You're standing in line. The Under Armour outlet is packed, the smell of new rubber and synthetic polyester is everywhere, and you've got a pair of Hovr phantom shoes in one hand and a stack of Project Rock gear in the other. Then comes the moment of truth. You pull out that plastic card—or maybe a crumpled printout of an e-gift card from three Christmases ago—and wonder if there’s actually enough on it to cover the damage. Checking your UA gift card balance shouldn't feel like a high-stakes gamble, but somehow, we always end up doing it at the absolute last second.
Honestly, it’s a pain when you don’t know your numbers. Under Armour has made the process relatively straightforward, yet people still get tripped up by the difference between a "Standard" gift card and those promotional "Bonus" cards they give out during the holidays. There’s a massive difference. One is basically cash that never expires; the other is a ticking time bomb of an expiration date that'll leave you empty-handed if you aren't careful.
How to actually check your UA gift card balance without the headache
Most people just want the link. If you’re on your phone right now, you can head straight to the Under Armour website. Scroll all the way to the bottom—past the "Sign Up" boxes and the social media icons—and look for the "Gift Cards" link under the customer service heading. Once you’re there, there’s a specific "Check Balance" button. You’ll need the 16-digit card number and the 4-digit PIN.
Where's the PIN?
If you have a physical card, it’s usually hidden under a silver scratch-off coating on the back. Don't use your teeth. I’ve seen people ruin the numbers that way. Use a coin. If it’s an e-gift card, the PIN is right there in the email, usually tucked under the card image.
But here is the thing: sometimes the website acts up. It happens. If the online portal is giving you a "system unavailable" error, you have two other real-world options. First, you can call their automated line at 1-800-269-9218. It’s old school, but it works when the Wi-Fi is spotty. Second, if you’re actually near a store, any associate at the "Brand House" or "Factory House" (that’s Under Armour speak for regular stores and outlets) can swipe it at the register and tell you exactly what’s left.
Why your balance might look "wrong"
I’ve heard people complain that their UA gift card balance is lower than they expected. Usually, this isn't a glitch. If you recently tried to buy something online and the order didn't go through or you cancelled it, Under Armour might have placed a temporary "hold" on those funds. It’s a standard banking practice, but on a gift card, it feels like your money just vanished into the ether. It usually takes about 3 to 5 business days for that balance to "bounce back" and become usable again.
Another culprit? Shipping fees and taxes.
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If you have exactly $50 and you’re trying to buy a $50 shirt, it’s going to decline. Under Armour doesn't always offer free shipping unless you hit a certain threshold or you're a member of their "UA Rewards" program.
The big difference between gift cards and "Promo Cards"
This is where the real drama happens. Under Armour loves a good promotion. You’ve seen them: "Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 bonus card."
Listen closely. That $20 is not a gift card. Not really.
While your standard UA gift card balance is protected by law in many states (meaning it won't expire and won't hit you with "dormancy fees"), those promo cards are technically "coupons" in the eyes of the law. They almost always have an expiration date. I’ve seen people walk in with a $25 promo card from a Black Friday deal only to be told it expired in January. It’s gut-wrenching. Always check the fine print on the back of the physical card or the bottom of the email. If it has a "valid through" date, use it first. Always use the promo money before the "real" money.
Can you combine balances?
Let's say you have three different cards with random amounts—$4.12 on one, $10.00 on another, and $50.00 on a third. You can't "merge" them into one single card through the website interface easily. However, when you’re checking out online, Under Armour typically allows you to apply multiple gift cards to a single order.
If you're in a physical store, the cashier can definitely "drain" the small cards first and then let you pay the remaining balance with your main card or a credit card. It’s the best way to clean out your junk drawer of half-used cards.
Protecting your balance from scammers
This sounds like a "common sense" thing, but it’s becoming a massive issue. Scammers love gift cards because they’re basically untraceable cash. No one from Under Armour—or the IRS, or your utility company—will ever call you and ask you to pay a bill or "verify your identity" by giving them your UA gift card balance numbers.
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If you’re buying a card from a third-party site like an auction house or a "discount gift card" marketplace, be extremely wary. Often, people sell the card, wait for you to pay, and then spend the balance before you even get the card in the mail. If a deal looks too good to be true—like a $100 card for $50—it is a scam. 100% of the time.
If your card is lost or stolen, you might be able to get it replaced, but only if you have the original sales receipt. Without that proof of purchase, Under Armour's customer service team is basically powerless to help you. Treat that card like a hundred-dollar bill. If it blows away in the wind, it’s gone.
Where you can (and can't) spend your money
You’d think an Under Armour gift card would work anywhere that sells Under Armour. Nope.
You can use it at:
- UA.com (the official website).
- UA Brand House (full-price retail stores).
- UA Factory House (outlet stores).
You cannot use it at:
- Dick’s Sporting Goods.
- Macy’s.
- Amazon.
- Your local gym’s pro shop.
Even though those places sell Under Armour gear, they are separate retailers. It’s like trying to use a Starbucks card at a grocery store that happens to sell Starbucks beans. It just won't work.
Maximize the value of your remaining balance
If you’ve checked your UA gift card balance and realized you only have something like $8.00 left, don't let it sit there. Under Armour sells plenty of smaller items like performance socks, headbands, or even those "UA Sideline" squeeze bottles.
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Another pro tip: wait for the "End of Season" sales. Under Armour is notorious for massive clearance events where items are 40% to 50% off the outlet price. That $15 balance that couldn't buy a t-shirt in September might get you a high-quality tech tee in January.
What about returns?
If you buy something with a gift card and then return it, the refund doesn't go back to your credit card. It goes back to a "merchandise credit" or a new gift card. If you bought the item online, they’ll usually email you a new digital gift card code. Don't delete that email. I’ve had friends lose hundreds of dollars because they thought the refund was "automatic" back to their bank, didn't check their inbox, and then accidentally cleared their trash folder.
Final practical steps for cardholders
Checking your balance is the first step, but managing it is where you save money.
First, take a photo of the back of your card immediately after buying it. If the physical card gets demagnetized or the numbers rub off (which happens more than you'd think with athletes who throw their wallets in gym bags), you'll still have the digital record.
Second, register for a "UA Rewards" account. While it doesn't automatically track your gift cards yet, it keeps your order history in one place. If you ever have a dispute about a balance used on an order, having that paper trail in your account makes the phone call to customer service ten times faster.
Third, if you have a balance under $10 and you know you won't use it, consider "paying it forward." You can actually use that remaining balance at a physical store and ask the cashier to apply it to the person behind you in line. It’s a small gesture, but it’s better than letting the money sit in Under Armour’s corporate accounts forever.
Check that balance now. Don't be the person at the front of a 20-person line on a Saturday afternoon trying to figure out why their card is being declined for a $0.50 shortfall. Log on, verify the 16 digits, and know exactly what you've got before you shop.