As nice as it is to receive a gift in the mail from a loved one, the excitement can quickly fade if the well-intentioned gift comes in the wrong size or color — or it's something you don't think you'll ever use.
Luckily, if the package happens to be from Amazon, the process of returning it is incredibly straightforward. Even better: The gift-giver won't ever know you sent it back! So, after you've graciously thanked them for it (of course!), here's how to return a gift on Amazon quickly and discreetly.
That's it! You'll receive a gift credit to your account once Amazon processes the return (which could take up to 30 days) — and your gift sender will be none the wiser.
Unfortunately, no. Amazon gift returns only work if you have the 17-digit order number associated with the product. If you don't have this number available, you won't be able to return the item . or you'll have to ask the sender to give it to you. Hopefully, they'll understand!
Most items shipped directly from Amazon have a 30-day return window. If the gift came from a third-party seller, they may have their own return timeframe — you can check the Returns to Third-Party Sellers page for more details.
Not all products bought from Amazon are eligible for a return. These nonreturable products include the following:
After you input the 17-digit order number on the Gift Returns page, any nonreturnable items you've received will clearly be labeled: "This item isn't eligible for return."
It depends. As you start the return process, some products may give you the drop-down option to exchange the gift for a different size or color. However, if you don't see this option available, you'll have to return the gift and buy your preferred version.
Melanie Yates is the Senior Digital Editor at House Beautiful, where she oversees design, gardening, and home renovation content. Since joining the team in 2024, Melanie ideates, assigns, and edits digital stories from in-house and freelance writers and helps execute big-picture projects for the brand. Prior to this role, Melanie was a senior editor at Best Products for over eight years, where she launched the site’s home vertical, conducted numerous bedding product tests, wrote The Present Perfect newsletter column, and produced video tutorials on how to wrap a gift. A lifelong enthusiast of the written word, Melanie holds a BA in broadcast journalism from Hofstra University and a certificate in copyediting from UC San Diego Extension. She’s always on the lookout for the next vintage find to furnish her Queens apartment.
