Buyer guide · Amazon.com Gift Card (US)
Amazon.com gift cards: redeeming, using one from abroad, and what to watch out for
How to redeem an Amazon.com gift card
Before anything else, sign in to the Amazon.com account that should receive the money. Amazon applies the balance to whichever account is signed in, and a redeemed balance can't be moved afterwards.
Digital card (email, text or link)
Open the email and select Apply to your Amazon Account, or tap the link in the text message. Amazon notes that electronic deliveries don't show a claim code; the link does the work. If you're asked to sign in, check that it's the right account.
Physical card
Peel off the sticker or scratch off the silver panel on the back to reveal the claim code: 14 or 15 characters, usually letters and numbers. Go to Redeem a Gift Card under your account's gift card section, enter the code and choose Apply to Your Balance. This works the same way in a desktop browser and in the Amazon Shopping app.
At checkout
Haven't redeemed it yet? At checkout, choose Use a gift card, voucher, or promo code, enter the claim code and select Apply. Whatever the order doesn't use stays on your account for later.
Can you use a US Amazon gift card in another country?
It depends on what “in another country” means. Amazon's terms tie the card to a store, not to where you are standing. An Amazon.com card can only be used on www.amazon.com and a few of its affiliated sites, and the terms say it can't be used at any Amazon-affiliated property outside the United States.
| Situation | Does it work? |
|---|---|
| You're travelling and sign in to your Amazon.com account from abroad | Yes. The balance belongs to your Amazon.com account, so you can still spend it on Amazon.com orders. |
| You live outside the US and shop on Amazon.com | The card works on Amazon.com. Whether an item can be delivered to your address depends on the item and seller, not on the gift card. |
| You redeem it on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.ca or another country's store | No. Amazon.com gift cards can only be used on Amazon.com. |
| You want to move a redeemed balance to a different country's Amazon store | No. Amazon says a redeemed balance can't be transferred between accounts or to an Amazon store in another country. |
| You use a VPN | Changes nothing. The limit is about which Amazon store issued the card, not your IP address. |
What an Amazon.com gift card can and can't pay for
Covered
- Eligible goods and services sold on www.amazon.com, by Amazon or by third-party sellers
- Orders split with another payment method when the balance runs short
- Future orders. The unused balance stays on the account.
Not covered
- Other gift cards, prepaid open-loop cards and certain third-party gift cards
- Certain ineligible items, such as collectible coins
- Cash: no cash-out or cash refund, except where the law requires it
- Amazon stores outside the US
- Paying anyone off Amazon (that's the classic scam pattern)
Amazon can change which items are eligible. If an order includes an item that a gift card can't pay for, checkout will ask for a card or another payment method for that item.
Expiry, fees and the fine print
Amazon.com gift cards are issued by ACI Gift Cards LLC. A few other terms matter in practice. Amazon may ask for extra identity or payment verification before you apply a card or spend the balance. The card can't be reloaded or resold. Amazon isn't responsible if a card is lost, stolen or used without your permission, so treat the claim code like cash.
Getting one as a work reward? Gift cards are generally treated as cash equivalents for tax purposes. Our guide on whether gift cards are taxable to employees covers the IRS rules.
Digital delivery and lost emails
Digital Amazon gift cards arrive by email, text message or shareable link. If you sent one and it didn't arrive:
- Ask the recipient to check spam or junk folders, or to free up storage if it went by text.
- Scheduled cards go out between 12 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific time on the chosen date. Don't panic at breakfast.
- The buyer can resend it from Your Orders → Order Details → Resend, up to five times per card, and can correct the email or phone number. Amazon issues a new card and deactivates the original.
- If Resend isn't offered, the card has probably already been redeemed.
Common errors and how to fix them
“This gift card has already been redeemed”
Check your gift card balance first. The money may already be on your account. If it isn't, someone who saw the claim code or the email link may have redeemed it on a different account.
The claim code is scratched or unreadable
Contact Amazon with the 16- or 30-digit serial number from the back of the card and, if you have it, the order number.
It was applied to the wrong account
Amazon can't move a redeemed balance between accounts. Before you redeem, check whose account you're signed in to, especially on a shared family device.
The code is rejected on a non-US Amazon site
That's expected: Amazon.com cards only work on Amazon.com. Sign in to Amazon.com instead.
Want to see what's left? Our step-by-step guide on how to check an Amazon gift card balance covers the website, the app, and checking a card you haven't redeemed yet.
Five signs someone is running an Amazon gift card scam
- 1They want payment in gift cards. Amazon gift cards only pay for purchases on Amazon.com. Bills, fines, taxes and “account unlocks” are never paid this way.
- 2They ask for the claim code or a photo of the card. Once a scammer has the code, Amazon warns, the money is usually spent before you can report it.
- 3Someone calls “from Amazon” about a frozen account. Caller ID can be faked. Amazon says it never calls to ask you to buy gift cards to unlock an account.
- 4Your “boss” urgently needs gift cards. Confirm through a different channel before you buy anything.
- 5A job, prize or loan needs a gift card fee first. Legitimate employers and lenders don't charge start-up fees in gift cards.
If it already happened, contact Amazon's Customer Protection team straight away and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For a wider view of gift card fraud and how people use their cards, see our gift card statistics for 2026.
Amazon gift card FAQ
Does a US Amazon gift card work on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.ca?
No. It works on Amazon.com only, and the balance can't be moved to another country's Amazon store.
Can I use it if I live outside the United States?
Yes, on Amazon.com. The card is tied to the store, not your location. Delivery to your country depends on the individual item.
Do Amazon.com gift cards expire?
Cards issued after October 1, 2005 don't expire, even if a date is printed on them, and Amazon charges no fees.
Can I split an order between the gift card and a credit card?
Yes. The balance is used first, and the rest is charged to another payment method.
Can I buy another gift card with my Amazon balance?
No. Amazon.com balance can't buy other gift cards, prepaid open-loop cards or certain third-party gift cards.
Can I give my balance to someone else?
Not once it's redeemed. If the card is meant for someone else, send them the unredeemed card or link.
I'm buying cards for a team. Anything to know?
Match each card to the recipient's country's Amazon store. A US card is only useful to people who shop on Amazon.com. Our guide to buying Amazon gift cards in bulk and the bulk gift card order calculator help with planning. For international teams, read how to reward remote teams across countries.
Who wrote this and how we checked it
Maciej builds Rewordin's digital gift card rewards and writes our brand-by-brand redemption guides.