Gift Cards at Michaels: The Complete List of Brands, Fees & Where to Buy (2026)

If you are heading to Michaels to grab a gift card, you probably have a short list of questions: what amounts can I load, is there a fee, can I buy one online, and does the person on the other end actually shop there? We put together this guide so you can walk in or log on knowing exactly what to expect. Michaels sells its own cards in both physical and digital formats, and many stores also carry a rotating rack of third-party brand cards, which is a whole separate story.

Gift Card Brands Available at Michaels

There are two distinct categories of gift cards you may encounter at Michaels, and it helps to keep them separate in your head before you shop.

Michaels' Own Store Gift Cards

These are the cards issued directly by Michaels Stores Card Services, LLC. They are redeemable for merchandise and class fees at U.S. Michaels stores and online at Michaels.com. You can buy them at the register in any Michaels store, and e-gift cards are also offered online. Physical cards ship with a small fee (USPS Standard runs about $1.95, with faster UPS options available), and e-gift cards can arrive the same day if ordered by 5pm EST, pending authorization. One thing worth knowing now rather than later: U.S. and Canadian Michaels gift cards are not interchangeable, so a card bought north of the border will not work on a U.S. register.

Once you have a card, there are three ways to check what is left on it: online, at any U.S. store, or by phone, all covered in the FAQ below.

Third-Party Brand Gift Cards on the In-Store Rack

Many Michaels stores also carry a gift-card mall rack near the registers, stocked with cards from other retailers and restaurants. The most detailed public inventory we found comes from a 2023 GiftCardRescue list, and while we cannot confirm every brand is still on shelves today, it gives a useful picture of the categories Michaels has historically stocked. Assortments rotate by store and by season, so treat this as a reference point rather than a guarantee.

• Dining and restaurants: Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Burger King, Chipotle, Chili's and other Brinker brands, Darden restaurants (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's, Yard House and more), Outback, P.F. Chang's, Panda Express, Panera Bread, Red Lobster, Subway, Texas Roadhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Wendy's, and multi-brand "Happy" dining cards.
• Coffee and quick treats: Starbucks, Coldstone Creamery.
• Entertainment, movies, and games: AMC, Disney, Fandango, GameStop, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Regal, and Xbox (including Game Pass and Live Gold variants).
• Retail, apparel, and beauty: American Eagle, Express, Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic, Kohl's, Lululemon, Macy's, Nordstrom, PINK, Sephora, Victoria's Secret, and multi-brand cards combining Ulta, REI, Nordstrom Rack and others.
• Home, outdoor, and fuel: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Lowe's, BP, Shell, Total Wine.
• Electronics and digital: Apple, Google Play, eBay.
• Other: Barnes & Noble, Fanatics, Grubhub, PetSmart, Southwest Airlines, Uber, plus charity-style multi-merchant cards supporting Feeding America and Make-A-Wish.

Per that same 2023 reference, a few brands shoppers often expect to find were notably absent: Amazon, Home Depot, and Visa open-loop prepaid cards. We could not confirm with a 2025 or 2026 official source whether those exclusions still hold, so check your local rack if one of those is your target. If you do pick up a third-party card from that rack, brands like Burger King and Fandango have their own balance-check pages you can use once the card is in hand.

Denominations, Fees, and Purchase Limits

Michaels' own gift cards are typically loadable from $5 to $500 per card, and loading in whole-dollar amounts is the norm in stores. Fixed popular amounts across resellers and authorized listings include $5, $10, $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $500. Grocery and third-party mall listings sometimes show narrower ranges, such as $25 to $500 for physical cards or $25 to $200 for e-gift cards purchased through those channels. Michaels' official FAQ simply says "various denominations" without publishing the full scale, so the $5 to $500 range is drawn from consistent terms across multiple authorized sellers rather than a live purchase configurator.

On fees, the news is good. Standard card terms state the card does not expire and carries no maintenance fees, no dormancy fees, and no activation fee. If a small balance lingers, you can only cash it out where state law requires it, and Michaels' terms list the thresholds by state (for example, under $10 in California and under $5 in many other states).

Purchase limits are mostly practical rather than strict. The per-card ceiling sits at $500, and there is no clearly published consumer daily or transaction cap beyond that. On the redemption side, Michaels allows up to two gift cards to be applied toward a single online order, with any remainder charged to a credit card. Reloading is not advertised on Michaels' own terms, and at least one major reseller states these cards are not reloadable. Gift cards also cannot be purchased with a Michaels gift card, and per the official return policy, gift cards and prepaid cards are not returnable or exchangeable except where the law requires it.

In-Store vs. Online Availability

You can buy Michaels' own gift cards in person at any Michaels register, and physical cards shipped within the U.S. carry a modest shipping fee. Online, Michaels offers e-gift cards with same-day delivery if you order before 5pm EST, pending authorization, as well as scheduled delivery options. Michaels gift cards are also distributed through external gift-card malls at chains like Kroger and Giant Eagle, plus a wide range of digital resellers.

One important distinction: those external channels are selling Michaels cards, not Michaels selling other brands' cards. Michaels does not appear to run an online third-party gift-card marketplace on its own site. The multi-brand rack is an in-store concept, and assortment varies widely by location. If your recipient is a crafter, a builder, or just someone who lives for a weekend project, the Michaels card itself is often the more useful gift anyway. For inspiration on what they might spend it on, our roundup of LEGO gift ideas for kids and builders covers the kind of projects that a Michaels card can help fund.

Michaels Rewards and Gift Cards

Michaels runs a loyalty program called Michaels Rewards, and its rules around gift cards are worth knowing before you plan a big purchase.

According to the official Rewards FAQ, purchases of gift cards do not earn rewards. That exclusion sits alongside clearance items, extended warranties, and items sold or shipped by third-party sellers on MakerPlace by Michaels. Rewards vouchers work the same way in reverse: you cannot redeem a rewards voucher toward the purchase of a gift card or an extended warranty. So if you were hoping to stack rewards earnings on a $200 gift card purchase, that strategy does not work here. The program's separate caps, like a maximum of $150 in rewards per day mentioned in offer language, apply across the board rather than specifically to gift cards, but they are worth keeping in mind if you are a heavy shopper.

Bottom line: buy the gift card because it is the right gift, not because it will move the needle on your rewards balance. If you are shopping for someone who would rather have a finished gift than a card, our guide to personalized and cozy Christmas gifts for her is a good place to browse alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Michaels gift card online?

Yes. Michaels gift cards are redeemable both in stores and on Michaels.com. You can apply up to two gift cards toward a single online order, and any remaining balance can be paid with a credit card. E-gift cards are specifically designed to work in both channels.

Do Michaels gift cards expire or charge fees?

No. Standard terms state the cards do not expire and carry no maintenance, dormancy, or activation fees. If you have a very small remaining balance, cash-out is only available where state law requires it, and Michaels' terms list the thresholds state by state.

What denominations can I load onto a Michaels gift card?

Michaels' own cards are typically loadable from $5 to $500 per card, with whole-dollar amounts being standard. Popular fixed amounts across authorized sellers include $5, $10, $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $500. Some grocery and third-party mall listings show narrower ranges like $25 to $500.

Where can I check my Michaels gift card balance?

You have three options: online at Michaels.com/giftcard, at the register of any U.S. Michaels store, or by calling 1-800-642-4235. Keep your card handy, since you will need the card number.

Can I use a Michaels gift card to buy another gift card?

No. Michaels' card terms state that gift cards may not be used to purchase gift cards or debit cards. That applies to both Michaels' own cards and third-party brand cards on the in-store rack. Merchandise bought with a gift card follows the normal return policy, with refunds issued as a Store Return Card.