You can't buy a money order directly with a credit card at most places, but you have workarounds
Most money order sellers — post offices, grocery stores, check-cashing services — won't take a credit card. They want cash or a debit card because money orders are meant to be a secure payment method, and credit card transactions add fraud risk on their end. But if you need a money order and only have a credit card available, you have three realistic paths: use a cash advance, transfer money to a bank account first, or buy a money order with a debit card you fund from your credit card.
Each path has different costs and timing. A cash advance charges interest immediately and often includes a fee. A bank transfer takes a day or two but costs nothing if you already have the account. Funding a debit card through a credit card works fastest but may trigger cash advance fees depending on how the card issuer classifies it. The right choice depends on how urgently you need the money order and which fees you want to avoid.
Key Takeaways
- Post offices, Walmart, grocery stores, and check-cashing services do not accept credit cards for money orders — they require cash or a debit card.
- A credit card cash advance lets you get physical cash to buy a money order, but costs a cash advance fee (usually 3–5% of the amount) plus interest starting immediately.
- Transferring money from your credit card to a linked bank account, then writing a check or using that account's debit card, avoids cash advance fees but takes one to two business days.
- Some prepaid debit cards let you load money from a credit card, then use that debit card to buy a money order — but verify the card issuer won't treat this as a cash advance.
- Money order fees themselves are small (usually $1–$5), so the real cost is in how you fund the transaction, not the money order itself.
Why credit cards don't work at the point of sale
Money order sellers treat credit card transactions as a liability. When you hand over cash or a debit card, the transaction is final — the money order is issued and the seller has received real funds. A credit card transaction, by contrast, can be disputed or reversed, and the seller has to wait for the payment to settle. For a low-margin business like a grocery store or post office, that risk isn't worth it.
The other reason is regulatory. Money orders are often used to move money quickly or anonymously, and sellers are required to report large transactions and verify customer identity under anti-money-laundering rules. Credit card transactions create a paper trail that complicates this process. Cash and debit cards are simpler to handle and faster to verify.
Getting cash through a credit card cash advance
A cash advance is the most direct route: you withdraw cash from your credit card at an ATM or bank, then use that cash to buy the money order. The process takes minutes, but the cost is steep. Your card issuer charges a cash advance fee — typically 3% to 5% of the amount you withdraw, with a minimum fee of $5 to $10. On a $500 cash advance, expect to pay $15 to $25 just for the withdrawal.
Interest starts accruing immediately on a cash advance, unlike a purchase, which usually has a grace period. If you carry the balance, you'll pay a higher interest rate on the cash advance than on regular purchases — often 2% to 3% higher. If you need a $200 money order and take a cash advance, you might pay $6 to $10 in fees plus interest within days.
Use this method only if you need the money order within hours and have no other way to fund it. If you have even a day to spare, the other options are cheaper.
Transferring credit card money to your bank account
Many credit card issuers let you transfer money from your card to a linked checking or savings account. This is not a cash advance — it's a balance transfer to your own account. The transfer usually costs nothing and takes one to two business days. Once the money lands in your bank account, you can use your debit card or write a check to buy the money order.
To set this up, log into your credit card's online portal or call the customer service number on the back of your card. Look for an option called "transfer to bank account," "account transfer," or "balance transfer." You'll need your bank account number and routing number. The issuer will ask how much you want to transfer and confirm the destination account.
The catch: some issuers treat this as a cash advance and charge a fee anyway. Read your card's terms or ask the issuer directly before you transfer. If your card doesn't offer this feature, you can't use this method.
Using a prepaid debit card funded by your credit card
If you have a prepaid debit card (like a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card), you can load money onto it from your credit card, then use the prepaid card to buy a money order. This works because the money order seller sees a debit card, not a credit card. The transaction usually processes instantly.
The risk is that your credit card issuer may classify the prepaid card load as a cash advance and charge you a fee. Some issuers do, some don't — it depends on how they categorize prepaid card transactions. Before you try this, contact your credit card issuer and ask whether loading a prepaid card counts as a cash advance. If it does, you'll pay the same 3–5% fee as a direct cash advance, so there's no advantage to this method.
If the issuer says it's not a cash advance, this can be a good option. You avoid the immediate interest charges of a cash advance, and the prepaid card transaction is instant. Just make sure the prepaid card itself doesn't charge a load fee — many do, ranging from $1 to $5.
Money order fees and where to buy
Once you have the funds, the money order itself is cheap. Post offices charge $1.45 to $2.00 for a money order up to $500. Walmart charges $0.70 to $0.88. Check-cashing services and grocery stores typically charge $1 to $3. These fees are fixed and don't change based on how you pay.
The real cost is in funding the transaction. A $200 money order costs $1 to $2 to issue, but if you use a cash advance to fund it, you'll pay $6 to $10 in fees plus interest. That's 3 to 5 times the cost of the money order itself. This is why the method you choose matters far more than where you buy the money order.
Alternatives if you need to send money quickly
If a money order is your only option, use the cheapest funding method available. But consider whether a money order is actually what you need. If you're paying a bill, many billers accept credit card payments directly — no money order required. If you're sending money to a person, a bank transfer, Venmo, or PayPal is often faster and cheaper than a money order.
A money order makes sense when the recipient won't accept digital payment or when you need a physical proof of payment. In those cases, the funding method is your main decision point. A bank transfer to your checking account, followed by a debit card purchase, is almost always cheaper than a cash advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a credit card to get a money order hurt my credit score?
A cash advance itself doesn't directly hurt your score, but it increases your credit utilization (the amount of available credit you're using), which can lower your score slightly. Carrying a balance on the cash advance and paying interest will hurt your score more over time than a one-time transaction.
Can I use a credit card at Walmart or the post office to buy a money order?
No. Walmart, the post office, and most grocery stores do not accept credit cards for money orders. They accept cash and debit cards only. You must fund the purchase through one of the methods described above.
What's the difference between a money order and a cashier's check?
A cashier's check is issued by a bank and typically costs $5 to $15. A money order is issued by a post office, retailer, or check-cashing service and costs $1 to $3. Cashier's checks are larger and more formal; money orders are smaller and faster. Both require cash or a debit card at the point of sale.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer from my credit card to my bank account?
Yes. Most issuers limit transfers to a percentage of your available credit — often 50% to 100%. Some set a dollar cap. Check your card's terms or call the issuer to find out your limit before you plan a large transfer.
Can I use a credit card cash advance to buy a money order and then pay off the cash advance immediately?
Yes, but you'll still pay the cash advance fee. Interest won't accrue if you pay the balance in full before your next billing cycle, but the fee is charged upfront and is not refundable. You're paying $6 to $10 to avoid waiting one or two days for a bank transfer.