Amazon gift cards cannot be transferred directly to a bank account

Amazon does not offer a way to move the balance from a gift card into your bank account. The card balance stays locked inside your Amazon account and can only be spent on Amazon purchases—physical goods, digital content, Prime membership, or third-party seller items on the platform.

If you have an Amazon gift card you do not plan to use, your realistic options are to spend it on Amazon, give it to someone else, or sell it to a third party. There is no official Amazon feature that converts the balance to cash or transfers it elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon gift card balances cannot be moved to a bank account through any official Amazon process.
  • You can spend the balance on anything Amazon sells, including items you could resell later for cash.
  • Third-party gift card resale sites will buy your Amazon balance at a discount, typically 70 to 90 cents per dollar.
  • If someone sent you a gift card fraudulently or without your consent, contact Amazon support to report it.
  • Selling the card balance through a resale site takes a few days and results in less money than the card's face value.

Spending the balance on Amazon instead

The simplest use of an Amazon gift card is to buy something you need or want. The balance applies automatically at checkout and reduces what you owe. If you buy something for less than the card's full value, the remainder stays in your account for future purchases.

If you need cash more than you need Amazon products, you can buy items with resale value—electronics, books, or household goods—and then sell them on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or a local resale site. This converts the Amazon balance into cash, though you will lose money to shipping costs and the resale site's fees, and the items may not sell for their full purchase price.

Selling your Amazon gift card balance to a resale site

Several third-party platforms buy Amazon gift cards at a discount. Sites like Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr will purchase your card for cash or store credit. The payout is typically 70 to 90 percent of the card's face value, depending on current demand and the site's fees.

To sell through one of these sites, you log in, enter your Amazon gift card balance or code, and the site makes an offer. If you accept, you receive payment by bank transfer, PayPal, or check within a few business days. The exact timeline and payout method depend on which site you use and how you choose to receive the money.

Before you sell, check the current payout rate on multiple sites—rates fluctuate based on supply and demand. A card worth $100 might fetch $85 on one site and $75 on another on the same day.

What happens if someone sent you a fraudulent gift card

If you received an Amazon gift card that you did not ask for, or if you suspect it was purchased with a stolen payment method, contact Amazon Customer Service. Explain the situation and provide the card code if you have it. Amazon can investigate whether the card was obtained fraudulently and may cancel it or refund the balance to the original purchaser's account.

Do not spend the balance if you suspect fraud. Using a card purchased with a stolen payment method can create complications for your own account, even though you did not commit the fraud yourself.

Why Amazon does not allow direct transfers

Amazon gift card balances are restricted to the Amazon platform for the same reason most retailers restrict gift cards: it keeps money inside their ecosystem. A customer with a $50 Amazon balance is more likely to spend $60 on Amazon than to cash out the $50 and leave. The restriction also reduces fraud—if balances could be transferred to bank accounts, stolen gift cards would be instantly converted to cash and much harder to recover.

This is standard across the retail industry. Target, Walmart, and Best Buy gift cards work the same way: the balance stays on the card and can only be used at that retailer.

Checking your Amazon gift card balance

To see how much you have available, log into your Amazon account, go to Your Account, and select Gift Cards. The page shows your current balance and a history of recent transactions. You can also check the balance on a physical card by visiting Amazon's gift card balance page and entering the card code.

If you have multiple gift cards or a mix of gift card balance and other payment methods, Amazon applies the gift card balance first at checkout, then charges any remaining amount to your default payment method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer an Amazon gift card to someone else's account?

No. Once a gift card code is redeemed into an Amazon account, the balance cannot be moved to another account. If you want to give the balance to someone else, you must give them the code before it is redeemed, or you can buy them a new gift card instead.

What if I lost my Amazon gift card code?

If you have the physical card or receipt, contact Amazon Customer Service with proof of purchase. Amazon can sometimes recover or replace the code. If you received it by email, check your email history or spam folder. Once the code is redeemed, it cannot be recovered.

Do gift card resale sites actually pay what they promise?

Yes, but the payout is always less than face value—typically 70 to 90 cents per dollar. Read the site's terms before you sell to understand their fees, payout timeline, and payment method. Rates change daily based on demand, so the offer you see may not be the same tomorrow.

Can I use an Amazon gift card to pay my credit card bill?

No. Amazon gift card balances can only be used to buy items or services on Amazon itself. You cannot use them to pay bills, subscriptions outside Amazon, or credit card balances.

What if Amazon closes my account while I have a gift card balance?

If Amazon closes your account due to a violation of their terms, any remaining gift card balance is typically forfeited. If your account is closed in error or due to a dispute, contact Amazon to request reinstatement and recovery of the balance.