How to check your Barnes & Noble gift card balance
Every method returns the same balance in real time. The online checker is fastest and works for physical and e-gift cards alike. New to Barnes & Noble cards? See our Barnes & Noble gift card buying guide.
- Go to the Barnes & Noble gift card balance page.
- Enter your card number and the access PIN.
- Select Check Balance. Your current balance shows on screen.
- Call the number above and choose the gift card option.
- Enter your card number and PIN on the keypad when prompted.
- The automated line reads back your current balance.
- Take the card to any Barnes & Noble location.
- Ask an associate to check the balance at the register.
- You can spend the balance in the same visit.
What you'll need
Every method asks for two things off the card:
If the balance looks wrong
- Reads $0 or "card not found." Re-enter the number without spaces and confirm the PIN. A brand-new card can take a few hours to activate.
- Lower than expected. A pending order can hold part of the balance, and recent returns take a few days to post back.
- Bought secondhand. Resale balances aren't guaranteed by Barnes & Noble. Open a claim with the marketplace, not with Barnes & Noble.
Using your remaining balance
Spend a partial balance the same way you'd spend the full card, across as many visits as you like:
- In store: hand over the card or show the e-gift barcode on your phone.
- Online: enter the number and PIN at checkout on barnesandnoble.com.
Balances don't expire and carry no fees. Cards aren't reloadable, so when one reaches zero, the simplest move is a new card. For every way to spend it, see how to use your Barnes & Noble gift card.
Frequently asked questions
On a physical Barnes & Noble card, both are printed on the back, with the PIN under a scratch-off panel. On an e-gift, they're listed in the delivery email.
Yes. An e-gift uses the same card number and PIN as a physical card. Enter them on the Barnes & Noble balance page or read them to the automated line at 1-800-843-2665.
Re-enter the number without spaces and confirm the PIN. A new card can take a few hours to activate. If it still reads $0, call 1-800-843-2665 with your proof of purchase.
Barnes & Noble gift cards don't expire. Under U.S. law, gift card funds stay valid for at least five years, and most major brands charge no dormancy fees, so a leftover balance keeps its value.
Most Barnes & Noble gift cards aren't reloadable. Once a card reaches zero, you can get a new Barnes & Noble e-gift on Dyme at face value and earn Dyme Miles on the purchase.
Anywhere Barnes & Noble gift cards are accepted. A partial balance works the same way as the full card, across as many visits as you like.
See the full Barnes & Noble gift card FAQ for expiry, refunds, lost cards, and more.