Check a Tesco gift card balance online with the 19 digit card number and PIN, by phone, at a Customer Service Desk or on your till receipt.
This guide walks through each method with the rules Tesco publishes on its gift card help page, as read on 3 October 2026. It also shows how to buy a new Tesco card with crypto when your money sits in a wallet instead of a bank account.
Two details save a lot of confusion. Tesco says it can take up to 2 hours after you buy an e-gift card before it is authorised and the balance can be checked. And a Tesco e-gift card can only be loaded once, so when the balance runs low the answer is a new card, not a top up.
Not enough left on the card for the weekly shop?
Buy a new Tesco gift card with Bitcoin, USDT or 300+ other coins. No KYC at checkout, and the code appears on screen once your payment confirms. See the Tesco UK gift card
How to check your Tesco gift card balance
Enter the card number and PIN on the Tesco balance page, call 0345 0757757, ask at a Customer Service Desk, or read your till receipt. Tesco itself lists all four.
Online, with the card number and PIN
Open the Tesco gift card balance page and enter the details of the card. Tesco asks for the 19 digit card number and the PIN. The page then shows your balance and the most recent transactions on the card.
For an e-gift card, both numbers are in the email or text message Tesco sent with the card. Type them carefully, since one wrong digit returns an error instead of a balance.
By phone, on the balance line
Call the e-gift card Balance Check Service on 0345 0757757. Tesco lists this number on its gift card help page. Keep the card number and PIN in front of you before you dial, and note that Tesco says calls on 03 numbers are charged at the local rate.
At a Tesco Customer Service Desk
Ask at the Customer Service Desk in a Tesco store. Tesco names the desk as a way to check the balance at any time, so no purchase is needed. Bring the card, or the email or text with the e-gift link.
On your till receipt
When you shop in a Tesco store, the remaining balance is printed on the till receipt. It is the quickest check if you spend the card in store anyway, and it needs no card number or PIN.
What the transaction list means
The online balance page lists the recent activity on the card, and Tesco explains each label. Credit or Activation is the moment the card was first bought. Point of Sale is an action completed at a Tesco in-store checkout. Redeem or Debit is the card paying for goods. Reload is extra money added to a reloadable Tesco gift card. Cancel is a cancelled card, and Tesco asks you to use its contact form for questions about that line.
Why the balance may not show yet
A new e-gift card can need time before it works. Tesco says it can take up to 2 hours after you buy a Tesco e-gift card for it to be authorised and ready, or for the balance to be checked. If the page returns an error in the first hours, wait and try again before you contact anyone.
What a Tesco e-gift card covers
A Tesco e-gift card pays for goods at any Tesco store in the UK. Tesco sets a few rules that matter when you plan a shop around your balance. The table lists them as Tesco states them.
| Rule | What Tesco says |
|---|---|
| Where it works | At any Tesco store in the UK; Tesco e-gift cards cannot be used for online purchases or in the Republic of Ireland |
| What it buys | Anything sold at UK Tesco stores, except Tesco and third-party gift cards |
| Leftover balance | Saved until your next shop; Tesco e-gift cards expire 5 years after the last time they were used or a balance enquiry was made |
| Topping up | Tesco e-gift cards can only be loaded once |
| How you pay in store | A link in the email or text opens an e-gift barcode, which you print or show on a phone and scan in store |
| Lost or deleted cards | Tesco says to treat the e-gift card like cash: deleted, lost or stolen cards cannot be replaced |
| Phone wallet | After you check the balance online, Tesco offers an Add to Wallet option for Apple Pay or Google Pay |
The five-year rule has a useful side effect. Every balance enquiry restarts the clock, so checking a card that has sat in a drawer keeps it alive. If you hold several cards with small leftovers, check each one, then spend the smallest first and keep the biggest for the large shop.
Why buy a new Tesco card with crypto
Buying the new card with crypto skips the exchange, the bank transfer and the bank card. If most of your money is in crypto, the usual route means selling on an exchange, waiting for the transfer and then paying by card.
No bank card in the loop
You pay from your own wallet or from an exchange balance. No card number, no billing address and no bank statement line are involved in the purchase on Genghis.
No KYC at checkout
Genghis asks for an email address to deliver the code and nothing else. There is no document upload, no selfie and no proof of address. Purchase limits apply, and the how Genghis works page explains the full flow.
The code arrives on screen
The code shows up once your payment confirms on the network, and a link to it lands in your inbox. How long that takes depends on the network of the coin you pick.
Exact amounts, from 1 GBP
The Tesco UK card on Genghis comes in 23 values, from 1 GBP to 500 GBP. You can buy the exact gap between your balance and your shop instead of rounding up to a standard amount, which matters when a card cannot be topped up.
Points on every order
Orders placed with a free Genghis account earn Genghis Points, and a Point is a cent at checkout. The rewards section below has the details.
How to buy a Tesco gift card with crypto in 6 steps
Open the Tesco UK page, choose the value and coin, send the amount, and copy the code once the payment confirms. Each step in detail:
- Open the Tesco UK page. Go to the Tesco UK gift card for shopping in UK Tesco stores.
- Pick the card value. Choose the face value that covers the gap between your balance and your shop.
- Choose your coin and network. Select Bitcoin, USDT, Solana, Monero or another of the 300+ coins, and the network you will send on.
- Enter your email address. This is where the link to your code goes. No account is required to buy.
- Send the exact amount. Copy the address or scan the QR code and send the amount shown, adding any withdrawal fee your wallet or exchange charges.
- Copy your code. Once the payment confirms, your card details appear on screen and by email, with the steps to use them at a Tesco checkout.
Match the card to your country
These cards are not worldwide (WW) products. The Tesco UK card is for UK Tesco stores, and Tesco says its UK e-gift cards do not work in the Republic of Ireland. Check the country on the product page before you pay.
Tesco gift card values on Genghis
Genghis sells a Tesco card for the UK and a separate one for Ireland. The values below were read on the live product pages on 3 October 2026. The price in crypto is shown at checkout and moves with exchange rates.
| Card | Works in | Face values |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco UK | United Kingdom | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 500 GBP |
| Tesco Ireland | Ireland | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 EUR |
More supermarket and grocery cards for the UK are in the UK food and grocery gift cards category, and the food and grocery gift cards hub covers every country.
Four ways to get a new Tesco card
Buying the gift card directly with crypto is the shortest route; the official Tesco site, an exchange or a crypto debit card also work. The table sets the routes side by side, including the one where the direct source wins.
| Route | What you need | Identity checks | Where it wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy from Tesco with a UK bank card | A UK Visa or Mastercard, or Apple Pay or Google Pay; Tesco does not accept American Express | Set by your card provider | Straight from Tesco, if you already hold a UK bank card |
| Sell crypto on a custodial exchange, then pay by bank card | Exchange account, bank account, bank card | Usually full ID verification at the exchange | Useful if you already cash out regularly |
| Crypto debit card | A card program account and a funded balance | Usually ID verification by the card issuer | Works anywhere cards work, not only at one brand |
| Buy the gift card with crypto on Genghis | A wallet or exchange balance and an email address | No KYC at checkout, within the purchase limits | Straight from wallet to card, in exact amounts |
The honest trade-off: a crypto debit card spends everywhere, and a gift card spends at one brand. If Tesco is where the money is going anyway, the gift card is the shorter path. If you hold pounds in a UK bank account, buying from Tesco directly costs you no conversion at all.
The United Kingdom ranks #21 of 79 countries on the Rails Ranking but #48 on the Livability Ranking, where need for crypto counts (Genghis Research, 2026). Spending rails are there; a gift card adds a short path from wallet to the weekly shop. The United Kingdom Crypto Livability Index page has the full scoreboard.
Shopping in the Republic of Ireland?
Tesco says its UK e-gift cards do not work in the Republic of Ireland. Genghis lists a separate card for Ireland in values from 1 EUR to 200 EUR. See the Tesco Ireland gift card
Which crypto to pay with
Pay with the coin you already hold: a stablecoin keeps its value steady, Solana or Tron confirm sooner than Bitcoin, and Monero keeps the payment private. Genghis accepts 300+ cryptocurrencies. The amount shown in your coin at checkout is the full price and includes the exchange-rate margin. The quote holds for about 20 minutes.
Bitcoin (BTC)
The default for many holders. Confirmation takes longer than on faster networks, so the code arrives after the block confirms. The Bitcoin gift card page covers the details.
USDT and USDC
Stablecoins keep their value steady between quote and payment, which suits a card you want to price exactly. USDT on Tron adds a network cost that checkout shows before you choose. See buying gift cards with USDT.
Solana (SOL)
Solana confirms sooner than Bitcoin, so the code appears once the network confirms your payment. It suits buyers who want the code without waiting for Bitcoin blocks. The Solana gift card page has the steps.
Ethereum (ETH)
Supported on the networks listed at checkout. Pick the network your wallet actually holds the coins on, since coins sent on a different network can be lost.
Monero (XMR)
For buyers who want the payment itself to stay private. Monero adds a network cost shown at checkout. The Monero gift card page explains how it works.
How to redeem the code
Tesco e-gift cards are spent with a barcode that you print or show on a phone and scan at the Tesco checkout. Tesco says the link in the email or text opens it. Follow the redeem steps on the product page for the exact card you buy, and check the country first.
Any balance left stays on the card, and Tesco says it lasts for 5 years from the last use or balance enquiry. Check what is left with the four methods above. Tesco also says you can add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay after you check the balance online.
Is it safe
Yes, as long as the card is for you or a gift, never a payment someone demands. A gift card is cash in another form: Tesco warns that deleted, lost or stolen e-gift cards cannot be replaced, so keep the email or text safe and share the card details with nobody.
On the Genghis side, the security page explains how your data is protected. If a code fails at first redemption, arrives incomplete or never arrives, it is replaced, or refunded if no replacement comes within 5 business days.
Earn Genghis Points on the purchase
Yes, orders placed with a free Genghis account earn Points, and a new account starts with 100 Points. Every completed order earns more, and a Point is a cent at checkout. Points never expire and need no KYC to earn or redeem.
They become spendable once your account has 25 USD in completed orders. At checkout you drag the slider and the Points turn into a discount before you pay. The Genghis rewards page has the full rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Tesco gift card balance?
Online on the Tesco gift card balance page with the 19 digit card number and PIN, by phone on 0345 0757757, at a Tesco Customer Service Desk, or on your till receipt.
How long after buying can I check the balance?
Tesco says it can take up to 2 hours after you buy an e-gift card for it to be authorised and ready, or for the balance to be checked.
Can I top up a Tesco e-gift card?
No. Tesco says e-gift cards can only be loaded once. When the balance runs low, buy a new card in the amount you need.
Can I pay for a Tesco gift card with Bitcoin?
Yes. On Genghis you pay for the card with Bitcoin, USDT, Solana, Monero or 300+ other coins, then spend it at a Tesco store like any other.
Do I need to verify my identity?
No. Genghis asks only for an email address at checkout, with no documents. Purchase limits apply: without an account, up to 500 USD in 24 hours and 2,000 USD in 30 days.
How fast does the code arrive?
It appears on screen once your payment confirms on the network, with a link by email. The wait depends on the coin: Solana and Tron confirm sooner than Bitcoin.
Can I pay with Monero?
Yes. Monero is supported at checkout and adds a network cost that is shown before you choose it.
Are there any fees?
The amount shown in your coin is the full price and includes the exchange-rate margin. A network cost applies only to USDT on Tron and to Monero. Your own wallet or exchange may charge a withdrawal fee.
What if my code does not work?
Write to samantha@genghis.pro within 30 days with your order number and a screenshot. A code that fails at first redemption, arrives incomplete or never arrives is replaced, or refunded if no replacement comes within 5 business days, and a wrong country on our page is refunded.
Do Tesco e-gift cards expire?
Tesco says e-gift cards expire 5 years after the last time they were used or a balance enquiry was made, so a balance check restarts the clock.
Can I use a Tesco e-gift card online or in Ireland?
No. Tesco says its e-gift cards work at UK Tesco stores and cannot be used for online purchases or in the Republic of Ireland.
Bottom line
Check a Tesco gift card balance on the balance page, on the phone line, at a Customer Service Desk or on your receipt. Allow up to 2 hours after buying an e-gift card.
When the balance falls short and your money is in crypto, buy a new card in the exact amount you need and pay from your wallet, with no KYC at checkout.
Get a new Tesco gift card with crypto
Values from 1 GBP to 500 GBP, paid with Bitcoin, USDT or 300+ coins. No KYC at checkout.