Square Gift Cards are digital or physical gift cards you sell and redeem through your Square account, and Square says they never expire. eGift cards are free to set up, but Square charges up to a 2.5% load fee each time funds are added to a card, on top of the standard processing fee when a customer buys one.
That load fee is the line most owners skip. Setting up is free and redeeming costs nothing, so the cost sits in the middle, at the moment a card is bought or topped up. Only Square's Premium plan lists no gift card load fees, and Square's pricing page bundles that with 24/7 priority support and advanced reporting, so for a shop that sells a lot of cards the waiver is one of several reasons to look at Premium. Figures here are from Square's US pages as of October 2026; UK, Australian and Canadian readers will see other numbers on their local Square site.
Every cost line on a Square gift card
| Cost line | What Square lists |
|---|---|
| Setting up eGift cards | Free |
| Ordering physical cards | Price varies with how many you order |
| A customer buys a card | Standard processing fee |
| Loading funds | Up to 2.5% of the amount added, each time |
| A customer redeems a card | No additional fee |
| On the Premium plan | No gift card load fees |
Square's gift card fee table spells out how the two charges stack. When funds go on a card, you pay the load fee plus a processing fee for however the customer paid. For a card swipe, dip or tap, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, that processing line is 2.6% + 15 cents. If the customer pays with Afterpay, the processing line is 6% + 30 cents per card payment. If you record a cash or check payment for the card, the processing part is free, though the load fee line still applies. There are no subscriptions or long-term commitments to sell gift cards, and Square says you can cancel or switch plans anytime.
Digital, physical or both
You can sell digital eGift cards, physical cards or both. Square offers pre-designed cards, or you can upload your own artwork for a fully custom card. eGift cards can be sold straight from your Square website, with your own designs, and customers can share them with friends and family. If you'd rather hand over something printed in the shop, Square also offers free printable gift certificate templates.
How customers redeem and reload
- In person or online. Customers redeem at your Square Point of Sale or on your Square Online website.
- Any of your locations. If you have several stores, a card works in all of them.
- Scan to pay. Cards carry scannable QR codes and barcodes, so they redeem like any other payment.
- Saved to the profile. A card can be stored as a card on file in the customer's profile.
- Self-service balance and reloads. Customers can check their balance and top up their own cards.
Because the cards don't expire, a customer can redeem one at any point. That's simpler for them, but it also means the balance stays live on your books until it's spent.
Refunds as store credit and repeat visits
Square lets you process a refund onto a gift card, which works as store credit and gives the customer a reason to come back. You can also run promotions or discounts to encourage customers to reuse a card. Before you offer a top-up bonus, remember the load fee applies each time funds go on, so check how that adds up for the amounts you have in mind.
Square makes one claim about spending: on average, customers spend more than the value of their Square Gift Card. That's Square's own statement, not a promise for your shop.
Which Square hardware takes gift cards
Square says you can accept gift cards on all its hardware, and gift card sales sync with Square Point of Sale so they show up in your reporting with no extra hardware or software. There's one wrinkle. For Square Register, Square Stand, Square Kiosk and Square Reader for contactless and chip, Square recommends adding a Square Reader for magstripe to accept gift cards. Square's Register page confirms it: chip gift cards and prepaid gift cards need the magstripe reader, sold separately. If your counter runs on newer kit, plan for that small extra.
Setting up Square Gift Cards
- Set up eGift cards in your Square account, which is free.
- Choose digital, physical or both, and pick a design or upload your own.
- Sell cards in person and on your Square website.
- Let customers redeem in store or online and check their own balance.
- Track gift card sales in your Square reports.
My verdict
Square Gift Cards are a simple cash-flow tool for a shop or salon with regulars, and they're easy to run because they live in the same system as your till. Just read the load fee before you plan promotions, because it applies on every top-up, and only Premium removes it. For the processing side, see this guide to Square's fees, and if you're weighing other systems, here are the Square alternatives worth a look.
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Frequently asked questions
Do Square gift cards expire?
No. Square says its gift cards don't expire, so customers can redeem them at any point.
Does Square charge fees on gift cards?
Yes, as of October 2026. You pay the standard processing fee when a customer buys a card and up to a 2.5% load fee each time funds are added. Redeeming has no additional fee, and Square's Premium plan lists no gift card load fees.
Can I sell gift cards online with Square?
Yes. You can sell eGift cards on your Square website with your own designs, as well as physical cards in store.
Can customers reload a Square gift card?
Yes. Customers can check their balance and reload their cards themselves.
Do I need a special reader for Square gift cards?
Square recommends a Square Reader for magstripe for Square Register, Square Stand, Square Kiosk and Square Reader for contactless and chip.
Can gift cards be used at multiple locations?
Yes. If you have several store locations, a Square Gift Card can be redeemed at any of them, in person or online.
