How to Convert eGifts to Printable Gift Cards
Short answer: yes. If you have a digital gift card (an eGift), you can print it at home and use the printout in store, as long as the page shows the card number, barcode, or PIN. You cannot print a plastic gift card you don't have yet, but almost any eGift can be turned into a paper version in about a minute. Here's how I do it.
How to print an eGift card you received
1. Find the eGift email. Look in your inbox for the message from the store or from Gift Card Granny letting you know a gift card is waiting. Open it and click the button to view or redeem your card.
2. Open the card details and print. You'll land on a page showing the amount, the card number, and usually a barcode and PIN. Use your browser's print option (or File then Print), pick your printer, and print the page. That's it. Your eGift is now a printable gift card.
3. Use it in store. Bring the printout to the register and hand it to the cashier. They'll scan the barcode or type in the card number and PIN. If there's a balance left over, hold onto the printout and use it again next time. No need to spend it all at once.
Quick tip: if your printout doesn't have a barcode, don't worry. Just ask the associate to key in the gift card number and PIN by hand. The card works the same whether the barcode prints or not.
Where to buy a gift card you can print at home
If you're the one sending the gift and you want the recipient to be able to print it, buy a digital gift card rather than a plastic one. A digital gift card usually arrives by email within minutes, so there's no waiting on the mail, and the person you send it to can print it or use it straight from their phone.
On Gift Card Granny you can send an eGift to a wide range of popular stores and restaurants from the brand catalog, keep an eye on current gift card discounts, and earn rewards while you shop. If you'd rather give something that works almost anywhere, a Visa gift card is a flexible pick that can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted in the US.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print out an eGift card?
Yes. Open the eGift email, click through to the card details, and use your browser or device's print option to print the page. As long as the printout shows the card number and PIN (and a barcode, if the store uses one), you can use it in store just like a plastic card.
How do I print my own gift card?
If you mean a gift card you already have as an eGift, open the card details page and print it from your browser. If you mean a homemade gift certificate or card, that's a DIY template project rather than a real gift card. To give something with a real balance behind it, send a digital gift card and let the recipient print it.
What stores offer printable gift cards?
Most major stores and restaurants that sell eGift cards let you print the card after you redeem the email, because an eGift is just a digital version of the same card. You can send printable eGifts to many popular brands through the Gift Card Granny catalog.
Do printed gift cards expire?
A printout follows the same rules as the card it came from. Under federal law, most gift card funds cannot expire for at least five years. For the full details, see our guide on whether gift cards expire.
Can you print a Visa gift card?
A digital Visa gift card can be printed like any other eGift, and the printout shows the card number you'll use for online purchases, since a digital Visa is made for shopping at internet merchants. For in-store shopping, you'll want a physical Visa gift card. Pick the format that matches how the recipient plans to spend it.