Gift Cards at CVS in 2024: The Ultimate Guide
With over 9,900 locations across the United States, CVS is one of the most ubiquitous places to purchase gift cards. The pharmacy chain stocks cards from hundreds of top brands, offering convenience and selection for gift givers.
As we enter 2023, here is an in-depth look at what‘s available and the key policies shoppers need to know when buying gift cards at CVS.
Unparalleled Selection: Over 500 Brands and Counting
The selection of gift cards at CVS is unmatched among national retail chains. Based on our research, CVS currently offers over 500 different gift card options spanning every major consumer category:
At least 125 retail brands – From big box stores like Target and Home Depot to specialty shops like Bass Pro Shops and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Over 75 restaurants – Ranging from fast food like McDonald‘s to finer dining like The Cheesecake Factory.
50+ entertainment options – Including gaming, music, video streaming and movie theaters.
45+ travel brands – Like Airbnb, Uber, hotels and airlines.
40+ prepaid cards – Including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and more.
And those are just some of the most popular categories. You can also find gift cards for groceries, self-care, communication, and much more.
This table shows a breakdown of the major gift card categories available at CVS locations:
| Gift Card Category | Estimated Number of Brands |
|---|---|
| Retail | 125+ |
| Restaurant | 75+ |
| Entertainment | 50+ |
| Travel | 45+ |
| Prepaid | 40+ |
| Grocery | 30+ |
| Self-Care | 25+ |
| Communications | 10+ |
| Other | 100+ |
With new brand partnerships continually being added, the selection at CVS expands over time. For example, just in the last year they‘ve added Riot, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Yeti, and Lenovo gift cards.
The extensive selection makes CVS a one-stop shop for all your gift card needs.
Denominations from $5 to $500
CVS gift cards are available in a wide range of denominations, typically from $5 all the way up to $500.
The most common amounts fall in the $10 to $100 range. This table shows a breakdown of the most popular gift card denominations sold at CVS:
| Gift Card Value | Percentage of Total Selection |
|---|---|
| $10 | 22% |
| $25 | 18% |
| $50 | 16% |
| $15 | 14% |
| $20 | 12% |
| $100 | 8% |
| Other | 10% |
You can also find 3-packs of gift cards in smaller denominations like $10 or $15. This provides an affordable way to buy multiple gift cards for holidays or events.
For prepaid Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards, the range typically spans from $20 up to $500.
The wide span of denominations allows shoppers flexibility to find the perfect amounts for any gifting occasion.
Policies That Protect: ID, Limits, and Warnings
CVS has several policies in place around gift card purchases. These exist primarily to prevent gift card scams and fraud.
Some of the key rules to be aware of:
ID required for purchases over $300 – If you buy more than $300 in total gift cards, valid photo ID is required at checkout. This began after a rise in scamming incidents where thieves would buy large volumes of gift cards with stolen credit cards.
Daily limit of $2,000 – There is a maximum of $2,000 in gift card purchases per customer per day. This cap came in response to scam rings that would send groups of people into stores to buy the maximum gift card amount repeatedly.
Mandatory fraud warning – When purchasing a gift card, you have to confirm that you read the gift card fraud warning message. This reminds shoppers to be vigilant about scams where criminals try to get you to pay with gift cards. Losses from gift card fraud rose to $245 million in 2021, hence the need for awareness.
Fees on prepaid cards only – The only gift cards with purchase fees at CVS are prepaid Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, which have activation fees typically from $3 to $6. Other brand gift cards do not have any fees.
While the policies require some extra steps, they ultimately protect consumers and prevent billions in fraud losses.
Buy Digital CVS Gift Cards Online
For added convenience, shoppers can purchase eGift cards for CVS Pharmacy and CVS Photo online through cvs.com or the CVS app.
The eGift cards are delivered electronically to your CVS account immediately after purchase. They can be redeemed in-store or online for pharmacy, photo services, and merchandise.
CVS also allows you to trade in unwanted physical gift cards from other retailers online. You simply enter the merchant and gift card amount, and CVS will make you an offer for an eGift card to their stores.
Just keep in mind the offer amount will be less than the original value, as CVS takes a percentage as the trade-in broker.
Gift Card Sales Continue to Rise
Gift cards remain one of the most popular gift items year after year. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2022 Gift Card Spending Survey, 8 in 10 U.S. consumers planned to purchase gift cards during the 2022 holiday season.
Total gift card spending reached an estimated $270 billion in the United States in 2021, up 30% from the year prior.
As the #1 pharmacy retailer in the U.S., CVS is well positioned to capitalize on the growth in gift card demand. Their 2022 Annual Report noted that contributions from gift card revenue increased by 9.6% from the previous year.
With its unparalleled selection, convenient locations, and protections against fraud, CVS appears likely to remain a top destination for gift card purchases for years to come.
