Can You Consolidate Gift Cards? Here’s How to Do It

Gift cards are a common form of payment and gifting. Many consumers find themselves with multiple gift cards, often with small remaining balances, and seek to combine them. Consolidating gift cards involves transferring balances from several cards onto a single card or account, aiming to simplify their use and ensure all value is utilized.

Understanding Gift Card Consolidation

Consolidating gift cards means combining the monetary value from two or more cards into one, creating a single card with a larger balance. This process is not universally available for all gift cards, as functionality depends on the issuing entity. Understanding gift card types is important for assessing consolidation possibilities.

Gift cards typically fall into two main categories: open-loop and closed-loop. Open-loop gift cards are branded by major payment networks such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. These cards can be used anywhere the respective payment network is accepted, offering broad spending flexibility. Their consolidation options are dependent on the specific issuer’s policies.

Closed-loop gift cards are issued by specific retailers or brands, such as Starbucks, Amazon, or Target. These cards are restricted to use only at the issuing merchant’s locations or online stores. Consolidation for closed-loop cards is usually more limited, often only possible with other cards from the same merchant. Consumers often seek to consolidate gift cards for convenience, to use up small residual balances, or to simplify spending management.

Practical Steps for Combining Gift Card Balances

Before attempting to combine gift card balances, check the balance and understand the terms and conditions for each card. Most gift cards provide a toll-free number or online instructions to check the balance. This step helps determine if a card has remaining value and is eligible for consolidation.

Some issuers and retailers offer online portals or accounts where multiple gift cards can be linked and balances transferred. For instance, platforms may allow users to add gift cards to an account balance, functioning as a single pool of funds for purchases with that retailer. Starbucks, for example, allows users to register multiple cards and transfer balances between them.

Retailers may provide in-store assistance for consolidating gift card balances, typically at a customer service desk. Contacting the gift card issuer’s customer service via phone can also facilitate consolidation, particularly for open-loop or specific store cards without online options. Consolidation methods depend entirely on the individual gift card issuer or retailer’s policies.

When Consolidation Isn’t Possible and Other Options

Consolidating gift cards may not be possible due to differences in card issuers or store policies. Security measures often restrict the ability to transfer balances between unrelated gift cards. Technical limitations, especially with older cards, can also prevent consolidation. For example, Walmart’s terms explicitly state that combining multiple gift cards to purchase a single item is not allowed.

When direct consolidation is not an option, several alternatives exist for utilizing gift card balances. One strategy involves combining the gift card with another payment method for a purchase. Many retailers allow customers to use a gift card to cover a portion of a transaction, with the remaining balance paid using cash, a credit card, or a debit card. This ensures the full value of the gift card is used, even if its balance is insufficient for the entire purchase.

Small, residual balances can be used for minor everyday purchases to fully deplete the card. Regifting or donating unwanted gift cards is another solution. Consumers can also sell or trade their gift cards on online platforms like CardCash, Raise, GiftCash, or KadePay. These platforms allow users to sell gift cards for cash, though typically at a discount ranging from 80% to 90% of the card’s face value.