What the balance does
It sits in the Wallet and pays for anything the Steam store sells: games, DLC, soundtracks, and items in games that use Steam's own marketplace. It is not tied to one title, which is what makes it a good gift when you do not know what somebody is playing.
The currency rule
This is the part worth reading twice. A Steam Wallet code is issued in one currency, and it will only redeem onto an account whose wallet is set to that same currency. A code bought in one currency is simply refused by an account set to another — not a warning, a refusal.
The account's currency follows the country it was set up in, and it is not something a user changes casually. Someone who moved country, or set the account up while travelling, may well be on a currency they no longer expect.
Before asking us for a Steam code, check which currency their store shows prices in. That one line of information is the difference between a working code and a dead one.
What it will not cover
- Hardware sold through the store, in most regions.
- Anything bought outside Steam, including keys resold elsewhere.
- Subscriptions billed by a third party rather than by Steam.
Gifting a game instead
Steam also lets you buy a specific game as a gift, sent to a friend on the account. That is a different product from a wallet code and is better when you know exactly which game they want — the wallet code is better when you do not.
We can arrange either. Say which you want when you reply to the confirmation.
Asking for one
Tell us the currency and roughly the amount. There is more on why region matters in the gaming category guide, and a general explanation in why region matters for gift codes.