Money orders are less risky to send through the mail because they do not include personal banking information, and they have to be signed by both the sender and the recipient to be usable.
If you are new to money orders, or even a seasoned user, there are many businesses you can visit to send a money order, and the choices can sometimes be overwhelming, as each institution has different fees and conditions.
You can buy money orders at retail stores, banks and credit unions, USPS, money stores, and grocery stores.
Does Walmart Do Money Orders?
Walmart sell money orders at an average fee of $0.88 up to a maximum of $1.00. You can buy money orders at Walmart’s customer service desk or MoneyCenter. You can also buy Walmart money orders online at a rate of $1.99 for domestic and $8 for international.
Please note that $0.88 is an average money order fee at Walmart. To get an exact amount of money order fee, you will have to call your location. Walmart’s money order fee is pretty average, below is a comparison table of average money orders fees compared to Walmart’s competitors:
| Business | Average fees |
| Meijer | 65 cents |
| 7-Eleven | 65 cents/1%–3% percent |
| Kroger | 69 cents |
| Kmart | 70 cents |
| Publix | 85 cents |
| Walmart | 88 cents |
| Albertsons | 89 cents |
| Rite Aid | 99 cents |
| Circle K | $1–$1.30 |
| United States Postal Service | $1.20–$2.60 |
| CVS | $1.25 |
Although there are no fees for using a debit card to purchase a money order at Walmart, there are higher fees for international money orders.
Money orders can be sent to more than 200 countries through Walmart, but it is usually more expensive to send money internationally. For example, it would cost $8 in fees to send $1,000 to someone in Thailand.
The maximum limit amount for a single money order at Walmart and virtually every institution is $1,000, although you can purchase multiple money orders in one day up to $3,000 at Walmart. However, if you purchase multiple money orders, you will be charged separate fees for each order.
Related: Cashier’s Check vs Money Order (Know The Difference)
How to Fill Out Walmart Money Order
Walmart sells a wide range of financial services including money orders for both domestic and international transactions.
The money orders sold by Walmart are not issued by Walmart itself. They are issued by MoneyGram, a money transfer company.
In order to fill out a money order at Walmart, the form requires the name of the recipient of the money order, your account number if you are paying a bill with the money order, your address, and your signature.
If you are sending multiple money orders totaling greater than $1,000, you will need a government-issued photo ID.
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to fill out a money order from Walmart.
Step 1. Fill in the Name of the Recipient in the “PAY TO THE ORDER OF” Line
Immediately after the purchase of your money order, you should fill out at least the recipient field of your money order.
Your money order is as good as cash after you have paid for it. If you lose your money order and its recipient field is not filled in, anyone who finds it can enter their name in that field and walk away with your money.
Filling in the recipient’s name immediately after purchase will stop that from happening.
The first line of the Walmart money order is labeled as “PAY TO THE ORDER OF / PAGAR DE LA ORDEN DE.” Write on that line the name of the person or company who will receive your money order.
Always ask the recipient what name should be written on the money order, as you must use a legal name that matches the name on their ID or bank account.
Step 2. Sign Your Name on the “PURCHASER, SIGNER FOR DRAWER” Line
Beneath the “PAY TO THE ORDER OF” line is a line labeled “PURCHASER, SIGNER FOR DRAWER / COMPRADOR, FIRMA DEL LIBRADOR.” Sign your signature on that line.
Step 3. Write Your Address in the Line Labeled “ADDRESS”
Underneath the “PURCHASER, SIGNER FOR DRAWER” line is a line labeled “ADDRESS / DIRECCIÓN.” This is the space for you to write down your address, NOT the address of the recipient. Enter your address here.
Step 4. Include Your Account Number if You Are Paying a Bill
If you are paying a bill, write down your account number somewhere on your money order. This makes sure your account is credited for the payment.
Step 5. Remove the Receipt From Your Money Order
On the right side of your money order is a detachable stub that serves as your receipt. Tear that stub off along the perforated line and save your receipt in case there are problems with your payment later on. This receipt is your proof of payment.
Cashing Money Orders at Walmart
Walmart will cash MoneyGram money orders up to $1000 for a fee of $4. If your money order amount is more than $1000, the fee will be $8. You will need a government-issued photo ID to cash a money order at Walmart.
Walmart does not cash USPS money orders. USPS money orders can be cashed at a post office for free. To find a USPS location near you, click here.
Update: As of spring 2021, Walmart has partnered with Western Union and is enabling money services in Walmart across the USA. This agreement between the 2 giants will enable money orders and bill pay, and will also enable domestic and international money transfer.
How to Send a Money Order from Walmart
Sending a money order from Walmart depends on whether you are sending it online or at a physical store. Below are the steps for each scenario.
Paper money orders:
- Money orders can be completed in person at the money center or customer service desk of any Walmart location. Find one near you by clicking here
- Make sure to use black ink and write legibly.
- Once you purchase the order with cash or a debit card, the next step is to fill it out and either send it through the mail or deliver it on your own.
- The most important step is to keep your receipt in a safe place in case you need to track or cancel your order.
Related: Walmart Money Center Hours
Online money orders:
- If you complete the money order online, you will have to enter the recipient’s first and last name as well as the destination country.
- Next, indicate the amount you would like to send and select the method of payment.
- Once you input your personal details and payment information, the process is complete.
Walmart offers an online tool for tracking money orders. You can even cancel the money order by going to the Transaction Details page or calling MoneyGram.
- To track your money order, visit Walmart’s free online tool.
- Use the reference number (or authorization number) on the paper money order stub or in your account if you chose the online money order option.
Walmart to Walmart Money Transfer Cost
Walmart MoneyGram is a completely different service than Walmart to Walmart. Walmart MoneyGram is Walmart’s international transfer service, and Walmart to Walmart money transfer is using Ria money transfer services to transfer money from one Walmart to another Walmart.
Walmart2Walmart Powered by Ria
| Send amount | Fee |
| $0 – $50 | $4 |
| $51 – $1,000 | $8 |
| $1,001 – $2,500 | $16 |
You can use the Walmart app or go in-store to use Walmart to Walmart transfer, and you do not need to have a Walmart MoneyGram Account to use Walmart to Walmart.
Walmart Money Exchange Rate
If you are contemplating sending a money order, the first place you should check the rates is your bank if you have an account.
Many banks offer free money orders for certain types of accounts, although some charge $5 or more. If you do not have an account or a bank that offers money orders for free, Walmart has one of the cheapest money exchange rates, but there might be better options for international transfers.
If you send $1000 to someone in Great Britain through Walmart MoneyGram, your fee will be approximately $8, and they will receive roughly 774 pounds.
TransferWise has a better exchange rate, so even with a fee of $7.56, the recipient receives more money in their local currency (791 pounds), and your total cost is still $1000 instead of $1008.
- Walmart exchange rate: USD1 = GBP0.7740
- TransferWise exchange rate: USD1 = GBP0.79770
Money transfer apps such as PayPal are even more expensive for international transfers. For example, if you send approximately $300 to someone in the United States from Thailand, you will be charged fees of roughly $9.
However, TransferWise is more limited when it comes to the countries you can send money to and from. For instance, you cannot send money from Thailand to the United States.
Below is an example table comparing the best services for international money transfers if you are sending $1,000 to India:
| Service | Exchange rate | Transfer fee | Recipients Get |
| Western Union | 73.0839 | $0 | 73,083.94 INR (losing 160.19 INR) |
| Xoom (used by PayPal) | 73.0139 | $0 | 73,013.94 INR (losing 230.24 INR) |
| MoneyGram | 72.9614 | $0 | 72,961,36 INR (losing 282.86 INR) |
| TransferWise | 73.6980 | $11.50 | 72,850.47 INR (losing 393.82 INR) |
For a more in-depth look at MoneyGram vs. Western Union, here is a table with their exchange rates in a few major currencies:
| Currency | Mid-market | Western Union | MoneyGram |
| Mexican peso | 1USD = 22.4119MXN | 1USD = 22.1238MXN | 1USD = 22.3034MXN |
| Euro | 1USD = 0.87658EUR | 1USD = 0.8729EUR | 1USD = 0.8479EUR |
| Chinese yuan | 1USD = 6.99855CNY | 1USD = 6.9134CNY | 1USD = 6.9547CNY |
| British pounds | 1USD = 0.79648GBP | 1USD = 0.7888GBP | 1USD = 0.7509GBP |
As you can see, MoneyGram has a fairly favorable exchange rate with most currencies, making Walmart a decent option even for sending international transfers.
Walmart Money Order Refund
As long as the money order has not been altered or damaged in any way, you can get a refund for the money order by going to the closest Walmart location and receiving a refund if you bring the original receipt.
However, the fees will likely not be refunded. It takes approximately 30 days for domestic refunds to be completed, but only 30 minutes for international money order refunds.
Does Walmart Still Do Money Orders in 2024?
Walmart still offers money order services as of 2024. You can get money orders at their MoneyCenter or customer service department. Walmart is also one of the least expensive places to send a money order domestically.
Even their international rates are fairly low and consistent, staying the same whether you are sending money to Great Britain, Thailand, or even all the way to New Zealand.
Here are a few of the main points we have discussed in this article:
- You cannot purchase a money order greater than $1,000, but you can send multiple money orders up to $3,000 in one day at Walmart.
- If you are filling out a paper money order, make sure you bring your ID and keep your receipt.
- You can use the reference number on a paper money order stub or in your online account to track a money order using Walmart’s online tool.
- You can cancel a money order by going to the Transaction Details page or calling MoneyGram.
- TransferWise might have a better exchange rate for international transfers.
- As long as your money order has not been damaged or altered, you can visit the nearest Walmart location and receive a refund if you bring the original receipt.
