All You Need to Know About Airbnb Gift Cards
An Airbnb gift card is money toward stays and experiences on Airbnb, and using one is simple: go to airbnb.com/gift, sign in (or create a free account), and enter the gift card number and PIN. The funds are added to your account right away and are applied automatically the next time you book. Below is everything else worth knowing, from checking your balance to whether they expire, plus where to buy one and how to steer clear of scams.How to Use Airbnb Gift Cards
Airbnb gift cards are used towards the booking fee of any property. As an Airbnb user, you can browse places at and around your destination while narrowing your focus with various filters, including the cost per room, the number of rooms, beds, and bathrooms, the property type, amenities, accessibility features, and booking options.
Airbnb also offers filters to find particular varieties of places to stay, including cabins, lakefront, farms, and vineyards. To use an Airbnb gift card, log into your account, go to this page on their website, and enter the code. This transfers the funds on the gift card to your Airbnb account, which is added automatically to your next purchase.
How to use (redeem) an Airbnb gift card
Redeeming takes about a minute:
- Go to airbnb.com/gift.
- Log in to your Airbnb account, or create one for free (you need an account to use a gift card).
- Enter the gift card number and PIN. On a physical card the PIN is usually under a scratch-off panel; on a digital card it's in the email.
- The balance is added to your account as Airbnb credit and is applied automatically to your next booking.
A few things worth knowing, straight from Airbnb: gift cards work for most stays and experiences (in the European Economic Area they're limited to stays), and you'll still need a payment method on file when you book, even if your gift card balance covers the whole reservation. Gift card credit can't be used for Resolution Center payments or collections.
How to check your Airbnb gift card balance
Your gift card balance lives in your Airbnb account once it's redeemed. To see it, log in and go to airbnb.com/gift, where your available credit is displayed. If you haven't added the card to your account yet, the balance is the amount printed on the card or shown in the gift card email.
Do Airbnb gift cards expire?
No. Airbnb gift cards never expire, whether the balance is still on the card or has been loaded into your account. One caveat Airbnb notes: in the US, funds left unused for several years could be subject to your state's unclaimed-property laws, so it's smart to redeem a card to your account soon after you get it (that also protects you if the card is ever lost).
Can you split a booking or use a gift card on an existing reservation?
Yes, more than the old rules suggested. If you book with Pay Part Now, Part Later, you can use gift card credit for the first payment, and you can also add credit to the second payment of an existing Pay Part Now, Part Later reservation from your Trips page (open the reservation, choose Get receipts and manage payments, then manage the credits applied). One heads-up from Airbnb: if your gift card doesn't cover the full balance, your default payment method is charged immediately for the full amount, so apply the credit before you confirm.
Can you use more than one gift card on Airbnb?
Yes. You can redeem multiple Airbnb gift cards into the same account, and the combined credit stacks and is applied automatically to your next booking. Just make sure you're redeeming them all into the same Airbnb account, and remember you'll still keep a payment method on file for anything the credit doesn't cover.
Where to buy an Airbnb gift card
Airbnb gift cards come in two formats: digital cards you can buy and send online, and physical cards from store gift-card racks. Here are the main places to buy one:
- Airbnb.com (digital): Buy and send a gift card directly from Airbnb and choose your amount.
- Gift Card Granny (digital): $50 to $500, personalize it with a design, emailed instantly, and earn Gift Card Granny rewards on your purchase.
- Grocery, drugstore, and big-box stores (physical): Look on the gift-card rack. This is the way to go when you want a card to hand over in person.
Is there an Airbnb gift card discount?
Mostly, no, and that's worth saying plainly. Airbnb gift cards are sold at face value: a $100 card costs $100, whether you buy it from Airbnb, Gift Card Granny, or a store rack. You may occasionally see small savings through a retailer's rewards program (buying through Gift Card Granny earns Gift Card Granny rewards, for example), but there's no standing "buy Airbnb gift cards for less" deal.
That matters because "discount Airbnb gift card" is exactly the phrase scammers use. Steer clear of any site promising free Airbnb gift cards or 50% off, treat "too good to be true" offers as fake, and only buy from Airbnb or a trusted retailer. If you want to earn a little back, stick with legitimate rewards and cash-back programs rather than chasing a discount that doesn't exist.
Airbnb gift cards make a great gift
Because they never expire and cover such a wide range of stays, an Airbnb gift card is a low-pressure gift: the recipient can put it toward a weekend cabin an hour away or save it for a bigger trip later, on their own timeline. If you're buying for someone, a digital card is the easy route (it arrives by email and can't be misplaced), while a physical card is nice when you want something to hand over in person. One tip: make sure the person likes staying in Airbnbs before you gift one, since it only helps if they're comfortable booking a stay.
Frequently asked questions
How do I redeem an Airbnb gift card? Go to airbnb.com/gift, log in or create a free account, and enter the gift card number and PIN. The balance is added to your account as credit and applied automatically to your next booking.
Do Airbnb gift cards expire? No, Airbnb gift cards never expire. In the US, funds left unused for years could fall under your state's unclaimed-property laws, so it's best to load the card into your account soon after receiving it.
Can I use an Airbnb gift card on an existing booking? Yes, for a Pay Part Now, Part Later reservation. You can add gift card credit to the second payment from your Trips page under Get receipts and manage payments. If the credit doesn't cover the full balance, your default payment method is charged for the full amount.
Can you use more than one Airbnb gift card at a time? Yes. Redeem each card into the same Airbnb account and the credit combines, then applies automatically to your next booking.
Where can I buy an Airbnb gift card? Directly from Airbnb.com, digitally from Gift Card Granny ($50–$500), or as a physical card at many grocery, drugstore, and big-box gift-card racks.
Is there such a thing as a discounted Airbnb gift card? Not really. Airbnb gift cards sell at face value. Be wary of any site advertising free or half-price Airbnb gift cards, as those are typically scams. Buy only from Airbnb or a trusted retailer.