Walmart eGift Card: where it works, what it buys and the rules in the terms
Walmart’s gift card is the rare store card that reaches past its own brand: the same balance spends at Sam’s Club, in Puerto Rico and in the Walmart app. Its terms also contain a few lines most buyers never read — including which US states let you cash out a small balance, and a rule that matters if you’re an employer.
Where a Walmart gift card works — and where it doesn’t
Walmart’s gift card terms (last updated August 24, 2026) name the acceptance locations in one sentence. Here it is broken out, with the places people most often ask about:
Practical takeaway for cross-border gifting: a Walmart card is a good choice for someone in Puerto Rico or anyone who shops at Sam’s Club, and a poor one for a recipient in Canada or Mexico. If you reward people in several countries, read our guide to rewarding remote teams across countries before you pick a brand.
How to redeem it
Online and in the app
- Sign in to your Walmart account and add the card under your saved gift cards, or add it at checkout.
- Enter the card number and PIN from the eGift email (or from under the scratch-off on a plastic card).
- Apply it to the order; if the order costs more than the balance, pay the rest with another method.
Walmart’s terms say saving a card to your account is what enables online use — and that saving it doesn’t lock the physical card or remove its balance. It also gives you the balance and transaction history in one place.
In a Walmart store or Sam’s Club
Hand the card to the cashier and say you’re paying with a gift card; for an eGift Card, have the email with the card details open on your phone. Keep the card or the email until the full balance is spent.
Delivery of the digital card
A Walmart eGift Card arrives by email with a card number and PIN. Treat that email like cash: anyone with the number and PIN can spend it, and Walmart’s terms put that risk on the holder.
What it can and can’t buy
The card is redeemable for “eligible goods and services”, a list Walmart can change at any time. The terms name three categories that are always out: precious metals, financial products or services, and gift cards. You also can’t merge several cards into one new card — Walmart doesn’t consolidate balances. If an item in your basket is ineligible, checkout will ask for another payment method for that part.
Expiry, fees and returns
Walmart’s terms are short on this: gift cards do not expire. That goes beyond the federal CARD Act floor in 12 CFR 1005.20, which only requires at least five years before funds can expire and allows inactivity fees after 12 months of no use. The cards themselves are not returnable or refundable.
5 red flags with Walmart gift cards
- 1Anyone asking to be paid in gift cards. The FTC warns that scammers pose as your boss, or as phone and internet providers offering “discounts”, and insist on gift card payment.
- 2A request to read out the number and PIN. Walmart says it has no liability if you give the number and PIN to someone else. A cashier scans the card; nobody legitimate needs the code by phone.
- 3Cards sold below face value by strangers. Buying from an unauthorized third party is a prohibited activity in the terms, and Walmart can refuse the card or forfeit the balance.
- 4Torn or tampered packaging in store. The FTC notes cards can be compromised before you buy them; Walmart lists tampering and copying card numbers as prohibited.
- 5Third-party “balance checker” sites. Use Walmart’s own site, app or phone line — see how to check a Walmart gift card balance.
- Recipient lives in the US or Puerto Rico (or shops at Sam’s Club there)
- They have, or will create, a Walmart account to save the card for online use
- You keep the order confirmation — Walmart won’t replace a lost or stolen card
- It’s a gift, not a wage payment, and you’ve accounted for payroll tax
Common problems
Lost the card or the email? Walmart does not replace lost or stolen gift cards, which is why saving it to an account matters. Balance looks wrong? Walmart calls the displayed balance an estimate that can lag a recent purchase; check again later or call Gift Card Customer Service at 1-888-537-5503 (Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 9 PM, excluding major holidays). Card refused? Walmart can decline cards it links to prohibited activity, such as cards bought from unauthorized sellers.
Walmart gift card FAQ
Can I use a Walmart gift card at Sam’s Club?
Yes — in clubs in the US and Puerto Rico and on SamsClub.com, according to Walmart’s gift card terms. Membership questions are separate; check with Sam’s Club.
Does a Walmart gift card work in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Puerto Rico is named in the terms, and it’s also on the list of places where a small balance can be redeemed for cash.
Can I use a US Walmart card at Walmart Canada?
The US terms don’t list any Canadian locations, so don’t plan on it.
Can I buy another gift card with it?
No. Gift cards are on the ineligible list, along with precious metals and financial products.
Does it expire?
No. Walmart’s terms state that its gift cards do not expire.