What you can and cannot do with an Amazon gift card balance
You cannot transfer an Amazon gift card balance directly to a bank account. Amazon does not offer a feature that moves your gift card funds into your checking or savings account. The balance stays locked inside your Amazon account and can only be spent on Amazon purchases — or in some cases, converted to an Amazon.com credit that works the same way.
This is different from a prepaid debit card, which you can often use anywhere and withdraw from ATMs. An Amazon gift card is store credit, not a payment card. Once the balance is loaded into your Amazon account, Amazon's terms of service do not allow you to cash it out or move it elsewhere.
There are a few workarounds people sometimes try, but most of them either do not work or violate Amazon's rules. Understanding what is actually possible will save you time and keep you from running into account problems.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card balances cannot be transferred to a bank account through any official Amazon feature or process.
- You can spend the balance on Amazon purchases, including physical goods, digital content, and services like Prime membership.
- Some third-party resale sites buy unused Amazon gift cards for cash, though they typically pay less than the card's face value.
- Attempting to sell items you buy with the gift card, or using unauthorized conversion services, violates Amazon's terms and risks account suspension.
Why Amazon does not allow direct transfers
Amazon gift cards are designed as a closed system. When you load a gift card into your account, you are adding store credit that Amazon controls. This is different from a bank transfer or a payment method linked to your account.
From Amazon's perspective, this structure protects both the company and you. It prevents fraud — someone cannot steal your gift card and drain your actual bank account. It also keeps the money inside Amazon's ecosystem, which is the whole point of a gift card from Amazon's business model. They want the funds spent on their platform, not withdrawn.
The terms of service you agree to when you redeem a gift card explicitly state that the balance is non-transferable and cannot be converted to cash. Violating this — for example, by using a third-party service that claims to convert gift cards to cash — can result in your Amazon account being suspended or closed.
Legitimate ways to use your Amazon gift card balance
The straightforward path is to spend the balance on Amazon. You can buy physical items, digital content like Kindle books or music, Prime membership, or services like AWS credits if you use Amazon Web Services. The balance will automatically explore to your order at checkout.
If you have a specific item you want but do not have enough gift card balance to cover it, you can combine the gift card with another payment method — a debit card, credit card, or bank account linked to your Amazon account. The gift card balance will be used first, and the remaining amount will be charged to your other payment method.
You can also use the balance to buy Amazon gift cards for other people, though this just moves the problem — they would face the same limitation you do.
Selling an unused Amazon gift card for cash
If you have an unused physical Amazon gift card (one you have not yet redeemed into your account), you can sell it to a third-party reseller. Sites like Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr buy gift cards at a discount to their face value. A $100 Amazon gift card might sell for $85 to $95, depending on current demand.
The process is straightforward: you provide the card number and PIN, the buyer verifies the balance, and you receive payment via PayPal, bank transfer, or check. This only works if the card has not been redeemed yet. Once the balance is in your Amazon account, these resellers cannot help you.
Be cautious with any site that claims to buy redeemed Amazon balances or promises to convert them to cash. These are either scams or services that violate Amazon's terms. Legitimate resellers only buy physical, unredeemed gift cards.
What not to do with a gift card balance
Do not attempt to use third-party conversion services that claim they can turn your Amazon balance into cash. These services typically ask for your Amazon login credentials, which is a major security risk. Even if they work temporarily, using them violates Amazon's terms of service and can get your account permanently closed.
Do not buy items with the gift card and then when ready resell them to convert the balance to cash. This is technically possible — you could buy a popular item and sell it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace — but it is inefficient and Amazon monitors for this pattern. Repeated cycles of buying and reselling can trigger a review of your account.
Do not share your gift card balance or account access with anyone offering to convert it for you. If something sounds too good to be true, it is. The only legitimate way to get cash from an unused gift card is through a recognized reseller like those listed above.
If you received a gift card you do not want
If someone gave you an Amazon gift card and you would prefer cash or do not shop on Amazon, your best option depends on whether the card has been redeemed.
If it is still a physical card or a digital code you have not entered into your account, sell it through a reseller. You will lose a small percentage to their fee, but you will get cash quickly.
If the balance is already in your Amazon account, you have fewer options. You could ask the person who gave it to you to request a refund from Amazon (they may be able to do this if the purchase was recent), or you could spend it on something you need — even if it is not what you would normally buy. Some people use unwanted gift card balances to stock up on household items or gifts for others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Once a gift card is redeemed into your account, the balance cannot be moved to another person's Amazon account. If you want to give the money to someone else, you would need to buy items and send them the physical goods, or buy a new Amazon gift card with a different payment method and give that to them instead.
What if I have a balance left over after a purchase?
The remaining balance stays in your Amazon account and can be used on future purchases. There is no expiration date on Amazon gift card balances, so the money will be there whenever you shop next.
Can I use my Amazon gift card balance to pay my credit card bill?
No. Your Amazon balance is store credit and cannot be used to pay bills, make bank transfers, or fund accounts outside of Amazon. It only works for purchases on Amazon.com and affiliated services.
Is there a way to get my money back if I redeemed a gift card by mistake?
Contact Amazon customer service and explain what happened. If the card was redeemed very recently, they may be able to reverse it and issue you a refund to your original payment method. The sooner you contact them, the better your chances. After a certain period, reversals become difficult or impossible.
What happens to my gift card balance if I close my Amazon account?
If you close your account, any remaining gift card balance is forfeited. Amazon does not refund unused balances. Before closing your account, spend any remaining balance or contact customer service to see if they can issue a refund in your specific situation.