How to Find Your Macy's Gift Card Balance

Last updated: March 2026

How to Find Your Macy's Gift Card Balance

Here's a scenario I'd guess sounds familiar: you're standing in line at Macy's, card in hand, and you have absolutely no idea how much is left on it. Is it $4? Is it $47? You swipe it, hope for the best, and then feel that little wave of embarrassment when the cashier says it didn't cover everything. I've been there. More than once, honestly.

The good news is that finding your Macy's gift card balance is genuinely easy — once you know where to look. The not-so-good news is that a few small things (a worn-off card number, a missing PIN, an old email you can't find) can make the whole thing weirdly complicated. So I put together this guide for anyone who's ever stared at the back of their Macy's gift card feeling a little lost.

The Three Ways to Check Your Balance

There are really only three routes here: online, by phone, or in person. Each one works fine — it's mostly about what's convenient for you and whether you have your card details handy.

1. Checking Online at macys.com/giftcard

This is probably the fastest option if you're at home. Head to macys.com/giftcard, and you'll see a balance check tool right on the page. Here's what you'll need:

1. Your 16-digit card number (printed on the front of the card)
2. Your PIN — this is the short code hidden under the silver scratch-off panel on the back of the card

The PIN requirement is something that trips people up. I'm not 100% sure why Macy's requires it for online checks but not for in-store ones — maybe it's a fraud prevention thing — but just know that if you haven't scratched it off yet, you'll need to do that before you can check online. Use a coin, not your fingernail. Trust me on that one.

Once you enter both numbers and hit submit, your current balance shows up immediately. Pretty straightforward.

2. Checking by Phone

Call 1-800-289-6229. It's an automated system, so you won't have to talk to a person unless you want to. You'll be prompted to enter your card number using your phone's keypad. The system reads your balance back to you. Takes maybe 90 seconds total.

This is my personal go-to when I just want a quick answer without opening a browser. Last time I tried to check my own card balance before a shopping trip, I was in the car and couldn't easily handle a website — the phone line was genuinely the easiest option. No complaints.

3. Checking In Store

Walk up to any register or find the customer service desk. Hand them your card and ask for a balance check. You don't need to buy anything. They can look it up in about ten seconds.

This is honestly the best option if your card number has worn off or is hard to read (more on that below), because the cashier can often scan the barcode on the back of the card instead of typing in the number manually.

What If Your Card Number Has Worn Off?

This happens more than people realize. Gift cards live in wallets and purses for months — sometimes years — and the printed numbers on the front can fade, scratch, or just straight-up disappear. So what then?

Here's the thing: the barcode on the back of the card still contains your card's information even when the printed numbers are gone. That's your best friend in this situation. Take it to any Macy's store and ask an associate to scan it at the register or customer service desk. In most cases, they can pull up the balance without needing you to read them any numbers at all.

If the barcode is also damaged or unreadable (which does happen), you'll want to call Macy's customer service at 1-800-289-6229 and explain the situation. I could be wrong, but I believe they can sometimes look up a card by the original purchase information — like the date, store location, or last four digits of the payment method used to buy it. It's worth asking. They're generally pretty helpful about it.

eGift Cards: Slightly Different Process

If someone sent you a Macy's gift card by email — an eGift card — the process works a little differently. You won't have a physical card to flip over and scratch. Instead, look for the original confirmation email that was sent when the card was purchased or delivered. That email contains either a direct link to check your balance or a gift card code you can enter at macys.com/giftcard.

Can't find the email? Search your inbox for "Macy's gift card" or "eGift" — and don't forget to check your spam or promotions folder. Sometimes those emails end up buried. If you truly can't locate it, calling customer service is your best bet.

How to Tell If You've Already Used the Card (or Part of It)

This is something I see people confused about all the time. Maybe you used a Macy's gift card a while back but can't remember if you spent the whole thing. Good news: just do a balance check using any of the methods above. The balance reflects exactly what's left — there's no separate transaction history shown online, but the remaining balance tells you what you need to know.

If the balance comes back as $0.00 and you're surprised by that, it's possible the card was fully used on a previous purchase. It's also possible — and this is rare but does happen — that someone else used the card number fraudulently. If you suspect that, contact Macy's customer service directly. They may be able to investigate depending on the circumstances.

One thing worth knowing: Macy's gift cards never expire and there are no dormancy fees. So if your card is showing a balance of $12.47 from a gift you got three years ago, that money is still yours to use. No penalties. No expiration date. That's genuinely one of the better gift card policies out there.

Quick Tips Before You Check

• Have your card in hand before you start — you'll need the number and possibly the PIN
• Scratch off the PIN panel carefully before calling or going online
• For physical cards, try the barcode scan in store if the number is unreadable
• For eGift cards, search your email first before calling

And one more thing — if you're gifting someone a Macy's card, it's actually a nice touch to write the balance on the card or in the card envelope so the recipient doesn't have to wonder. Small thing, but people appreciate it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Finding your Macy's gift card balance really comes down to three options — online at macys.com/giftcard, by phone at 1-800-289-6229, or in person at any Macy's register or customer service desk. Online requires your card number and PIN. Phone requires just your card number. In store, they can usually scan the barcode so you don't even have to read anything out loud. And since Macy's cards never expire and carry no fees, you've got all the time in the world to use whatever's left. Now you know exactly where to start.