Check your balance online, by phone, or in a store
You can find out how much money is left on a Barnes & Noble gift card in three ways: through the Barnes & Noble website, by calling their customer service line, or by asking a staff member at any Barnes & Noble location. The online method is fastest and works any time of day. The phone and in-store methods require you to have the card with you so you can provide the card number.
Barnes & Noble does not charge a fee to check your balance, and checking it does not reduce the amount on the card. You can check as many times as you want without penalty.
Key Takeaways
- The Barnes & Noble website lets you enter your gift card number to see your balance when ready without creating an account.
- You can call Barnes & Noble customer service at 1-800-843-2665 and provide your card number to hear your balance read aloud.
- Any Barnes & Noble store will check your balance at the register if you bring the physical card.
- Your balance never expires as long as you do not lose the card, and you can use it for books, gifts, café items, and most other products Barnes & Noble sells.
Checking your balance on the Barnes & Noble website
Go to the Barnes & Noble gift card balance page and enter your 16-digit card number in the box provided. The site will display your current balance when ready. You do not need to log into a Barnes & Noble account or provide any personal information beyond the card number itself.
This method works for both physical gift cards and digital gift cards sent by email. If you received a digital gift card, the email will contain a link you can click to go directly to the balance checker, or you can visit the main gift card page and enter the number manually.
Checking your balance by phone
Call Barnes & Noble customer service at 1-800-843-2665. A representative will ask for your gift card number and will tell you the balance over the phone. This line is open during store hours, which vary by location, so calling during business hours increases the chance of reaching someone quickly.
If you are calling from outside the United States, you can find the international customer service number on the Barnes & Noble website. Have your card number ready before you call.
Checking your balance in a store
Bring your gift card to any Barnes & Noble location and ask a staff member at the register to check the balance for you. They will scan or manually enter the card number and can tell you the exact amount remaining. This is useful if you are already shopping and want to know how much you can spend before paying with another method.
You do not need to make a purchase to have your balance checked. Staff will check it as a courtesy even if you are only there to find out the amount.
What happens if you lose your card number
If you have a physical gift card but cannot read the number clearly, you can still take it to a Barnes & Noble store and staff will be able to scan it or look up the balance using the card itself. If you received a digital gift card by email and lost the email, check your email spam folder or search your inbox for "Barnes & Noble" or "gift card."
If you cannot locate the card number or the original email, contact Barnes & Noble customer service by phone at 1-800-843-2665. They may be able to look up the card using other information, though their ability to do so depends on how the card was purchased and registered.
Using your balance and card expiration
Once you know your balance, you can use the card to buy books, e-books, audiobooks, gifts, café items, and most other merchandise Barnes & Noble sells in stores or online. You can split a purchase between your gift card and another payment method if your balance does not cover the full amount.
Barnes & Noble gift cards do not expire. Your balance will remain on the card indefinitely as long as you keep the card or remember the number. However, if you lose the physical card and do not have the number written down, you may not be able to recover the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my balance without the card number?
No. You need either the 16-digit card number or the physical card itself to check your balance. If you have the physical card, any Barnes & Noble store can scan it and tell you the balance. If you lost the card but have the number written down, you can use the website or call customer service.
Does checking my balance use up any of the money on the card?
No. Checking your balance does not reduce the amount on the card in any way. You can check as many times as you want without any cost or penalty.
What if the balance shows zero but I never used the card?
Contact Barnes & Noble customer service at 1-800-843-2665 with your card number and the date you received it. They can investigate whether the card was activated correctly or if there was an error. Bring your receipt if you have it.
Can I use my gift card balance online and in stores?
Yes. Your balance works both ways. You can use the same card number to make purchases on the Barnes & Noble website or at any physical store location. Your balance is shared across both, so spending in one place reduces what you have available in the other.