Target Gift Card Policy: No Expiration, Balance Check & Lost Cards

Target GiftCards are simple in principle: no expiration, usable in stores and online. The useful details are where they don't work, how to check a balance and what to do if a card is lost or a code never arrives. This guide covers Target's own GiftCards, plus a short note on the Visa, Mastercard and American Express gift cards Target sells, based on Target's help pages.

Do Target gift cards expire?

No. Target GiftCards don't expire and don't lose value over time, even if that's printed on the card ⁵. You can use them for all or part of their value anywhere in a Target store or on Target.com ⁵.

Where you can and can't use a Target GiftCard

Target GiftCards can be used ¹:

• For alcohol and other restricted items
• At Starbucks and CVS Pharmacy inside Target stores, and at Target Café
• At Target Optical in stores (not for Target Optical purchases online)

They can't be used ¹⁵:

• To pay a Target Circle Card bill
• To buy Visa, Mastercard or American Express gift cards, iTunes gift cards, specialty gift cards (gaming, restaurants) or other Target GiftCards
• For digital video game downloads
• At Minute Clinics inside Target stores

How to check your balance

• By phone: call 1-800-544-2943 to hear the balance and your last five transactions ².
• Online: you need a Target account. Enter the 15-digit card number and the access number or PIN, found under the silver strip on the back of a physical card ².
• Saved cards: in the Target app or on Target.com, open My Target and then Gift cards to see the balance ².

If you need the access number for a card saved to your account, request it on Target.com; it's emailed to the address on your account ². Access numbers can't be requested in the Target app ².

Paying with gift cards in store and online

• You can use up to 10 gift cards per transaction, in stores or online ⁵.
• Target GiftCards are always charged before a credit or debit card ⁵.
• You need the access number to redeem a card in store or on Target.com ⁵.
• Email and mobile (text) gift cards need a Target account to use ⁵.
• Your Target account wallet holds up to 20 Target GiftCards ¹. Regular (non-promotional) cards saved there can't be combined into one ¹.
• Same Day Delivery orders need a second payment method in case of substitutions ¹.

Hold on to your gift card until an online order arrives, in case Target needs to change the order and credit the card ¹.

Buying Target gift cards

Physical cards bought in a store can carry any amount from $5 - $500 ¹. On Target.com and in the app, you can choose set amounts from $10 to $500 or a custom value between $5 - $500 ¹.

• eGiftCards (email) and mobile (text) cards usually arrive within 4 hours, or you can schedule delivery up to three months ahead ¹.
• Mailed physical cards usually arrive within 7-10 days ¹. They ship free with standard shipping ¹, and tracking is only available if you choose express shipping ¹.
• Gift card orders can't be picked up with Order Pickup ¹.
• Target GiftCards are also sold at over 30,000 other locations, including some grocery stores and pharmacies ¹.

Target GiftCards are not reloadable ¹.

Lost, damaged or missing gift cards

• Lost card with a balance: call the Target GiftCard team at 1-800-544-2943. You'll need the original receipt, and a partly used card is replaced for the remaining balance ¹.
• Damaged barcode: call the same number with the original receipt. If the barcode is still intact and the access code is legible, your local store may be able to scan and replace the card ¹.
• eGiftCard or text card never arrived: contact Target.com Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869 to have it resent ¹.

Target can reject or deactivate any gift card to prevent fraud or abuse ⁵.

Refunds and returns involving gift cards

Target GiftCards and other gift cards can't be returned or redeemed for cash or credit except where the law requires it ³. If you return something you paid for with a Target GiftCard, the refund comes back as a new Target eGiftCard ³. For the full return rules, see the Target return policy.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express gift cards from Target

The prepaid network gift cards Target sells work differently from Target GiftCards. Their balances never expire, but they have no cash value ⁴. If a physical card still has money on it after its Good Thru date, call the number on the back and the issuer will send a new card ⁴.

Quick tips

• Scratch off the silver strip carefully; you'll need the access number to spend the card ⁵.
• Keep the original receipt when you buy a gift card, since a replacement requires it ¹.
• Save gift cards to your Target account so their balances are easy to check ².
• Compare other retailers' rules in our gift card policy guides, or see all of Target's policies on the Target store page.