Do Amazon Gift Cards Expire?
No. Amazon states that Amazon.com gift cards do not expire and carry no fees. Once the balance is applied to an Amazon account, it stays there until you spend it. That makes Amazon one of the more forgiving cards to hold — but there’s still a good reason not to sit on one you’ll never use (more below).
General information, not legal advice — confirm the current details in Amazon’s gift card terms, which can change.
The short answer
- Expiration: Amazon gift cards don’t expire, per Amazon’s stated policy.
- Fees: no purchase fees, activation fees, or inactivity/dormancy fees.
- Where the balance lives: once you redeem the claim code to your account, it becomes your Amazon Balance and can’t be transferred back out or refunded to cash.
How this compares to the general rule
US federal law (the CARD Act) already protects most gift-card funds from expiring for at least 5 years and limits inactivity fees. Amazon goes further by not expiring at all and charging no fees — so you’re comfortably covered. For the full picture across brands, see our gift card expiration and fees guide.
So why not just hold it forever?
Even though it won’t expire, an Amazon card is only worth its full value if you actually shop at Amazon. If you don’t, that money is effectively frozen. Rather than let it sit, you can swap it for a card you’ll use on FlipGift — card-for-card, no fees, full value kept. And because an Amazon balance locks to your account once redeemed, swap the card before you apply the code.
Swap your Amazon card
Frequently asked questions
Do Amazon gift cards expire?
No. Amazon states that its gift cards don’t expire and have no fees, so the balance remains until you use it.
Do Amazon gift cards have inactivity or service fees?
No — Amazon states there are no fees on its gift cards, including no inactivity or dormancy fees.
Does an old Amazon gift card still work?
Generally yes, since they don’t expire. If a code won’t apply, double-check it for typos and contact Amazon customer service. Confirm specifics in Amazon’s current gift card terms.
Can I get cash for an unused Amazon gift card?
Not from FlipGift — it’s a card-for-card swap, not a cash buyer. If you won’t shop Amazon, swap it for a card you’ll use at full value; if you specifically need cash, a resale site pays a discounted percentage.