How to Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card?

We’ve all been there. That moment you unwrap a brightly colored envelope, pull out a gift card… and feel a tiny pang of disappointment. It’s not that you aren’t grateful! But maybe it’s for a store you never visit, or you’d much rather have credit somewhere else. Your eyes drift to the gift card rack near the checkout. A thought flickers: Can you buy a gift card with a gift card? Could you just swap them?

It seems straightforward. Turns out, reality is messier than you’d think. The honest truth? Sometimes you can, but it’s rarely easy, and almost never works everywhere.

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Whether you can buy a gift card with a gift card really boils down to three things: the specific store’s rules, the kind of cards in your hand, and honestly, sometimes it depends on who’s behind the counter that day or which register you pick. Let’s unpack why this seemingly simple swap gets so complicated.

How do Gift Cards Work?

To get why swapping is hard, you need to know what you’re holding. Not all gift cards are the same:

• Store-Specific Cards: These are essentially store currency, valid only at Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, etc. Ever since the invention of gift cards, their main job has been to get you into that specific store to spend. The store wants you buying their stuff.
• Prepaid Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex): These act more like temporary cash or a debit card. They have a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex logo and can be used almost anywhere that accepts those networks. Understanding how gift cards work internationally is key here, as fees and acceptance vary wildly outside the USA.
• E-Gift Cards: The digital cousins. How e-gift card work is simple: a code delivered via email or app holds the value, redeemable online or sometimes in-store by scanning your phone. Same rules apply, just less plastic.

So, why won’t most stores let you swap? It boils down to two big things: fraud prevention and protecting their business. Converting one restricted form of value (a gift card) into another (especially a flexible prepaid Visa card) can be used to hide where money came from (money laundering). It also cuts into their profits, they make money when you buy actual products, not when you shuffle plastic around.

Can You Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card?

Technically, you can buy a gift card with a gift card in specific situations. But you’re likely to run into walls:

• The “Cash Equivalent” Rule: This is the big one. Stores often classify buying other gift cards, money orders, or lottery tickets as “cash equivalent” transactions. Using a gift card for these is almost always blocked by policy or the store’s computer system.
• Network Restrictions: Prepaid Visa and Mastercard gift cards frequently have terms explicitly forbidding their use to buy other gift cards. Retailer cards usually have similar fine print.
• POS Roadblocks: The cash register itself is often programmed to automatically decline a gift card if you’re trying to buy another gift card.

Where Can You Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card?

Success isn’t guaranteed, but these paths offer a glimmer of hope:

Walmart

Their policy has shifted like sand over the years. Sometimes, in the past, you could use a Walmart gift card at self-checkout to buy a third-party card (like for Chili’s or AMC). Trying to buy a Walmart gift card with another Walmart card? Forget it. Can you buy a gift card with a gift card at Walmart? Maybe a different store’s card, maybe not. Check their website right before you try, it changes.

Target

Generally says “no” to using Target cards for other gift cards. However, using a prepaid Visa/Mastercard you already have (like one you got as a gift) to buy a Target gift card might work at self-checkout or online. It’s not a sure thing.

Amazon

Here’s a clearer win. You cannot use your Amazon gift card balance to buy another Amazon gift card. But, you can use it to buy gift cards for tons of other places (restaurants, spas, retailers) sold right on Amazon.com. This is a solid way to swap an Amazon card for something else. Can you buy a gift card with a gift card on Amazon? Yes, just not their own.

Grocery Stores (Kroger, Safeway, etc.)

Using a prepaid Visa/Mastercard you possess to buy a store gift card (theirs or another brand) sometimes works, especially if you swipe it yourself at self-checkout. Using the store’s own gift card for this? Almost always blocked.

Sell or Trade

Websites like CardCash specialize in this. You sell your unwanted card (usually for less than face value, sadly) for cash or trade it directly for a different brand’s card. This avoids the register hassle entirely. You might even stumble upon deals for free gift cards as sign-up bonuses on these platforms.

eBay

List your card for sale, get PayPal cash, then use that cash to buy the card you actually want. More steps, but effective.

Places Where You Can’t Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card

Save yourself the trip and the awkwardness at these spots:

Most restaurants, small businesses, Starbucks, Apple Store, Best Buy, GameStop, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and their rules are usually crystal clear: no using their gift cards to buy any other gift cards. The register will likely say no before the cashier even tries.

Alternatives to Buying Gift Cards with Gift Cards

If you still want to buy a gift card, you can consider alternatives.

The following are some of the easiest alternatives:

1. Use a Credit or Debit Card

The easiest way to purchase a gift card is by using a debit or credit card. This transaction does not have any restrictions and can be completed at most retail stores out there.

2. Prepaid Visa or MasterCard

Cards like prepaid Visa and MasterCard are popular ways to buy another gift card. This is because these cards are like debit cards, which makes this option much more flexible.

3. Gift Card Exchange Websites

There are many platforms out there which provide you with the option to exchange your existing gift card for other gift cards or even for cash.

4. Use the Gift Card for Personal Use

If you fail to get rid of the gift card, then you can use the existing gift card to buy items from that retailer. Then you can buy the new gift card using an accepted payment method.

Tips If You Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card

If you head to a store to attempt a swap, keep these in mind:

• Check the Gift Card Policy: Before you leave the house, search “[Store Name] gift card policy” online. Don’t rely on what worked last month.
• Self-Checkout is Your Friend: If using a prepaid Visa/Mastercard, the automated system might be less strict than a cashier following a manager’s rules.
• Start Small: Instead of trying to swap the full $50, try buying a $10 gift card first to see if it goes through.
• Be Kind and Clear: If you need a cashier, be polite. “Hi, I’d like to use this Visa gift card to buy this Home Depot gift card, please.” If they say no, thank them and move on. Arguing won’t help, it’s usually the computer or company policy blocking it, not them.
• Online Exchanges Offer Certainty: Platforms like CardCash or using your Amazon balance for third-party cards provide much clearer outcomes than guessing at a physical store.

Wrapping It Up

So, can you buy a gift card with a gift card? The honest truth is: Yes, it’s possible in very specific situations. Your best bets are:

• Use a prepaid Visa/Mastercard to buy a store-specific gift card online.
• Using an Amazon gift card balance to buy gift cards from third-party sellers on Amazon.com.
• Selling/trading your card online for cash or a different card.

However, directly trading one store-branded gift card for another gift card (especially another prepaid Visa/Mastercard) is nearly impossible. Store policies and POS systems are built to prevent it. While the urge to swap is totally understandable, the system isn’t designed for easy conversions.

Takeaway: Gift cards are meant for spending at specific places. Before buying one, think hard about whether the recipient will truly use it. Stuck with a card you just won’t use? Honestly, selling it on a reputable exchange site is usually your simplest path forward. Sure, you might take a slight discount, but you’ll actually get value you can spend.

Trying to force a direct swap at the register? That’s way more likely to end with an awkward shoulder shrug from the cashier and a big “nope” from the machine, a declined transaction. Learning these limits, really understanding how gift cards work and why the rules are there, saves you a whole lot of hassle later. It’s wisdom learned the hard way.