Gift Card before you add it to your account. Its help pages only show the balance after a card is redeemed. If you bought the card yourself, you can find its value in Your Orders by matching the serial number on the back. Otherwise, the value is usually printed on the card or in the gift email.
If you want to know the balance and still save it for later, you can add the card to your account and then choose not to use the balance at checkout. These steps follow Amazon’s help pages Check Your Gift Card Balance, Keep Your Gift Card Balance to Use Later, and Gift Card Redemption Issues.
How to Find the Value of a Card Without Redeeming It
- Look at the card or email. Most gift cards and gift emails show the amount.
- Ask the sender. If it was a gift and the amount isn’t shown, the person who bought it can check their order.
- If you bought it, check Your Orders. Amazon says some physical gift cards bought from Amazon.com don’t have the value printed on them. Use the steps below.
Match the serial number in Your Orders
- Sign in to Amazon and go to Your Orders.
- Find the gift card order.
- Open the order details and look for the 16-digit serial number beside the gift card amount.
- Compare it to the serial number on the back of the card.
Result: When the serial numbers match, the amount in the order is the card’s value. The card stays unredeemed, so you can still give it to someone else.
How to Check Your Gift Card Balance After Adding It
- Sign in to Amazon.
- Go to Your Account.
- Select Gift cards to see your balance.
This shows cards already added to your account. To add one, go to amazon.com/gc/redeem and enter the claim code. Amazon says you can also see all changes to your balance, including order IDs and serial numbers, in the transaction section of your Balance page. Your gift card balance doesn’t include promotional certificates.
How to Keep Your Balance for Later
Once a card is added, Amazon can apply the balance at checkout. To save it for another time, follow Amazon’s steps:
- Proceed to checkout.
- Where your Gift and promotional balance appears, select Change.
- Unselect the box beside Use your Gift and promotional balance.
- Select Use this payment method.
Result: The order is charged to your other payment method, and your gift card balance stays in your account. Amazon notes that if you don’t see this screen, select Change under the Payment Method heading on the final page before you place your order.
Things to Know Before You Redeem
- Redeemed balances stay with that account. Amazon says a redeemed balance can’t be transferred to another account or to an Amazon store in a different country. If you might re-gift the card, don’t redeem it.
- Sign in to the right account first. If you share a device, double-check which account you’re using before entering the code. If it is the wrong one, sign out of that Amazon account and sign in to yours.
- “Already redeemed” message: Amazon says this means the card was applied to your account or another account. Check your Gift cards balance first.
- Damaged or scratched code: Contact Amazon with the 16- or 30-digit serial number on the back of the card and the order number if you have it.
- Amazon.com cards only work on Amazon.com. They can’t be used at other retailers.
- Protect the claim code. Never type it into a balance-checking site that isn’t Amazon, and never share it with anyone who asks you to pay a bill or fee with gift cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check an Amazon gift card balance without an account?
Amazon’s balance tools are in Your Account, so you need an Amazon account to see a balance. See how to create an Amazon account.
Can I give a gift card to someone else after I add it to my account?
No. Amazon keeps the balance in your account after you redeem a card, and it can’t be transferred. If you want to re-gift a card, don’t redeem it.
Does Amazon use my gift card balance automatically?
It can be applied at checkout. Use the Change option at checkout to turn it off for an order. You can also check whether you have Amazon Prime before you shop, or find an Amazon influencer storefront for recommendations.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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