How to Check Your Gift Card Balance

Summary:

• Checking a gift card balance almost always comes down to three options: online, by phone, or in person at the store.
• Major retailers like Target, Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, and Costco all offer balance lookups on their websites or apps.
• Restaurant chains such as Starbucks, Chipotle, McDonald’s, and Subway let you check balances online or right at the counter.
• Prepaid network cards like Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Vanilla depend on the issuing bank, so the back of the card has the right info.

Getting a gift card is a nice surprise, until you can’t remember how much is left on it. Whether you’re holding a card from a big box retailer, a restaurant chain, or a prepaid network card like Visa or Mastercard, checking your gift card balance usually only takes a couple of minutes. Here’s a complete walkthrough where and how to do it.

The Three Ways to Check a Gift Card Balance

No matter which brand issued your card, you’ll generally have three options.

1. Online. Most brands have a dedicated balance check page on their website. You’ll typically enter the card number and PIN, found on the back of the card, often under a scratch off panel.
2. By phone. Look for a toll free number printed on the back of the card. Automated systems can read your balance back to you in under a minute.
3. In person. Any cashier at the issuing store, or for restaurant cards, at the counter, can scan the card and tell you the balance instantly.

Some brands also let you check through their mobile app, which is often the most convenient option if you already have it installed.

Checking Balances at Major Retailers

Target. You can check target gift card balance totals on Target’s website, through the Target app, by calling the number on the back of the card, or by asking a cashier at any register or Guest Service desk.

Walmart. To check walmart gift card balance amounts, visit Walmart’s gift card balance page, use the Walmart app, or call the number on the card. You can also just ask an associate at the customer service desk to scan it for you.

Amazon. Log into your Amazon account and go to “Gift Cards” under Account settings to see your balance instantly. This works whether you’re trying to check amazon gift card balance for a card you redeemed or a physical card someone gave you that hasn’t been added to your account yet.

Home Depot. Home Depot lets you check your balance online, by phone, or in store at any register.

Costco. Costco Shop Cards can be checked online through Costco’s gift card portal or by presenting the card at any Costco register (membership required for online lookups).

Lowe’s . Check online at Lowe’s balance check page, by phone, or by asking a cashier.

Best Buy. Best Buy’s website has a dedicated balance tool, or you can call customer service or check in store.

TJ Maxx. TJ Maxx (and sister stores Marshalls and HomeGoods) cards can be checked online at the TJX rewards site or in any of their stores.

Nordstrom. Nordstrom allows balance checks online or in any Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack store.

Lululemon. Check online through Lululemon’s gift card page or in store at checkout.

Ulta. Ulta cards can be checked on Ulta’s website, through the Ulta app, or at the register.

Sephora. Sephora’s site has a gift card balance lookup tool, and any store associate can also check it for you.

Checking Balances at Restaurant and Coffee Chains

Starbucks. This one’s especially easy. Check starbucks gift card balance amounts right in the Starbucks app, where most people keep their card digitally anyway, on the website, or by asking a barista.

Chipotle. Check online at Chipotle’s balance page or ask an employee in store.

McDonald’s. McDonald’s gift card balances can be checked on McDonald’s gift card site or by calling the number on the card.

Subway. Subway’s website has a balance check tool, or you can ask at the counter.

Texas Roadhouse. Check online through Texas Roadhouse’s gift card portal or by phone.

Chili’s. Brinker International, Chili’s parent company, offers an online balance checker, or you can ask your server.

Cheesecake Factory. Check online at their gift card site or in restaurant.

Darden. Darden Card balances, usable at Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and other Darden restaurants, can be checked online or by phone.

Sonic. Check online at Sonic’s balance page or in store.

Checking Balances on Prepaid Network Cards

Prepaid cards issued by payment networks work a little differently from store branded cards since they aren’t tied to one retailer.

Visa gift card balance. Since Visa gift cards are issued by many different banks, the balance check process depends on who issued yours. Check the back of the card for the issuer’s name and website, or call the number printed there.

Mastercard gift card balance. Similarly, check the issuer information on the back of the card for the correct balance check website or phone number.

Amex gift card balance. American Express has its own dedicated balance check tool. Whether you search “amex gift card balance” or american express gift card balance, you’ll land on the same site. Just enter your card number and security code.

Vanilla gift card balance. Vanilla branded prepaid cards, a popular general purpose gift card brand, can be checked at the Vanilla Gift balance page using the card number, expiration date, and security code.

Other Popular Gift Cards

Apple gift card balance. Check by opening the App Store or iTunes app, going to your Apple ID, and viewing your account balance, or ask any Apple Store employee.

Disney gift card balance. Check online at Disney’s gift card site or at any Disney store or park ticket window.

Bath and Body Works gift card balance. Available on their website’s balance check page or in store.

General Tips for Checking Any Gift Card Balance

Keep your receipt. If a card is ever lost, stolen, or drained by fraud, your receipt is often required to get help.

Register the card if the option exists. Some brands let you link a physical gift card to an online account, which protects the balance if the card itself is lost.

Watch for expiration dates and fees. Store branded cards in the U.S. generally can’t expire for at least five years by federal law, but some prepaid network cards charge inactivity fees after a period of non use. Checking your balance periodically helps you catch this before you lose value.

Be wary of phishing. Only check your gift card balance through the official website or app of the brand. Scam sites that mimic balance checkers are a common way for fraudsters to steal card numbers and PINs.

Whether you’re trying to check walmart gift card balance details before a shopping trip or just curious what’s left on an old gift card balance sitting in a drawer, the process is nearly always the same. Grab the card number and PIN off the back, then check online, by phone, or in store. Within a minute or two, you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend.