Yes, you can buy gift cards with a Walmart credit card, but the rules depend on which card you have and what kind of gift card you're buying
The Walmart Credit Card and the Walmart Rewards Card both let you purchase gift cards at Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. However, there's an important catch: if you're using the card to buy a gift card for a different retailer — say, an Amazon or Target gift card sold at Walmart — that purchase may not earn the bonus rewards that Walmart gift cards do. The card issuer, Capital One, processes these as regular purchases rather than Walmart purchases, which changes your rewards rate.
Buying a Walmart gift card with your Walmart credit card is straightforward and works the same way as any other purchase. You swipe or insert the card at checkout, or enter it online. The transaction posts to your account like any other charge. The gift card itself becomes a separate payment method that the recipient can use later.
Key Takeaways
- Both the Walmart Credit Card and Walmart Rewards Card let you buy Walmart gift cards, and the purchase counts toward your credit limit and monthly statement.
- Walmart gift cards bought with your Walmart card earn the standard rewards rate for that card, but third-party gift cards (Amazon, Target, etc.) sold at Walmart typically earn no bonus rewards.
- Gift card purchases do not trigger cash back or rewards immediately — rewards post when the gift card is actually spent by the recipient.
- Buying a gift card does not reduce your available credit any differently than a regular purchase; the charge appears on your statement like any other transaction.
How rewards work when you buy a Walmart gift card
When you buy a Walmart gift card with your Walmart credit card, the purchase itself earns rewards based on your card's terms. The Walmart Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on Walmart.com purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The Walmart Credit Card earns rewards points that vary by purchase category. Both cards treat a Walmart gift card purchase as a Walmart purchase, so it qualifies for the higher rate.
However, the rewards do not post to your account right away. They post when the gift card is actually redeemed — when the recipient uses it to buy something at Walmart. This means if you buy a $50 Walmart gift card in December and the recipient doesn't use it until February, your cash back or points won't show up until February. If the gift card is never used, you won't earn any rewards on it.
This is different from buying a physical item. When you buy a shirt, rewards post within days. When you buy a gift card, the system waits to see what the recipient actually purchases with it, then calculates rewards based on those final purchases.
Third-party gift cards sold at Walmart earn no bonus rewards
Walmart sells gift cards for other retailers — Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Starbucks, and many others — right at the checkout counter and online. If you buy one of these with your Walmart credit card, the purchase typically earns no bonus rewards. Capital One classifies these as regular purchases, not Walmart purchases, so they earn the base rate (usually 1% cash back on the Walmart Rewards Card, or the lowest tier on the Walmart Credit Card).
This matters if you're thinking of using your Walmart card to buy a gift card for someone else's favorite store. You're better off using a different rewards card that earns bonus cash back on that retailer, or using a card with flat-rate rewards. The Walmart card is optimized for Walmart spending, not for buying gift cards to other stores.
Gift card purchases and your credit limit
Buying a gift card uses your available credit exactly like any other purchase. If your credit limit is $1,000 and you buy a $100 gift card, your available credit drops to $900 until you pay the bill. The charge appears on your monthly statement as a regular purchase, and you pay interest on it if you carry a balance (just as you would on any other purchase).
Some people worry that buying a gift card is treated differently by the credit card company — that it might be flagged as a cash advance or handled specially. It isn't. From the card issuer's perspective, a gift card purchase is a normal retail transaction. It counts toward your monthly spending, it affects your credit utilization ratio, and it's subject to your card's standard interest rate if unpaid.
When buying a gift card might not work
A few situations can prevent you from buying a gift card with your Walmart card. Some stores limit gift card purchases to prevent fraud or money laundering. Walmart itself doesn't have a blanket limit, but individual stores or online systems may have daily or per-transaction caps. If you're trying to buy a very large gift card — say, $500 or more — call the store or Walmart customer service first to confirm it's possible.
Your card issuer, Capital One, might also decline the transaction if it looks unusual for your account. If you normally spend $50 a month and suddenly try to buy a $1,000 gift card, the fraud detection system might block it. If this happens, call the number on the back of your card to verify the purchase, and the transaction will usually go through.
Finally, if your card is near its credit limit or you've recently missed a payment, Capital One may decline any large purchase, including a gift card. This is a sign that you should focus on paying down your balance before making big purchases.
Gift cards and your monthly statement
The gift card purchase shows up on your statement as a charge from Walmart (or from the third-party retailer if you bought their gift card). It's listed with the date, amount, and merchant name, just like any other purchase. When the recipient uses the gift card later, that separate transaction does not appear on your statement — only the original purchase of the card itself does.
This matters if you're tracking your spending or reconciling your statement. The $100 gift card you bought in November appears as a $100 charge in November, even if it isn't spent until December. You're responsible for paying that $100 in November (or carrying it as a balance with interest), regardless of when the card is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does buying a gift card count as a cash advance?
No. A cash advance is when you withdraw actual cash from your credit card at an ATM or bank. Buying a gift card is a regular purchase. It's treated the same way as buying groceries or clothing — it uses your credit limit and earns rewards based on your card's terms.
Can I return a gift card I bought with my Walmart card and get a refund?
Walmart gift cards cannot be returned or refunded once purchased. If you buy one by mistake, you're stuck with it. The charge stays on your credit card statement. If the recipient doesn't use the card, the money is lost. This is why it's worth double-checking the amount and card type before you buy.
What if the gift card is lost or stolen after I buy it?
Walmart gift cards have limited fraud protection compared to credit cards. If a physical gift card is lost or stolen before the recipient uses it, Walmart may be able to replace it if you have the receipt and card number, but this isn't may provide. Digital gift cards sent by email are safer because they're tied to an email address. Either way, the charge on your credit card statement is final — you've already paid for it.
Do I earn rewards twice if I buy a gift card and then use it?
No. You earn rewards once, when the gift card is actually spent. If you buy a Walmart gift card with your Walmart credit card and then use that gift card to buy something, you earn rewards only on the final purchase, not on both transactions. The system doesn't double-count.
Can I use my Walmart card to buy a gift card and then pay it off with the gift card?
No. A gift card is a prepaid card that can only be used to buy things at that retailer. You cannot use a Walmart gift card to make a payment on your Walmart credit card. You have to pay your credit card bill with cash, a bank transfer, or another payment method. The two are separate accounts.