Target GiftCards are among the most popular gift cards in the U.S. They work in every Target store and on Target.com, and they never expire. This guide covers every official way to check your balance, how to save the card to your account, how to spend it, and what to do if the card is lost, damaged or showing the wrong amount.
Table of Contents
Quick answer
According to Target’s help center, you can check a Target GiftCard balance in three ways:
- Online: go to target.com/giftcard/check-balance and enter the 15-digit card number and the Access Number or PIN. You’ll need to sign in to a Target account (or create a free one).
- By phone: call 1-800-544-2943 to hear your balance and your last five transactions.
- In store: any Target cashier or Guest Services desk can check the balance for you.
What you need before you check
Have these ready so the check takes less than a minute:
- The card number. On a plastic card it’s the long number on the back. On an eGiftCard it’s in the email or text message you received.
- The Access Number or PIN. On plastic cards this is usually under a scratch-off strip on the back. Scratch gently with a coin so you don’t damage the digits.
- A Target account if you plan to check online. Creating one is free and only takes an email address and password.
How to check your balance online, step by step
- Open target.com/giftcard/check-balance in your browser. Type the address yourself or use the link from Target’s own website.
- Sign in to your Target account, or create one if you don’t have it yet.
- Enter the 15-digit GiftCard number.
- Enter the Access Number or PIN.
- Submit the form to see the remaining balance.
If the page says the number is invalid, re-type it slowly. The most common mistake is mixing up the card number and the access number, or missing a digit hidden under the scratch-off area.
How to check your balance by phone
Call Target’s GiftCard line at 1-800-544-2943 and follow the automated prompts. You’ll be asked to enter the card number and access number with your keypad. The system reads out your balance and your last five transactions. That makes it the best choice if you want to see where the money went, not just how much is left.
The phone option is also useful if you don’t want to create a Target account, or if the website keeps giving you an error.
How to check your balance in store
Bring the card (or the eGiftCard barcode on your phone) to any register or to Guest Services and ask for a balance check. The team member scans the card and tells you what’s left. If you’re about to pay, you can simply use the card at checkout. The receipt shows the amount charged to the card and the remaining balance.
Check the balance of a card saved to your Target account
If you’ve saved the GiftCard to your Target account:
- Sign in to your Target account on target.com or in the Target app.
- Open Settings.
- Select Gift cards to see your balance.
Saving the card to your account is a good idea. Checkout is faster in the app and online, you can see the balance at any time, and you won’t need the plastic card to spend it.
How to use a Target GiftCard
- In store: hand the card to the cashier, or show the barcode from your eGiftCard or the Target app wallet.
- Printed eGiftCard: the cashier scans the barcode and enters the Access Number.
- Online and in the app: choose GiftCard as the payment method and enter the number and access code, or pick a card saved to your account.
- Drive Up and Order Pickup: GiftCards saved in your account can be used for app orders.
If your order costs more than the card balance, you can pay the difference with another payment method. Target GiftCards can be used only at Target stores and on Target.com. Target says they can’t be used to buy other gift cards or prepaid cards.
Balance looks wrong? Try this
- Look at recent transactions. Call 1-800-544-2943 to hear the last five transactions. A family member may have used a card saved to a shared account.
- Check pending orders. An online order that hasn’t shipped yet may already be charged to the card.
- Wait for returns to post. Refunds for items bought with a GiftCard usually go back to a GiftCard, and the credit can take a little time to show up.
- Keep your receipts. If something still doesn’t add up, call the GiftCard line and have the card number, access number and purchase receipt ready.
Lost, stolen or damaged card?
Target’s card terms say you can replace the remaining value on a lost, stolen or damaged card with the original purchase receipt by calling 1-800-544-2943. Without the receipt, a replacement isn’t guaranteed. That’s why it pays to:
- Keep the receipt for any gift card you buy, or give it to the person you’re gifting it to.
- Photograph the card number and access number on cards you receive.
- Save the card to your Target account as soon as you get it.
Target GiftCard vs. other gift cards sold at Target
Target sells gift cards for hundreds of other brands, from restaurants to streaming services. A restaurant or streaming card bought at Target is not a Target GiftCard. Check its balance with the brand printed on the card, not with Target. Prepaid Visa and Mastercard gift cards sold at Target also have their own issuer websites, terms and, in some cases, fees.
Buying for a company or a team? Target has a separate Corporate GiftCard program for orders of 10 or more cards.
Keep your gift card balance safe
- Only check your balance on the official website, app or receipt. Search ads and pop-ups sometimes lead to look-alike “balance checker” pages that copy your card number and PIN.
- Never read your card number or PIN to someone who calls, texts or emails you. The FTC warns that anyone who demands payment in gift cards is a scammer. No government agency, utility or real company asks to be paid that way.
- Keep the receipt until the card is used up. Target needs it to replace a lost or damaged card.
- Inspect cards before you buy them. If the PIN strip is scratched or the packaging looks resealed, choose another card.
- Report scams quickly. If you gave your card details to a scammer, call 1-800-544-2943 right away and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
FAQ
Do Target GiftCards expire?
No. Target GiftCards have no expiration date and no fees, according to Target.
Can I check my balance without an account?
Target’s online balance check asks you to sign in. Without an account, call 1-800-544-2943 or ask at any Target register.
Can I use more than one GiftCard on a purchase?
Yes, you can use several GiftCards on one purchase. Ask Guest Services if you need help with a large number of cards.
Can I use a Target GiftCard to buy other gift cards?
No. Target says its GiftCards can’t be used to buy other gift cards or prepaid cards.
Can I see where my GiftCard balance was spent?
Yes. Calling 1-800-544-2943 gives you the last five transactions on the card.
Is it safe to use third-party balance checker websites?
It’s best to avoid them. Use Target’s own website, app, phone line or a store register so your card number and PIN stay private.
Md. Emam Hasan is the founder of Freestuffbase and a digital marketer and SEO specialist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He researches free samples, gift card policies and sweepstakes rules from official sources, and writes practical guides to help readers save money and avoid scams. More at emamit.com.