How to Use a Promo Code on Amazon, Step by Step

Enter the promo code before you place the order

Amazon promotional codes can only be redeemed when you place an order. Start by checking the promotion terms so you know which items are eligible and whether the offer has extra conditions. ^[1]

If you are still choosing an offer, you can browse today's Amazon promo codes before heading to checkout. Once you have a code, follow these steps rather than assuming the discount will be added automatically.

1. Read the promotion terms Check the instructions that came with the offer and make sure the item you want is covered by the promotion. ^[1]
2. Add an eligible item Put the eligible item in your cart. Do not use Buy Now, because promotional claim codes cannot be redeemed through that method. ^[1]
3. Find the promo code field During checkout, look for the Gift Cards and Promotional Codes section on the payment step or the Place Your Order page. ^[1]
4. Enter the code exactly Type or paste the code exactly as provided, with no spaces before, inside, or after it, then select Apply. ^[1]
5. Check the final price Before pressing Place your order, look at the final checkout price and confirm that the promotion was actually applied. ^[1]

Website and app checkout may look different

Amazon’s help page describes one order form rather than giving separate instructions for the website and the Amazon Shopping app. The layout can differ by device, so look for the Gift Cards and Promotional Codes section during the payment step or on the Place Your Order page instead of expecting one exact screen. ^[1]

If you are unsure whether the offer itself is the right type, our guide to which coupons work on Amazon explains the difference between the promotion types covered by Amazon’s seller documentation.

Why your Amazon promo code did not apply

A rejected code does not necessarily mean the code was entered incorrectly. Amazon’s help and promotion terms list several other conditions that can stop an offer from applying, including item eligibility, order structure, one per customer limits, and charges that promotions do not cover. ^{[1] [2]}

Check the message at checkout and compare your order with the promotion terms. If you are looking for another offer instead, our coupon code finding guide covers ways to look for codes without assuming that every code found elsewhere will still be active.

The promotion’s own terms control when they differ from Amazon’s default promotional terms. ^[2]

Check what the discount actually changes

Suppose an eligible cart item costs $60.00 and the promotion gives 20 percent off. The discount is $60.00 x 0.20 = $12.00, leaving $48.00 before shipping and tax. The code does not apply to sales tax or additional shipping costs unless the offer says otherwise, so those amounts are handled separately. ^[1]

A promotion can also be smaller than the order total. If a $10 promotion is used on a $14.50 order, $4.50 remains to be paid with another payment method. Amazon’s help page says another payment method is required when the order total is greater than the promotion amount. ^[1]

For orders with more than one discount, the free coupon stacking calculator can help you check the arithmetic before you decide whether the final price makes sense.

Always confirm the final checkout price before pressing Place your order.

Where promo codes come from and why they can disappear

Amazon calls these offers promotion claim codes. Sellers can create percentage off or buy one get one free promotions, and they can distribute codes through social media, email, Amazon Influencers and Associates, or display a promotion on the product page. ^[3]

Some codes are unique to one customer, while group codes can be shared among multiple people. Sellers can also limit a group code to one use per customer. ^[3]

A code found on a third party site may stop working because the third party that supplied it can change or cancel the offer. ^[2] You can also check the site’s Amazon deals when you want to compare promo code offers with other types of discounts.

Can a promo code stack with another discount?

A promotion and a coupon can combine only when the seller has allowed stacking. An Amazon staff post gives an example where a 10 percent coupon plus a 20 percent percentage off promotion produces a 30 percent combined discount when stacking is allowed, while the shopper receives only the larger 20 percent discount when stacking is not allowed. ^[4]

Percentage off promotions cannot be stacked with other percentage off promotions, and percentage off and BOGO promotions cannot be combined with each other. ^[4] For more detail on how combinations work, see the guide to stacking coupons and promotions.