Do Walmart Gift Cards Expire in 2026? (All You Need to Know)
If you received a Walmart gift card over the holidays or got one to give as a gift yourself, you may be wondering – do Walmart gift cards expire?
The short answer is: No, Walmart gift cards do not expire.
Walmart gift cards can be used at any time, even years down the road. The funds never disappear due to an expiration date. This makes them an ideal flexible gift option.
In this detailed guide, we’ll answer all your questions around Walmart gift card expiration policies, checking your balance, where to buy cards, combining cards, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting the most out of Walmart gift cards now and in the future.
Do Walmart Gift Cards Ever Expire?
Let’s start with the most important piece – Walmart gift cards have no expiration date and the money on them does not expire.
It does not matter when the gift card was purchased or activated. Walmart gift cards remain valid and the balance remains available for however long it takes to spend down.
According to Walmart’s gift card policy:
“Walmart gift cards do not expire. Therefore, if your card does not have an expiration date on it, your card does not expire.”
This key policy sets Walmart gift cards apart from many other retailers’ cards, which often expire 6 to 24 months after purchase if unused.
So with a Walmart card, you don’t have to feel rushed to use up the balance by a certain date. You can redeem it this year, next year, or even five years from now if you still have funds remaining.
And a 2022 consumer survey found that non-expiring policies like Walmart’s are hugely appealing to shoppers:
- 87% of respondents said gift cards that never expire are “much more desirable” than cards with short expiry windows.
- 76% said expiration dates created unnecessary stress around redeeming card funds quickly.
So when it comes to the question “do Walmart gift cards expire?” – the answer is a clear no, and that customer-friendly policy makes Walmart cards a popular gifting choice year after year.
How to Check Your Walmart Gift Card Balance
Before using your Walmart gift card on your next shopping trip or online order, you’ll probably want to check the remaining funds on the card.
Here are three simple ways to check your balance:
In-Store
The most direct option is to bring your gift card to any Walmart store and ask the cashier to scan or swipe it.
The store system will instantly pull up the balance, giving you an up-to-the-minute total. This is the most accurate way to check.
Online
You can also check your balance anytime by logging into your Walmart.com account and entering your gift card details:
- 19-digit Gift Card Number (16-digit account number + 3-digit security code)
- Gift card PIN
After entering these details, your balance will display onscreen.
Do note the online balance may not reflect your most recent transactions and is considered an estimate. Checking in-store always provides the latest exact balance.
Phone
Call 1-888-537-5503 and follow the automated system prompts to check your balance by entering your 16-digit gift card account number. Have your PIN handy too.
Like with the online balance, the phone balance is an estimate so verifying in-store is recommended when you need up-to-the-minute accuracy.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| In-Store | Ask cashier to scan/swipe card for instant accurate balance |
| Online | Log into account, enter 19-digit card number + PIN for estimated balance |
| Phone | Call 1-888-537-5503, follow prompts to enter 16-digit card number + PIN for estimated balance |
No matter how you check, just know your funds will be there waiting thanks to Walmart‘s no-expiration policy.
How Many Gift Cards Can You Have on One Walmart.com Account?
If you want to register and manage your Walmart gift cards online for easy balance checking, Walmart allows up to 5 gift cards to be associated with a single Walmart.com account.
By registering your gift cards and saving them to your account, you can:
- Quickly view balances of all cards in one place
- Reload/add funds without having the physical card on hand
- Receive alerts when balances run low
However, even if you don’t formally register your gift card to an account, you can still use it for purchases in-store or online.
At checkout, you’ll just need to manually enter the 19-digit gift card number and PIN each time.
So whether you register your cards online or use them anonymously, the funds will be there given Walmart cards don‘t expire. Registration just provides some extra convenience.
Where to Buy Walmart Gift Cards
Wondering where to pick up a Walmart gift card, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else?
You have several options:
Walmart Stores
You can purchase a physical Walmart gift card at any Walmart store location. Just head to the gift card rack or checkout lanes to buy a card.
Walmart offers set pre-loaded amounts like $10, $25, $50, and $100. But you can also opt for a customizable amount between $5 to $500.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, owned by Walmart, is another trusted source for official Walmart gift cards. Visit any Sam’s Club store.
PayPal
Walmart has partnered with PayPal to offer digital Walmart gift cards.
When you buy through PayPal, the eGift card is delivered instantly to your email inbox. Load amounts range from $5 to $500.
This is a quick and convenient option to purchase a Walmart gift card online and receive it immediately without having to visit a store.
Resale Sites
You may come across discounted Walmart gift cards sold by resellers on sites like eBay, Raise, CardCash, etc.
However, buying gift cards from third-party resellers does carry an increased risk of scams and fraud. Scrutinize the seller’s ratings closely before purchasing.
For guaranteed authenticity and security, sticking with Walmart, Sam’s Club, or PayPal is your best bet.
Now that you know the official channels for buying legitimate Walmart gift cards, let’s look at the types of other brand gift cards you can purchase at Walmart stores.
Gift Cards Sold at Walmart Stores
In addition to its own gift cards, Walmart also sells a vast selection of other brand gift cards covering everything from retail to dining to entertainment.
Some of the most popular gift card brands available at Walmart include:
- Starbucks
- Target
- Amazon
- Netflix
- Olive Garden
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- The Home Depot
- Apple iTunes
- Google Play
- Macy’s
- Best Buy
You’ll also find many smaller local and regional business gift cards like restaurants, movie theaters, salons, golf courses, and more.
Overall, Walmart offers over 100 top gift card brands in-store and online covering every gifting category imaginable.
So along with grabbing a Walmart gift card for yourself, you can stock up on gift cards for friends and family to their favorite retailers, apps, gaming platforms, and eateries.
Next, let’s look at Walmart gift card reload options and limits.
Reloading Your Walmart Gift Card
One very useful feature of Walmart gift cards is that you can reload them with additional funds once the balance starts running low.
You don’t have to keep buying brand new plastic gift cards each time. Simply register your card to your Walmart.com account for easy reloading.
Here are the quick specifics on reloading Walmart gift cards:
- Minimum Amount: $10
- Maximum per Transaction: $100
- Maximum Overall Balance: $1,000
Reloading your gift card through your Walmart.com account takes just minutes. Keep the card active indefinitely with quick refills as needed.
Being able to reload a Walmart gift card rather than buying a new one each time provides convenience and helps reduce plastic waste – another smart reason to opt for the Walmart gifting option.
What to Do If You Lose Your Walmart Gift Card
We all know the sickening feeling of realizing your gift card is lost or misplaced somewhere.
If that happens with your Walmart gift card, take the following steps right away:
-
Call 1-800-966-6546 – This is Walmart’s dedicated phone line for reporting lost or stolen gift cards. Call as soon as you notice your card is missing.
-
Walmart will immediately deactivate the card and freeze the remaining balance. This prevents anyone else from using your card if they find it.
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To get a replacement gift card issued with the remaining balance transferred over, you’ll need to verify details of the original purchase. Walmart will ask for the gift card receipt, or look up the purchase credit/debit card transaction if you don’t have the paper receipt.
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Once the purchase is verified, a new gift card will be issued with the remaining dollars. Expect to receive it within 7-10 business days.
The key takeaways here are to act quickly, have your purchase verification info handy (receipt, card statement, etc), and know Walmart will make it right if your gift card goes AWOL.
Just be sure to use secure storage for any replacement cards to avoid a repeat mishap!
Do Walmart Gift Cards Expire? The Bottom Line.
To summarize the key points one more time:
Walmart gift cards have no expiration date. The balance remains valid indefinitely, regardless of when the card was purchased.
You can redeem your Walmart gift card this year, next year, or anytime after. The funds will always be waiting thanks to the no-expiry policy.
Check your balance easily online, on the phone, or at a store before shopping. Register cards to your Walmart.com account to simplify balance tracking and reloading.
Buy cards worry-free directly from Walmart, Sam’s Club or PayPal. Avoid third party resellers to ensure authenticity.
And take advantage of the huge selection of brand name gift cards also sold at Walmart stores for easy one-stop shopping.
With these tips, you can shop for, give, and use Walmart gift cards with full confidence. Never rush to use the funds thanks to their non-expiring status.
Walmart gift cards really are the gift that keeps on giving!