Can You Buy A Gift Card With A Gift Card

Short answer: sometimes, and it comes down to two things, the kind of card you're holding and the store's policy. An open-loop Visa or Mastercard gift card works like a debit card, so it can often buy another brand's gift card, though plenty of stores block it. A store's own gift card usually can't buy more of that same store's cards, but some retailers will let you put it toward other brands. Granny's rule: gift cards are often treated as "cash equivalent" at checkout, so confirm with the retailer before you count on it.

The two things that decide it

Whether you can buy a gift card with a gift card comes down to your card type and where you're trying to use it.

1. What kind of gift card are you holding?

• An open-loop card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) works almost anywhere debit is accepted, so it has the best odds of buying another gift card. The catch: many retailers specifically block using it for gift cards, and some prepaid card terms forbid it outright.
• A closed-loop store card (Target, Starbucks, a restaurant, etc.) only spends at that brand. You generally can't use it to buy more of that same brand's gift cards, though a store that sells other brands' cards may let you put it toward those.

2. What's the store's policy?

Stores often classify gift cards, money orders, and lottery tickets as "cash-equivalent" purchases and block them at the register, and the rule can vary from one location to the next. Target, for example, lets you buy some non-Target brand cards online with a Target GiftCard, but not Target cards and not Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or specialty gaming and restaurant cards. The only reliable way to know is to ask that retailer before you try.

Using a Visa or Mastercard gift card to buy a gift card

Because an open-loop Visa or Mastercard gift card runs like debit, it's your best shot at buying another gift card, in person or online. Two things make it go smoothly: register the card first (add your name and ZIP code on the issuer's site, which many cards require before they clear an online billing check), and know the exact balance, since a charge even a penny over what's left will be declined. Even then, some stores won't allow it, so keep a backup payment method handy.

Using a store gift card to buy a gift card

A closed-loop store card is more limited. You typically can't turn a Starbucks card into more Starbucks cards, or a Target card into Target cards. What sometimes works is using a store card at a retailer that sells other brands' gift cards, putting a Target GiftCard toward a non-Target brand online, for instance. Policies differ by retailer and change over time, so treat it as a "check first" situation rather than a sure thing.

The Amazon move worth knowing

Here's a useful one for a leftover balance. You can't buy an Amazon-branded gift card directly with a Visa gift card, but you can reload your Amazon balance with a Visa or Mastercard gift card and then spend that balance like normal. Use Amazon's One-Time Reload option (it needs at least $5 on the card), register the card's ZIP code so it clears the billing check, and enter the exact balance. The full amount, odd cents and all, moves into your Amazon account and doesn't expire once it's there. It's the cleanest way to rescue the last few dollars on a card you'd otherwise forget in a drawer.

Stuck with a gift card you won't use?

If a card just isn't for you, you have a few honest options: spend it on something small you'd buy anyway, put it toward a gift card you'll use where the store allows it, or regift it (no shame in that, just keep the original amount to yourself). The one thing to skip is letting it gather dust. If you're swapping for a card you'll use, pick a low-risk brand you know you'll spend, a coffee shop, a movie ticket, a bookstore, an everyday restaurant, rather than another card that ends up in the same drawer.

Buy a gift card you'll use on Gift Card Granny

If you're shopping for a card you know will get used, Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands, plus Visa and Mastercard gift cards you can send in minutes. A few reliable, hard-to-waste picks:

• Barnes & Noble for the reader
• Fandango for a night at the movies
• Dunkin' for the daily coffee run
• The Cheesecake Factory for a sit-down treat

Many brands on Gift Card Granny also earn cash back, though the eligible list and rates rotate, so check the card's page before you buy. (Open-loop Visa and Mastercard gift cards don't earn cash back.)

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy a gift card with a gift card? Sometimes. It depends on your card type and the store's policy. An open-loop Visa or Mastercard gift card behaves like debit and can often buy another brand's card, though many stores block it. A store's own card usually can't buy more of that same store's cards. Gift cards are frequently treated as "cash equivalent" at checkout, so confirm with the retailer first.

Can you use a Visa gift card to buy a gift card? Often, since a Visa gift card runs like debit, but not always, because many retailers block buying gift cards with a prepaid card and some card terms forbid it. Register the card's name and ZIP first, know the exact balance, and keep a backup payment method in case the store says no.

Can you buy a gift card with a store gift card? Usually not for that same store's cards (a Target card can't buy Target cards). Some retailers that sell other brands' gift cards will let you use a store card toward those, but it varies by retailer, so check before you assume.

Can you buy an Amazon gift card with a Visa gift card? Not directly. Instead, reload your Amazon balance with the Visa gift card using the One-Time Reload option (minimum $5), then spend that balance. Register the card's ZIP code and enter the exact balance so it clears.

Can you buy a gift card with a credit card? Generally yes, most stores let you buy gift cards with a credit card, though some issuers treat it as a cash advance or leave it out of rewards. Check your card's terms if that matters to you.

What should I do with a gift card I won't use? Spend it on something you'd buy anyway, put it toward a gift card you'll use where the store allows it, or regift it. To use up a small leftover balance, reloading it onto your Amazon account is one of the easiest routes.