Buying Gift Cards With Your Walmart Credit Card
Yes, you can buy gift cards with a Walmart credit card, but there are limits
You can purchase gift cards at Walmart using the Walmart credit card — either the Walmart Mastercard or the Walmart Store Card — just as you would with cash or any other payment method. However, Walmart has a daily purchase limit on gift cards of $500 per day, and you cannot buy gift cards for other retailers using your Walmart card at a Walmart register. You can only purchase Walmart gift cards, Google Play cards, and a limited selection of other brand gift cards that Walmart stocks.
The $500 daily limit exists to prevent fraud and misuse. If you need to buy more than $500 in gift cards in a single day, you would need to return on another day or use a different payment method. This limit applies whether you're paying with the Walmart credit card, a debit card, or cash.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart credit cards work for buying Walmart gift cards and certain brand gift cards that Walmart sells, subject to a $500 daily purchase limit per person.
- You cannot use your Walmart card to buy gift cards for other retailers (like Target or Amazon) at the Walmart register, even though Walmart may stock them.
- The $500 daily limit resets each calendar day and applies to all gift card purchases regardless of payment method.
- Buying gift cards with a credit card counts as a purchase, not a cash advance, so you earn rewards on the transaction if your card offers them.
What gift cards you can actually buy at Walmart
Walmart stocks gift cards for its own stores and for third-party brands, but the selection varies by location. You can reliably purchase Walmart gift cards and Google Play cards at any Walmart. Beyond that, the available brands change — some stores carry Netflix, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple, and Starbucks gift cards, while others may not.
Before you go to the register planning to buy a specific brand's gift card, call your local Walmart or check their website to confirm they have it in stock. Gift card availability is not consistent across all locations, and you do not want to make a trip only to find out they do not carry what you need.
How rewards work when you buy gift cards
When you use your Walmart credit card to buy a gift card, the purchase counts as a regular transaction, not a cash advance. This means you earn rewards on it if your card offers them. The Walmart Mastercard earns 3% cash back on Walmart purchases (which includes gift cards bought at Walmart), while the Walmart Store Card earns rewards points that you can use toward future Walmart purchases.
This is one reason some people buy gift cards with their Walmart credit card — they earn rewards on the purchase itself. However, remember that you still have to spend the gift card eventually, so you are not getting assistance programs; you are simply earning rewards on money you were going to spend anyway.
The $500 daily limit and how it works
Walmart enforces a $500 per-person, per-day limit on gift card purchases. This limit applies to all payment methods — credit card, debit card, or cash. The limit resets at midnight each day, so if you hit the cap on Monday, you can buy another $500 in gift cards on Tuesday.
If you need to purchase more than $500 in gift cards, you have a few options: return on a different day, send someone else to buy gift cards (they would have their own $500 limit), or use a different payment method if you think the limit might be tied to your card specifically. In practice, the limit is tied to the transaction at the register, not to your card account, so switching payment methods on the same day will not help you exceed $500.
Why Walmart has these restrictions
The $500 daily limit and the restriction on buying third-party gift cards exist to reduce fraud and money laundering. Gift cards are a common tool in scams — someone convinces a victim to buy gift cards and send them the codes, or a criminal uses stolen payment information to buy gift cards and resell them. By capping daily purchases and limiting which cards you can buy, Walmart reduces the damage a fraudster can do with a single stolen card or account.
These limits also protect Walmart itself. If someone uses a stolen credit card to buy $5,000 in gift cards in one day, Walmart could be liable for the chargeback. The restrictions make that scenario much harder to pull off.
What to do if you need to buy gift cards regularly
If you buy gift cards frequently — for employee bonuses, gifts, or other reasons — the $500 daily limit may affect your plans. You can spread purchases across multiple days, or you can buy gift cards using different payment methods on the same day (though each method still has its own $500 limit). Some businesses that buy gift cards in bulk contact Walmart's corporate office to discuss options, though there is no may provide they will make exceptions.
Another option is to buy gift cards online through Walmart.com, which may have different limits or policies than in-store purchases. Check Walmart's website or call their customer service line to ask about online gift card purchase limits if you need to buy in larger quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Amazon or Target gift cards with my Walmart credit card at Walmart?
No. Walmart does not allow you to buy gift cards for competing retailers at the register, even if they stock them. You can only buy Walmart gift cards and the brand gift cards that Walmart itself sells, like Google Play or Netflix. To buy Amazon or Target gift cards, you would need to use a different payment method at a different retailer or purchase them online directly from Amazon or Target.
Does the $500 limit apply if I buy gift cards online?
Gift card purchase limits on Walmart.com may differ from in-store limits. Contact Walmart's customer service or check their website for their online gift card purchase policy, as it is not the same as the in-store $500 daily limit.
If I hit the $500 limit, can I use a different Walmart card to buy more?
No. The limit is per person per day, not per card. If you have multiple Walmart credit cards under your name, you still cannot exceed $500 in gift card purchases in a single day at the register.
Do I earn the same rewards on gift cards as I do on regular purchases?
Yes. Gift card purchases earn the same rewards rate as other Walmart purchases on your Walmart credit card. The Walmart Mastercard earns 3% cash back on Walmart purchases, including gift cards.
What happens if I try to buy more than $500 in gift cards in one day?
The register will decline the transaction once you reach $500. You would need to either remove some gift cards from your purchase or return on a different day to complete the transaction.