How Do I Convert My Steam Wallet Funds to Cash?
As an avid PC gamer and content creator with over $200 currently tied up in my Steam wallet, I often get asked – can you actually convert your Steam wallet balance to real cash?
I‘ve researched all the options extensively, and the short answer is yes, you can. But there is no perfect solution, and some methods involve more work than others.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll share the step-by-step processes, pros and cons, and expert tips I’ve learned for cashing out your wallet funds via gift cards, item trading, and more.
Overview of Steam Wallet Cashing Out Options
There are a handful of main options gamers use to convert wallet money to cash, each with varying levels of effort and cash back rates. Here‘s an overview:
| Method | Cash Out Rate | Effort Level |
|---|---|---|
| Sell Gift Cards | ~70% | Medium |
| Sell Skins | 60 – 95% | High |
| Trade for Amazon Cards | ~50% | Low |
As you can see, there‘s no way currently to cash out your full Steam wallet balance – you‘ll take a hit of anywhere from 5% to 50% typically.
But something is better than nothing if you have funds sitting around with no plans to spend them!
Below I share step-by-step guides for each method based on my own research and experience as a Steam power user:
Sell Steam Gift Cards for Cash
This method involves buying new gift cards with your Steam wallet funds, then re-selling those gift cards for ~70% of their value on sites like CardCash.
Here is the full process:
Purchase Steam gift cards in various denominations ($10, $25, $50) through Steam‘s Digital Gift Cards page. You can spend up to your full wallet balance this way.
List the gift card codes for resale on sites like CardCash and Raise. The demand for Steam gift cards is high, so they sell reliably.
You will get approximately 65-75% of the card‘s value. So a $50 gift card sells for $32 to $38 typically.
- Gift card resale sites take around 15% as a commission fee
- You may get slightly higher rates selling gift cards directly rather than via middlemen sites
Pros:
- Moderate cash back rate
- Straightforward process through established resale sites
Cons:
- Need to re-purchase gift cards, losing ~25% immediately
- Relies on variable gift card resale market rates
Trade Steam Gift Cards for Amazon Credit
Similar to selling for cash, this method involves trading Steam gift cards for Amazon credit at discounted resale sites like CardCash. Rates can be higher than selling for cash.
Here are the detailed steps:
Buy Steam gift cards with your wallet funds, as described previously.
On sites like CardCash, choose to trade your Steam gift card for an Amazon gift card balance.
The exchange rate varies daily but is typically around 50%. A $50 Steam card might trade for a $25 Amazon card.
You can then cash out the Amazon balance to your bank account after making a small Amazon purchase to link your banking details. Or spend it normally on Amazon.
Pros
- Generally higher cash back rate than selling gift cards for cash
- Less volatile and higher demand than skin trading
Cons
- Need to re-purchase gift cards, losing up to 50% immediately
- Amazon balances can only cash out after a purchase
Sell CS:GO Skins & Items for Crypto or Cash
Skin trading has become hugely popular, with over 15 million monthly active skin traders on third-party marketplaces like Skinport. The process is highly involved but offers the highest cash out rates.
Here is how to sell CS:GO skins for real money:
Use Steam wallet funds to purchase skins, stickers, and other in-game items from the Community Market or opening loot cases. Popular options include Dragonlore, Howl, Fade, and Fire Serpent skins.
List your skins for sale on skin trading sites like Skinport and Bitskins. Prices are set dynamically based on market demand.
Wait for your skin to sell. Very rare items can take weeks or months to find buyers. More common skins sell within days.
Skinport lets you cash out directly to PayPal, bank transfer, or crypto. Bitskins offers a wider array of crypto payout options.
- Cash out rates range from 60% to 95% based on the skin type and marketplace
- Highly desired skins like Dragonlores can sell for $2,000+
- Prices fluctuate frequently based on trends and pro matches
Pros
- Highest potential cash back rate
- Can cash out via PayPal, crypto, and more
Cons
- Very involved process with a steep learning curve
- Getting high value skins involves luck and grind
While certainly more complex, selling skins is likely the most profitable cash out avenue for patient and dedicated gamers.
Continue Spending Funds on Steam
Rather than cashing out, another option is to simply continuing spending your Steam wallet funds in the future when purchasing new games, in-game items, DLCs, and everything else on Steam.
This avoids all the steps above but ensures you steadily get value from the money you already have on Steam over the long run. Unless you urgently need the cash, it can save time and effort.
Is Cashing Out Your Steam Wallet Worth It?
While Steam does not offer any direct wallet withdrawals, the methods above do work reasonably well to convert all or some portion of your balance to real-world cash.
My recommendation is to cash out Steam funds via gift card selling or trading if your balance is:
- Over $100
- Going unused for over 1 year
For lower balances or active players, just spending the credits organically on Steam over time is easiest.
Skin trading works best for intermediate players willing to invest the time learning proper practices.
Cashing out does take effort so evaluate your personal situation to decide if it‘s worthwhile. But it can absolutely be done despite Steam not supporting direct withdrawals right now. Let me know if you have any other conversion questions!
