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If you’ve ever tried to use an American Express (Amex) gift card on Amazon, you probably know it’s not as simple as entering the code at checkout. Amazon doesn’t treat Amex gift cards like its own store gift cards — but there’s a reliable workaround that lets you spend every dollar (or nearly every dollar) from your Amex card on Amazon.

This guide walks you through the step-by-step process, including a Reddit-tested trick that thousands of users have confirmed works in 2025.

🧾 Why You Can’t Add an Amex Gift Card Directly

Amazon does accept Amex gift cards, but not as a traditional “gift card balance.” Instead, they must be added as a credit or debit card. The issue is that Amazon doesn’t allow split payments across multiple cards, so your order total can’t exceed the exact balance on the Amex card.

That’s why the best solution is to convert your Amex gift card into Amazon credit by reloading your Amazon balance.

💡 The Most Reliable Method

This method works consistently for most Amex gift cards.

Step 1: Add Your Amex Gift Card as a Payment Method

  1. Go to Amazon.com → Account → Your Payments.
  2. Click Add a payment method → Add a credit or debit card.
  3. Enter your Amex gift card number, expiration date, and security code (CVV).
  4. When asked for the cardholder name, just use your own name — not “Happy Holidays” or whatever is printed on the card.
  5. If prompted for a billing address, register one on the Amex Gift Card website first.
How to get your Amex Gift Cards to work on Amazon
byu/CaptianCanuck inamex

Step 2: Reload Your Amazon Balance in Small Increments

  1. Go to Amazon Gift Cards → Reload Your Balance.
  2. Choose a custom amount slightly less than your gift card’s total — Reddit users recommend $0.10 less.
    • Example: For a $50 card, enter $49.90.
  3. Click Buy Now and select your Amex gift card as the payment method.
  4. Wait a few minutes for the reload to process. Your Amazon balance should update shortly.

If it fails, try a smaller increment such as $9.99, then repeat until the full amount is transferred.

Step 3 (Optional): Repeat Until the Card Is Empty

If you have multiple Amex gift cards, repeat the process for each one. Some users have reported that larger reloads (like $49.90 or $99.90) work fine, while others prefer smaller $9.99 increments for safety.

You might lose a few cents (usually $0.10–$0.20) due to authorization holds, but most people can successfully transfer 99.8%+ of their gift card value.

🧠 Pro Tips from Reddit Users

  • ✅ Leave a small buffer — always reload a few cents less than the total balance.
  • ✅ Register your card at Amex’s site before using it.
  • ✅ Use your real name when adding the card to Amazon.
  • ⚠️ Avoid multiple reloads too quickly — Amazon may temporarily flag repeated transactions.
  • ⚠️ Don’t try to use the card directly at checkout — it often fails if the total exceeds your card balance.

🪙 Example Success Stories

  • $100 Amex card → $99.90 Amazon reload (worked instantly)
  • $200 Amex card → $199.90 reload (processed in 5 minutes)
  • $500 Amex card → $498 reload (left $2 buffer, worked perfectly)

Hundreds of users on Reddit confirmed this method still works as of 2025, with only minor variations.

🧩 Final Thoughts

While Amazon doesn’t make it easy to use prepaid Amex gift cards, this reload workaround is the most reliable way to convert your card into usable Amazon credit.

By adding the card as a payment method and reloading your Amazon balance in small, slightly reduced amounts, you can effectively spend your Amex gift card funds with minimal hassle.

🪄 Quick Summary:

  • Add your Amex gift card as a credit card.
  • Reload your Amazon balance for $0.10 less than the card total.
  • Repeat until the balance is used up.

It’s that simple — and it works.

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