A gift card type is a template that defines how a gift card behaves: what it costs, what it's worth, when it's delivered, when it activates, when it expires, what policies apply, and what it looks like. Every sold gift card is created against a type. Use the Gift card types tab to manage these templates.
Getting started
Navigate to Purchases > Gift cards and pick the Gift card types tab. Click any row to edit the type, or Create a gift card type at the top right to start a new one.
How it works
Each gift card type is a sellable product on your booking site (unless marked Internal only). The type editor splits configuration across two tabs (Settings and Policies) plus a designs library on the right side of the Settings tab. The type's lifecycle controls (delivery, activation, expiration) decide what timing the customer gets when they buy it.
Step-by-step guide
Create a new type
Click Create a gift card type at the top right of the Gift card types tab. The type editor opens with the Settings tab active and an empty form.
The Settings tab has four sections, each documented below: Details, Pricing, Purchase Options, and Delivery and Lifecycle.
Fill in the details
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Customer facing name | Required. The name customers see on the booking site |
| Internal label | Private name visible only to your team |
| Description | Customer-facing description |
Configure pricing
The Value type dropdown drives what fields appear next. Three options are available.
| Value type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Arbitrary value | The customer picks any amount within a range you set |
| Fixed value | A set redemption amount with a specific price (which can differ from the value) |
| Value of event | The card is worth a specific event's price |
For each value type, the form surfaces a different set of fields.
| When | Fields |
|---|---|
| Arbitrary value | Minimum load amount and Maximum load amount (both required currency inputs) |
| Fixed value | Redemption amount (what the card is worth at checkout) and Price (what the customer pays). They can differ |
| Value of event | Event display mode (Customer selects or Auto-calculate), Available events or Pricing source event depending on mode, and Include taxes and fees in the calculated value toggle |
In Value of event mode, the Event display mode controls how the customer experiences purchase.
| Mode | What customers see |
|---|---|
| Customer selects | A list of events you mark Available. The customer picks one and the card is worth that event's price |
| Auto-calculate | One Pricing source event is the basis. The card's value is calculated from that event's pricing without the customer choosing |
The Include taxes and fees in the calculated value toggle decides whether the card's value covers taxes and fees on redemption or just the base ticket price.
Set purchase options
| Toggle | What it does |
|---|---|
| Internal only | Hides the type from the booking site so only staff can issue cards of this type. Use for refund cards, complimentary gifts, makegoods |
| Validate redemption email | Forces the recipient to verify their email before redeeming, preventing accidental misuse if a card is forwarded |
| Allow multiple gift cards per purchase | Lets a customer buy more than one card of this type in a single transaction |
Configure delivery, activation, and expiration
Each of the three lifecycle controls (delivery, expiration, activation) follows a similar pattern: a top-level toggle, then a dropdown for the timing rule, then conditional inputs based on the rule.
| Toggle | When on, controls |
|---|---|
| Allow customer to choose delivery date | The customer picks the delivery date themselves at checkout instead of you fixing it |
| Allow gift cards to expire | The card has an expiration date or period |
| Activate gift cards immediately after purchase | The card becomes redeemable the moment it's bought |
When Allow customer to choose delivery date is off, the Deliver gift cards dropdown picks one of these.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Immediately after purchase | Sent on purchase |
| At a time after purchase | Sent N days/weeks/months/years later. Inputs: numeric Days field plus a period dropdown |
| On a specific date | Sent on a fixed date. Date picker required |
When Allow gift cards to expire is on, the Gift cards expire dropdown picks one of these.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| At a time after purchase | Expires N days/weeks/months/years later. Inputs: numeric Days plus period dropdown |
| On a specific date | Expires on a fixed date. Date picker required |
When Activate gift cards immediately after purchase is off, the Activate gift cards dropdown picks one of these.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| At a time after purchase | Activates N days/weeks/months/years later |
| On a specific date | Activates on a fixed date |
Add policies and terms (Policies tab)
Switch to the Policies tab to add a redemption policy block and terms-of-service requirements.
| Toggle | When on |
|---|---|
| Include a policy section | Surfaces Policy section title (text input, e.g., "Redemption policy") and a rich-text Redemption policy editor on the booking site |
| Require user to accept terms | Forces a checkbox the customer must tick before completing purchase. Surfaces a Terms of service custom text input prefixed with "I agree to" |
| Include an external terms of service link | Adds an External terms of service link URL field. Only relevant when Require user to accept terms is also on |
Manage designs
The Designs panel is the right column of the Settings tab. It shows the design library for this type and lets you upload, reorder, and remove designs. A type needs at least one design before you can save it.
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Add a design | Click Add design at the top of the panel. The image editor opens to upload a file and adjust how it sits in the frame |
| Reorder designs | Drag any design card horizontally. The first card is the default design |
| Remove a design | Click the X button at the top right of the design card |
The recommended design dimensions are 800 × 450 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio). The empty state reads No gift card designs added.
Activate, deactivate, or archive a type
Click the three-dot menu in the top right of the type editor (or in the Actions column on the types list).
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Deactivate gift card type | Stops new sales of this type. Cards already issued are unaffected. Available when active |
| Activate gift card type | Re-enables sales. Available when inactive |
| Archive gift card type | Removes the type from the list. Use when you've sunset a template permanently |
Save your changes
Click Create (new type) or Update (existing type) at the bottom of the editor. The button is disabled while loading. Validation runs across both tabs, so a missing field on Policies blocks save even if you're on Settings.
Click Cancel to discard all changes and return to the types list.
Reference
Page header
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Breadcrumb | Gift cards / [type name or "Create gift card type"] |
| Top-right three-dot menu | Activate / Deactivate / Archive (see below) |
Editor tabs
| Tab | What you configure |
|---|---|
| Settings | Details, pricing, purchase options, delivery, activation, expiration, designs |
| Policies | Redemption policy and terms-of-service requirements |
Settings tab — Details
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customer facing name | Yes | Public name |
| Internal label | No | Staff-only label |
| Description | No | Public description |
Settings tab — Pricing
| Field | When it appears | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Value type | Always | Arbitrary value / Fixed value / Value of event |
| Minimum load amount | Arbitrary value | Required currency input |
| Maximum load amount | Arbitrary value | Required currency input |
| Redemption amount | Fixed value | Required. What the card is worth |
| Price | Fixed value | Required. What the customer pays |
| Event display mode | Value of event | Customer selects or Auto-calculate |
| Available events | Customer selects | Multi-select of events |
| Pricing source event | Auto-calculate | Single event, used for the card's value |
| Include taxes and fees in the calculated value | Value of event | Toggle |
Settings tab — Purchase options
| Toggle | Notes |
|---|---|
| Internal only | Hides type from the booking site |
| Validate redemption email | Forces email verification on redemption |
| Allow multiple gift cards per purchase | Multiple cards in one order |
Settings tab — Delivery and lifecycle
| Section | Top toggle | Sub-options |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Allow customer to choose delivery date | When off: Deliver gift cards = Immediately / At a time after purchase / On a specific date |
| Expiration | Allow gift cards to expire | When on: Gift cards expire = At a time after purchase / On a specific date |
| Activation | Activate gift cards immediately after purchase | When off: Activate gift cards = At a time after purchase / On a specific date |
For "At a time after purchase" rules, the period dropdown options are day(s), week(s), month(s), year(s).
Policies tab
| Toggle | Conditional fields |
|---|---|
| Include a policy section | Policy section title + rich-text Redemption policy |
| Require user to accept terms | Terms of service custom text (prefixed "I agree to") |
| Include an external terms of service link | External terms of service link URL |
Designs panel
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Add design | Opens the image editor (Upload, Description, Background color, Image fit, Image scale, drag-to-reposition). No separate X/Y inputs — drag the image to position it |
| Drag handle | Drag horizontally to reorder. First card is the default |
| Delete (X) | Removes the design |
| Empty state | "No gift card designs added." |
| Recommended size | 800 × 450 px (16:9) — shown verbatim in the panel header |
Editor top-right three-dot menu
| Action | When |
|---|---|
| Deactivate gift card type | Type is currently active |
| Activate gift card type | Type is currently inactive |
| Archive gift card type | Always |
Save buttons
| Button | When |
|---|---|
| Cancel | Discard and go back |
| Create | New type |
| Update | Existing type |
Types list table columns
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Drag handle | Drag to reorder |
| External name | Customer-facing name plus description |
| Internal label | Staff-only label |
| Value type | Badge: Arbitrary value / Fixed value / Value of event |
| Internal only | Checkmark or X icon |
| Activation | Activation rule summary |
| Delivery | Delivery rule summary |
| Expiration | Expiration rule summary |
| Status | active / deactivated badge |
| Actions | Three-dot menu (Edit / Activate or Deactivate / Archive) |
Per-row actions on the types list
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Edit gift card type | Opens the editor on this type |
| Deactivate gift card type | Stops new sales |
| Activate gift card type | Re-enables sales |
| Archive gift card type | Removes from the list |
Empty state on the types list
| State | Copy |
|---|---|
| No types created | "No gift card types have been created." |
Good to know
- Price and redemption amount can differ on Fixed value types. Sell a $50 card for $40 as a promotion, or a $100 card for $90 as a holiday discount.
- Value of event types are great for experience-specific gift cards: "An escape room session for two" rather than a dollar amount. The value automatically tracks the event's pricing, so a price change on the event flows into newly-issued cards.
- A type needs at least one design to save. Validation blocks the save if Designs is empty.
- Internal only types never appear on the booking site. Use them for refund cards, comp cards, and any staff-issued gift card you don't want customers to find.
- Delayed activation is useful for pre-sale campaigns: take orders now, activate cards on a launch date.
- Validate redemption email is the anti-fraud control. When on, the recipient must click a verification link before redeeming. Pairs well with email-only delivery.
- Editing a type only affects future purchases. Cards already issued keep the settings they had at purchase time. To change cards already issued, edit them individually on the Purchases tab.
- Archiving is permanent in the UI. Archived types are hidden from the list. There's no unarchive control today; deactivation is the reversible alternative.
- Type validation runs across both tabs. A missing Policy section title on the Policies tab blocks save even if you're on the Settings tab. Click the tab indicators to find errors.
FAQ
Q: Can I sell a gift card for less than its face value?
A: Yes. Use the Fixed value type and set the Price lower than the Redemption amount. For example, sell a $50 gift card for $40.
Q: What's the difference between delivery date and activation date?
A: Delivery is when the recipient gets the email. Activation is when the card becomes redeemable. You can deliver immediately and delay activation, or vice versa.
Q: Can I change a gift card type after cards have been sold?
A: Yes, but changes only affect future purchases. Cards already issued retain their original settings. To change a sold card, edit it directly on the Gift card purchases tab.
Q: Why can't I save my type?
A: Most likely a missing required field or no designs added. Check both tabs for inline errors. Common blockers: missing Customer facing name, missing Pricing source event in Auto-calculate mode, missing Policy section title when Include a policy section is on, and an empty Designs panel.
Q: How do I make a type for a refund-only flow?
A: Toggle Internal only on. The type stays hidden from the booking site but staff can still issue cards from it via the Transaction details refund flow.
Q: Can I have a type that activates only during a specific season?
A: Yes. Use Activate gift cards = On a specific date for a single launch. For recurring seasonal cards, create a new type each season instead.
Q: My customer says the gift card is "not yet activated." Why?
A: The type is configured with delayed activation. Open the card on the Gift card purchases tab and check the Activated date in the Dates column.
Q: Can I add custom fields to a gift card purchase form?
A: Custom fields can be configured in Custom fields and applied to gift card purchases via that library. The gift card type editor itself doesn't have a custom-fields panel.