Does Walmart Accept American Express Gift Cards?
The short answer is yes, you can absolutely use American Express gift cards to pay at any Walmart store, on Walmart.com, and at Walmart gas stations. Walmart gladly accepts all American Express credit/debit cards, including gift cards loaded with funds for future spending.
As a deal-seeking shopper myself, I love giving and receiving American Express gift cards because they provide maximum flexibility. The gift card funds can be spent at thousands of stores and websites that accept American Express cards.
But I know when you receive a gift, you want to make sure you can actually use it. That‘s why I decided to dig into the details on how, where and when you can use American Express gift cards specifically at Walmart.
Let me walk you through everything I learned as an avid Walmart shopper and American Express cardmember. I‘ll explain:
- How to use Amex gift cards in-store and online
- What kinds of Amex gift cards Walmart sells
- Limits and restrictions to be aware of
- Other retailers that accept Amex gift cards
After reading, you‘ll feel confident pulling out that American Express gift card during your next Walmart run. Time to go shopping!
Using American Express Gift Cards at Walmart Stores
Paying with an American Express gift card at any Walmart store checkout is easy. Here are the step-by-step instructions when shopping in-person:
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Grab a shopping cart or basket and select all the items you want to purchase. Go through the store and fill ‘er up!
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When you‘re done collecting everything on your list, head to the checkout line and start unloading your cart/basket.
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Let the cashier know you‘ll be paying with an American Express gift card today. Hand them the physical gift card.
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The cashier will swipe or scan the gift card like any other credit/debit card. If you‘re using self-checkout, simply swipe the card yourself.
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The funds will automatically be deducted from the gift card balance to cover your purchase total.
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If there are funds leftover after paying for your items, the remaining balance will stay on the card for future spending.
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Finish up payment and be on your way with your Walmart haul!
It really is that simple – Walmart cashiers process American Express gift cards multiple times per day. While you‘re checking out, don‘t be shy to ask them to scan your gift card rewards cards too.
Oh, and pro shopping tip: you can use up to 5 third-party gift cards like American Express in a single Walmart transaction. So feel free to split payment between multiple cards if needed.
Paying Online at Walmart.com With American Express Gift Cards
Walmart makes paying with gift cards just as easy online as it is in stores. Follow these steps when placing an order at Walmart.com:
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Add everything you want to buy to your online cart first. Get all your items in there before checking out.
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When ready to complete your purchase, begin the checkout process and select American Express as your payment method.
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You will be prompted to enter your 15-digit card number and the 4-digit security code on the back of the physical American Express gift card.
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Double check that your gift card has sufficient funds to cover the order total. This will prevent your transaction from being declined.
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Finish entering your shipping address and other info to place the order using your Amex gift card funds.
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Any remaining balance on the gift card will remain available for future online or in-store purchases.
Pretty straightforward, right? I love how Walmart doesn‘t make you jump through hoops to use gift cards online.
Something to remember – be sure to enter the card numbers carefully on Walmart.com. Even one wrong digit will cause the payment to fail. Triple check before submitting the order!
What Kinds Of American Express Gift Cards Does Walmart Sell?
Part of what makes Walmart so convenient is that you can buy new American Express gift cards right at the store. No need to go elsewhere to find them!
You‘ll typically see two types of American Express gift cards for sale:
Plastic Gift Cards
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Sold in preset amounts: $25, $50, $100, $200
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Have a physical plastic card that gets activated at purchase
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Can be used in-store, online, over the phone
eGift Cards
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American Express Gold Sparkle Card (virtual)
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Loadable with any amount from $25 to $200
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Email delivery of gift card info/balance
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Redeemable in-store by showing email on phone
Both plastic and eGift cards can be bought at Walmart stores or ordered on Walmart.com. eGift cards are delivered instantly via email, so they make great last-minute gift options!
Be aware there are fees associated with buying American Express gift cards at Walmart:
| Gift Card Amount | Purchase Fee |
|---|---|
| $200 | $6.88 |
| $100 | $5.44 |
| $50 | $3.94 |
| $25 | $3.44 |
For a $100 American Express gift card, you would pay $105.44 total ($100 loaded on card + $5.44 purchase fee). Just factor that into the cost when buying Amex gift cards at Walmart.
Exchanging American Express Gift Cards for Cash at Walmart
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about spending gift cards – can you exchange the card for actual cash at Walmart if there‘s a balance?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Walmart does not allow you to trade in American Express gift cards and receive cash back. The cards are incompatible with ATMs, so you can‘t withdraw funds that way either.
If you try asking the cashier at Walmart for money back when spending an American Express gift card, they legally cannot give you physical cash.
Your only options are:
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Spend the gift card balance on purchases and receive any change owed to you.
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Save the card to use the remaining funds later.
I know it can be disappointing to have leftover money stuck on a gift card. But on the bright side, American Express gift cards don‘t expire so you can hold onto the balance as long as you need.
Walmart‘s Limits and Restrictions on American Express Gift Cards
Gift cards as payment do come with some limitations that regular credit/debit cards don‘t have. Here are the top restrictions to know about using American Express gift cards at Walmart:
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Can only use 5 gift cards per transaction – If you need to split payment between multiple sources, Walmart caps it at 5 gift/credit/debit cards total.
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Cannot purchase other gift cards – You cannot use an American Express gift card to buy other gift cards or eGift cards at Walmart.
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No combining with cash – Walmart does not allow splitting a purchase between an American Express gift card and physical cash.
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No combining with PayPal – It‘s against Walmart‘s policy to split payment between an Amex gift card and PayPal in the same transaction.
Beyond the restrictions above, Walmart gives you flexibility in how you utilize American Express gift card funds in stores and online.
You can even use the gift cards to pay at Walmart gas stations (just need to pre-pay inside, not directly at the pump). It‘s a widely accepted payment method there.
Top Retailers That Accept American Express Gift Cards
In 2021, American Express had 114.1 million cardmembers globally using its payment products. The company processed $1.3 trillion in purchase transactions on all cards last year.
With that level of scale and acceptance, you can depend on American Express gift cards being welcomed at all major chains. Here are just some of the most popular US retailers where you can feel confident using Amex gift cards:
- Target
- Costco
- Amazon
- The Home Depot
- Lowe‘s
- Best Buy
- Macy‘s
- Nordstrom
- Bed Bath & Beyond
Of course Walmart tops the list too. Essentially if a store accepts regular American Express credit cards, they will also take American Express branded gift cards without any issue.
It gives you tons of flexibility as you decide where to spend gift card funds based on what you need to buy. You can shop for clothes, groceries, home improvement items, and more.
Let‘s Go Shopping! How and Where to Spend American Express Gift Cards
Hopefully now you feel empowered to put your American Express gift cards to good use at Walmart and other go-to retailers.
To recap, key points to remember are:
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Walmart accepts Amex gift cards in all stores, on Walmart.com, and at Walmart gas stations when paying inside.
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Use gift cards to pay at checkout just like any other credit/debit card. Enter the card numbers when paying online.
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Walmart sells plastic and eGift American Express cards in various amounts from $25 to $200.
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You cannot exchange gift cards for cash back at Walmart. limits exist on using gift cards for payment.
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Amex gift cards are accepted at thousands of retailers where American Express credit/debit cards are accepted.
So next time to get an American Express gift card for your birthday or the holidays, rest assured you can put it toward purchases at Walmart, your favorite clothing boutiques, grocery stores, home improvement outlets, and more.
Instead of letting gift cards collect dust, maximize their convenience and flexibility. Enjoy shopping with gift money wherever American Express is accepted!