FakecreditcardAbout Discover card numbers
Discover was launched in the United States in 1985 by Sears. Like American Express, Discover is both a network and a card issuer, and its network also carries Diners Club International cards, which Discover acquired in 2008, as well as many cards from partner networks abroad.
Discover numbers start with 6011, with 644 to 649, or with 65. Cards in the 622126–622925 range are co-branded with China UnionPay and are also routed as Discover in the United States. Most Discover cards have 16 digits, but the network allows up to 19, so length checks should not be hard-coded to 16.
Discover is a common blind spot in validation code because developers test with Visa and Mastercard only. Generate a batch above and make sure your form detects the brand correctly for every prefix range.
Discover card number format and example
| Starts with (IIN) | 6011, 644–649, 65 (and 622126–622925) |
|---|---|
| Number length | 16 (up to 19) digits |
| Typical layout | 6xxx xxxx xxxx xxxx |
| Security code | 3-digit CID on the back |
| Check digit | Last digit, calculated with the Luhn (mod 10) algorithm |
| Network | Discover Global Network |
| Example (test number) | 6011 1111 1111 1117 |
Official Discover sandbox test numbers
Payment gateways publish fixed test numbers that only work in their test mode. Use them when you need a predictable gateway response; use the generator above for bulk or randomized data.
| Gateway | Test number | |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 6011 1111 1111 1117 | |
| Stripe | 6011 0009 9013 9424 | |
| Braintree | 6011 1111 1111 1117 |
Sources: the gateways' own documentation — Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, Adyen.
Need a billing address and ZIP code as well? Tick Add billing address & ZIP (US) above; how address (AVS) testing works is explained on the Visa generator page.
How to test Discover payments safely
- Generate a batch of Discover numbers above and paste them into your form to confirm brand detection, length and formatting.
- Change one digit of a generated number — your form should now reject it, because the Luhn check fails. You can confirm why with the validator.
- Switch your payment provider to sandbox / test mode and use its documented test cards for authorization, decline and 3-D Secure scenarios.
- Never use real customer card numbers in development or staging environments.
Frequently asked questions
What numbers do Discover cards start with?
6011, 644–649 and 65. Numbers from 622126 to 622925 are UnionPay co-branded cards that are also accepted as Discover in the US.
What is the Discover test card number for Stripe?
Stripe documents 6011 1111 1111 1117 and 6011 0009 9013 9424 for test mode.
Is Diners Club part of Discover?
Diners Club International has been owned by Discover since 2008 and its cards run on the Discover network, but Diners numbers keep their own prefixes (300–305, 36, 38–39).
Are these real credit card numbers?
No. The numbers follow the public format rules of each card network (prefix, length and Luhn check digit), but they are not linked to any bank account, cardholder or credit line. They exist only to test software.
Can I buy something or start a free trial with a generated card?
No. A real payment needs an authorization from the issuing bank, and no bank has issued these numbers, so every charge is declined. Trying to pay with a number you do not own is fraud. Use them only in sandboxes, forms and test data.