How to Send a Steam Gift Card to a Friend (Step by Step)
October 18, 2026 · Updated November 1, 2026
To send a Steam gift card to a friend, open Steam's Digital Gift Cards page (store.steampowered.com/digitalgiftcards), choose Send a Digital Steam Gift Card, pick an amount and the friend, add a message and pay. Your friend gets an email and a Steam notification, and the money goes into their Steam Wallet as soon as they accept. You both need Steam accounts and must be Steam friends, and you can't pay for a digital gift card with your own Steam Wallet balance. If your friend lives in another country, Steam converts the amount into their currency automatically.
Key facts
- Digital Steam gift cards are sent through your Steam account and land straight in the friend's Steam Wallet.
- Valve doesn't accept wallet balance as payment for a digital gift card.
- The recipient gets both an email and a Steam gift notification.
- Gift cards sent to another country are converted into the friend's currency automatically.
- If the friend declines, the buyer is refunded, to the original payment method where possible or else to their Steam Wallet.
- Guest checkout lets people without a Steam account buy a digital card for a Steam user.
Before you start
- You need to be Steam friends. Steam usually needs you to have been friends for at least three days before you can send one. This stops scammers who add people and ask for money.
- You pay with a real payment method. You can't buy a digital gift card with money already in your own Steam Wallet. Use a card, PayPal or another payment method Steam offers in your country.
- Limited accounts can struggle to connect. A limited account (one that hasn't spent $5 on Steam yet) can't send friend invites, so if you're not already friends, the other person may have to add you. See what a limited Steam user is.
How to send one
- On the Steam store, find Gift Cards. It's under the store menu, or go to
store.steampowered.com/.digitalgiftcards - Choose an amount. In the US the standard amounts are $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Other countries have their own amounts in local currency.
- Pick the friend you're sending it to.
- Add your name and a message if you want.
- Pay. Steam sends the gift to your friend.
Your friend gets a notification in Steam. When they accept the gift, the money goes into their wallet.
Sending to a friend in another country
This is one of the best things about digital gift cards. If your friend uses a different currency, Steam converts the amount for them. Physical cards are different: each one carries a fixed currency and often fails on an account abroad. A digital gift card doesn't have that problem.
If your friend declines
Valve says that if your friend declines a digital gift card, your purchase is refunded, to your original payment method if possible, otherwise into your own Steam Wallet. Check your purchase history (under Account details) to see what happened.
Gift card or gift a game: which is better?
| If you... | Send a gift card | Gift a specific game |
|---|---|---|
| Know exactly what they want | Works, but they still have to buy it | Best: it lands in their library |
| Aren't sure what they'd like | Best: they choose | Risky: they may own it already |
| Want to chip in towards something expensive | Best: they top up and buy it | Hard to split |
| Want to use your own Steam Wallet balance | Not possible | Possible: wallet funds can pay for gifts |
| Are sending to another country | Converted to their currency automatically | Regional pricing and restrictions may apply |
A gift card is the safer choice when you're unsure. A game is the more personal one, and the only way to spend your existing wallet balance on someone else. Our game gifting guide covers that route.
Keeping the gift safe
- Only send to people you know in real life. Scammers build friendships over weeks before asking for "help" with Steam money.
- Steam will never ask you to send a gift card to verify an account, unlock a trade or pay a fine.
- Check the name on the friends list carefully before paying. Copycat profiles with a near-identical name are common.
- Keep the purchase email until your friend confirms they've accepted.
What your friend can do with it
Valve says the money goes into your friend's Steam Wallet as soon as they accept, ready to spend on games or in-game purchases. If their account isn't limited, they can also use it on the Steam Community Market.
In rare cases, accepting a digital gift card can put a temporary Market restriction on the receiving account. Valve shows a clear warning before they accept if that applies, and they can wait until the date in the warning to avoid it. If no warning appears, there's no restriction.
Our guide to what you can buy with a Steam gift card covers the options.
When Steam won't let you send one
- You haven't been friends long enough. Wait until you've been friends for three days, then try again.
- Your account is limited. Spend US$5 on Steam first.
- The payment method was declined. Try another one, or check with your bank.
- Steam shows a security warning. If something looks unusual, Steam may hold the purchase for a few days. That's normal for new accounts and big amounts.
Other ways to give Steam money
- Buy a game as a gift. If you know what they want, you can gift a specific game instead. See how to gift a game on Steam, PlayStation or Xbox.
- A physical Steam card you already have. Valve is ending Steam gift cards in shops and expects retailers to be sold out by the end of 2026, but existing cards still work. Hand it over unredeemed and make sure it's in their currency. They can redeem it in a minute.
- Guest checkout. Someone without a Steam account can still buy a digital gift card for a Steam user. See buying a Steam gift card without an account.
You can't move money that's already in your own wallet to a friend. Our guide to transferring Steam Wallet money explains why.
Watch out for scams
Never send a gift card to someone you don't know well, even if they're on your friends list. If someone asks you for Steam money, or asks you to pay for something with a Steam card, read why gift card payments are a scam first.
Want Steam money without paying for it? Completing offers on XPReward earns points that buy Steam gift cards. A $25 card costs 3,600 points. Sign up free and get 250 bonus points.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a Steam gift card using my Steam Wallet balance?
No. Valve doesn't accept wallet balance for digital gift cards. Pay with a card, PayPal or another method. To spend your balance on a friend, buy them a game as a gift instead.
Why can't I send a Steam gift card to my friend?
Usually because you haven't been Steam friends long enough, your payment method was declined, or the recipient's country restricts gift cards. Steam notes country restrictions during checkout.
What happens if my friend declines the gift card?
The purchase is refunded to your original payment method, or to your Steam Wallet if the method can't take refunds.
Can I send a Steam gift card to someone in another country?
Yes. Steam automatically converts the amount into your friend's currency.
Sources
Steam gift card rules checked on 2 November 2026 against: