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

If you are shopping for a beauty lover, an Ulta Beauty gift card is one of the safest, most useful picks you can make. The store covers mass and prestige makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrance, and salon services, so almost anyone can find something to spend it on. But before you buy, there are a few things worth knowing, especially if you are expecting a rack of other-brand cards or wondering whether the card carries fees.

The Gift Card Brands Available at Ulta Beauty

Here is the short version: Ulta Beauty sells only Ulta Beauty gift cards. Physical plastic cards and digital eGift cards are both Ulta-branded, and they are redeemable for merchandise and salon or beauty services at U.S. Ulta Beauty stores and on ulta.com.

There is no multi-brand gift card rack or gift card mall in Ulta stores or on the website. If you were hoping to pick up a dining card, an entertainment card, or another retailer's card while you were there, that is not something Ulta stocks. Official pages and gift-card specialists that track retailer programs all say the same thing. Ulta does run UB Marketplace, an invitation-only product marketplace that adds beauty and wellness brands fulfilled by those brands, but that is a product marketplace, not a gift card marketplace, and it does not sell other retailers' cards.

What the Ulta card can be used on is broad. Merchandise and salon services are both fair game, including eligible UB Marketplace items purchased on ulta.com. What it cannot do is buy another gift card, and it will not work at Sephora or other beauty retailers. There are also reports that Ulta cards are not redeemable at the Ulta Beauty shops inside Target, so if that is your plan, confirm locally first. If you want to know what your balance looks like down the road, our guide to checking your Ulta Beauty gift card balance walks through the website, phone, and in-store options.

Denominations, Fees, and Purchase Limits

Ulta gift cards and eGift cards are available in any denomination from $10 to $500. Whole-dollar amounts are the norm, and the amount on a physical card is set at the register when you buy it. There is no activation fee, no service fee, no dormancy fee, and no other fee attached to the card. Ulta's own FAQ answers the fee question with a flat "No," and the card terms state that it does not expire and carries no fees. Certain promotional cards may have their own expiration rules, so read the back if you receive one of those.

On the purchasing side, the only potential extra cost is expedited shipping if you order a physical card online and choose faster delivery. Beyond the $500 per-card maximum, Ulta's official pages do not spell out additional purchase caps. There is, however, a redemption limit worth knowing: online orders can use a maximum of five gift cards or $1,000 in gift-card value. Corporate and bulk buying is supported through Ulta's business program, which is handy if you are organizing an office or team gift.

One more limit that surprises people: you cannot buy a gift card with another gift card, and you cannot use Ulta Beauty Rewards points to buy one either.

In-Store vs. Online Availability

Physical Ulta Beauty gift cards are sold at any register in Ulta stores and online at ulta.com. Digital eGift cards are online-only, delivered by email, typically within an hour, and they can often be added to a digital wallet. Physical cards ordered online are mailed, which is where that expedited shipping option comes in if you are cutting it close to a birthday.

You can also find Ulta gift cards at authorized third-party retailers. Amazon, Target, and various grocery and supermarket chains such as Kroger and Albertsons affiliates are commonly cited examples, though stock and available formats vary by store and change over time. If you are doing a bigger gift-card run and want to compare how other retailers handle their own programs, our breakdown of gift cards at Whole Foods Market is a useful reference point for how grocery-adjacent card programs are structured.

One caution on timing: gift card sales are final. Ulta's terms state that cards cannot be refunded and cannot be returned or canceled once received by you or delivered to the recipient. An eGift purchase can sometimes be canceled before delivery if you contact support, but do not count on it. Treat the card like cash, and note that lost or stolen cards are not replaced without proof of purchase.

How Ulta Beauty Rewards Treats Gift Cards

Ulta Beauty Rewards, the program formerly known as Ultamate Rewards, is free to join and earns 1 point per $1 on qualifying purchases. Platinum members at $500 in annual spend earn 1.25x, and Diamond members at $1,200 earn 1.5x, with birthday and bonus offers layered on top.

The gift card rules are where it gets interesting. Buying a gift card does not earn points and does not count toward Platinum or Diamond qualifying spend. Points also cannot be redeemed to buy a gift card. But when a member uses an Ulta gift card to pay for qualifying merchandise or beauty services, points are earned on that purchase amount, because the gift card is treated like any other form of payment at checkout. Standard exclusions still apply, including taxes, tips, shipping, fees, and charitable donations, and points redemption rules differ for certain marketplace and third-party channel purchases. If you are putting together a larger beauty gift and want to pair the card with something physical, our roundup of essential oil diffuser and aromatherapy gifts is a natural companion piece.

To check a balance later, Ulta offers three routes: online at ulta.com/guestservices/gift-cards, by phone at 1-888-566-2736, or at any store register. Multiple cards can be combined with other tender, and where allowed, with points and coupons as well. Our guide to checking a Victoria's Secret and PINK gift card balance is a helpful comparison if you are managing several retail cards at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ulta Beauty sell gift cards for other stores?

No. Ulta stores and the website carry only Ulta Beauty gift cards, physical and digital. There is no multi-brand gift card rack in stores or online, and the UB Marketplace is a product marketplace for beauty brands rather than a gift card seller. If you need a card for another retailer, you will have to buy it there or through an authorized reseller.

Are there fees or expiration dates on Ulta gift cards?

No. Ulta's own FAQ states plainly that there are no fees, and the card terms confirm the card does not expire and carries no fees. The only added cost you might see is expedited shipping on a physical card ordered online. Certain promotional cards can carry their own expiration terms, so check the back of those.

Can I earn Ulta Beauty Rewards points with a gift card?

You earn points when you spend a gift card on qualifying merchandise or services, because it is treated like other payment methods at checkout. You do not earn points for buying the gift card itself, and gift card purchases do not count toward Platinum or Diamond qualifying spend. Points also cannot be redeemed to buy a gift card.

What is the largest Ulta gift card I can buy?

Cards and eGift cards top out at $500 each, with a $10 minimum. Online orders can redeem up to five gift cards or $1,000 in gift-card value at a time. If you need something larger, corporate and bulk purchasing is available through Ulta's business program.

Can I return an Ulta gift card if I change my mind?

Gift card sales are final. Ulta's terms state that cards cannot be refunded and cannot be returned or canceled after they are received by you or delivered to the recipient. An eGift card purchase can sometimes be canceled before delivery by contacting support, but lost or stolen cards are not replaced without proof of purchase.