Where to Enter Your Gift Card Code

When you have an Airbnb gift card, you add it to your account through the Airbnb website or app before you search for a place to stay. The gift card balance then appears as a payment method at checkout, and Airbnb will use it first to cover your booking cost.

On the website, go to your account menu (click the profile icon in the top right), select "Account," then "Payments and payouts," and look for "Gift cards." On the mobile app, tap the profile icon at the bottom, go to "Account," then "Payments and payouts," and select "Gift cards." Paste or type the code from the back of your card or from your email confirmation into the field that appears.

The code is a long string of numbers and letters. Make sure you enter it exactly as it appears—spaces and capitalization matter. Once you submit the code, Airbnb will verify it and add the balance to your account within a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Add your gift card code to your account through the "Gift cards" section of your payment settings before you book.
  • Airbnb will automatically use your gift card balance first at checkout, then charge any remaining amount to your other payment method.
  • Gift card balances never expire, but they are tied to the account where you added them and cannot be transferred to another person.
  • If your booking costs less than your gift card balance, the leftover amount stays in your account for future bookings.

What Happens at Checkout

When you are ready to book a stay, Airbnb shows you the total cost—nightly rate, cleaning fee, service fees, and taxes. At the payment step, you will see your gift card balance listed as an available payment method. Airbnb automatically applies the full balance to your booking if it covers the entire cost.

If your gift card balance is less than the total, Airbnb will use the full gift card amount and ask you to pay the difference with a credit card, debit card, or other payment method on file. For example, if your gift card has $150 and your booking costs $200, Airbnb charges $150 to the gift card and $50 to your backup payment method.

You cannot split a payment between multiple gift cards. If you have more than one gift card, you must add each code to your account separately, and Airbnb will combine all balances into one total that it applies at checkout.

Checking Your Gift Card Balance

Your gift card balance appears in the "Gift cards" section of your payment settings. On the website, go to your profile, select "Account," then "Payments and payouts," and click "Gift cards." The balance is displayed in your account currency—usually US dollars if you are in the United States, but the currency depends on where your account is registered.

You can also see your balance during checkout. When you select a property and proceed to payment, the gift card balance will show as an available payment option with the remaining amount listed next to it. This is the most current balance, because it updates in real time as you make bookings.

If you have already used part of your gift card, the balance reflects what is left. There is no way to see a history of how much you spent from the card, but you can track it by noting the balance before and after each booking.

Gift Cards From Different Countries and Currencies

Airbnb gift cards are sold in different currencies depending on the country where they are purchased. A gift card bought in the United States is in US dollars, one bought in the United Kingdom is in British pounds, and so on. You can only use a gift card in the currency it was issued in.

If your account is set to a different currency than your gift card, Airbnb will convert the balance using its current exchange rate when you add the code. The converted amount is what appears in your account. Exchange rates change daily, so the amount you see may be slightly different from what the card was worth on the day it was purchased.

You cannot use a gift card to book a stay in a country with a different currency than the card itself. If you try, Airbnb will either reject the transaction or explore the converted balance, which may be less than you expect. Check your account currency before adding a gift card to avoid confusion.

What You Cannot Do With a Gift Card

Airbnb gift cards can only be used to pay for overnight stays, experiences, and restaurant reservations on the Airbnb platform. You cannot use them to pay for Airbnb service fees separately, to book a co-host service, or to purchase anything outside of Airbnb.

Once you add a gift card code to your account, the balance is locked to that account and cannot be transferred to another person or account. If someone else gave you the gift card, they must add the code themselves, or you must create an account and add it there. The balance will stay in your account even if you do not use it for months or years—Airbnb gift cards do not expire.

You also cannot get a refund for an unused gift card. If you add a code and later change your mind, Airbnb will not reverse the transaction or pay you cash for the balance. The only way to recover the value is to use it for a booking.

Troubleshooting a Code That Does Not Work

If you enter a gift card code and Airbnb says it is invalid, check that you typed it correctly. Copy and paste the code directly from your email or the card itself rather than typing it by hand—one wrong character will cause the code to fail. Make sure there are no extra spaces at the beginning or end.

If the code is correct and still does not work, the card may have already been used. Gift card codes can only be added to an account once. If someone else added the code before you, or if it was used on a different account, you will not be able to use it again. Contact the person who gave you the card to confirm it has not been redeemed.

Another reason a code might fail is if it was purchased from an unofficial seller or if it is damaged or expired. Airbnb gift cards sold through official retailers (like Amazon, Target, or Airbnb's own website) are may provide to work. Cards from third-party resellers may have restrictions or may not be valid. If you bought the card from an unofficial source and it does not work, contact that seller for a replacement.

Using a Gift Card for a Group Booking

If you are booking a property for multiple people, your gift card balance still applies to the total cost. Airbnb does not separate the payment by guest—it charges the full amount to your account and applies your gift card balance first, then charges any remainder to your backup payment method.

You cannot split the cost among multiple people at checkout using a single gift card. If you want to divide the expense, you will need to book the stay yourself, pay with your gift card and backup payment method, and then ask the other guests to reimburse you outside of Airbnb.

If the other guests have their own Airbnb gift cards, they cannot add their codes to your booking. Each person would need to book separately or contribute cash to you before you complete the reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gift card to pay for a booking I already made?

No. You must add the gift card code to your account before you search for or book a property. Once a booking is confirmed and paid, you cannot explore a gift card to it retroactively. If you have an upcoming reservation and just received a gift card, you can use it for your next booking instead.

What if my gift card balance is more than my booking costs?

The leftover balance stays in your account and is available for future bookings. For example, if your card has $300 and your stay costs $250, the remaining $50 will be there the next time you book. The balance never expires and can be used for as many stays as you want until it runs out.

Can I see what I spent from my gift card after I book?

Your booking confirmation shows the total amount charged and which payment methods were used. You can view past bookings in your account under "Trips" to see the cost of each stay. The gift card balance in your payment settings will reflect what is left after each booking, but Airbnb does not provide an itemized history of gift card spending.

What happens if I cancel a booking paid with a gift card?

If you cancel and receive a refund, the refunded amount goes back to your gift card balance, not to your original payment method. For example, if you paid $200 with a gift card and $50 with a credit card, and you cancel for a full refund, the $200 returns to your gift card and the $50 returns to your credit card. The refund timeline depends on Airbnb's cancellation policy for that booking.

Can I use a gift card from another country on my US account?

Yes, but Airbnb will convert the balance to your account currency using its exchange rate at the time you add the code. A gift card worth 100 British pounds, for example, will be converted to US dollars. The converted amount may be slightly less than the original value because of exchange rate changes and Airbnb's conversion fees.