Updated: September 30, 2025
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Enter your card's cash back rates and your estimated spend for each category per year to estimate your annual cash back rewards. For flat-rate cash back cards, just enter your entire annual spend on the first line and select the "Other Spendings" category.
Many of our credit card reviews have custom rewards calculators. Some of the most popular cash back calculators:
If you want to skip the calculators, check out our ranking of the Best Cash Back Cards. We collected and reviewed 32 data points for each of the top 60 cash back credit cards out there including the expected cash back from each card.
Cash back is simple math: multiply what you spend by your cash back rate. But cards with bonus categories make it more complicated since they cap bonus rates after you spend a certain amount, and some require you to activate categories each quarter.
Here's how to use our cash back calculator:
Pick from Groceries, Dining, Transportation, Shopping, Utilities, Health and Wellness, Entertainment or Other.
Type in the percentage your card pays for that category.
Enter how much you'll spend in that category.
Click "Add a Category" to include more spending types or hit "delete" to remove any.
Your cash back amount updates automatically as you type.
If your card caps higher cash back rates, enter two lines: one for spending up to the cap at the higher rate and another for spending beyond the cap at the lower rate (usually 1%).
Here's how much cash back two popular cards earn using typical American household spending:
Our spending profile:
Total: $22,000 in annual credit card spending or $1,833 per month.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card pays unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. To calculate QuicksilverOne cash back in the calculator:
The calculator shows $330 in cash back for the year.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has multiple bonus categories with spending caps.
Cash back structure:
To calculate rewards with our spending profile:
Total estimated cash back: $420.
The Blue Cash Everyday earns more cash back than the Quicksilver with this spending profile. But your results depend on how you spend. If you dine out often instead of buying groceries, the Quicksilver might earn you more.
When we did our full head-to-head review of the Quicksilver vs. Blue Cash Everyday we found the Quicksilver card to be slightly better overall.
But what if you had both cards? You could get 1.5% cash back on all of your purchases that weren’t included in the 3% categories of the Blue Cash Everyday. To calculate this, you’d go back to what you entered for the Blue Cash Everyday card and change the 1% values to 1.5%.
This pairing can be a smart move, but you’d only make $50 more. Ask yourself if it's worth the trouble to juggle an additional card — it may or may not be, depending on your spending and financial management habits.
In our experience, 2–3 credit cards in active use increases your rewards without adding too much complexity. However, make sure you can pay off your cards each month in full, no matter how many you have. Interest charges will quickly wipe out any cash back earnings if you're running a balance.
Annual Fee: Some cards pay higher cash back rates but charge an annual fee. Calculate whether your rewards cover the fee before you apply.
Credit Score Requirements: Check that your credit score meets the card's requirements before applying.
Penalties: Review penalty rates and fees. High penalties can wipe out your rewards fast.
Intro Purchase APR: Some cards offer 0% introductory APR on purchases, which helps if you need to carry a balance at first.
Issuer: Some card issuers provide better customer service and overall experience. American Express leads in customer satisfaction.
Welcome Offer: You don’t want to chase welcome offers, but they can help you make your decisions.
If you’re looking for cash back card ideas, our ranking of the best cash back cards can help you narrow down your options.
To calculate cash back rewards, multiply your spending in each category by the cash back rate for that category. For example, if you spend $500 on groceries with a card that offers 3% cash back on groceries, you would earn $15 in cash back.
If a spending category is missing, you can use the "Other Spending" category to input your spending and cash back rate. Since you're putting in the cash back rates yourself, you can add lines and pick whichever category helps you remember.
To include an annual fee in your cash back calculations, subtract the annual fee from your total cash back earnings. For example, if you earn $300 in cash back but the card has a $95 annual fee, your net cash back would be $205. This helps you determine if the rewards outweigh the cost of the card or to compare it to a no-annual fee cash back card.
A 5% cash back rate is excellent. But 5% rates usually apply only to specific categories and cap after you spend a certain amount, which makes them less valuable than they sound. Read the card's terms to understand the limits. If you want 5% cards, check our best 5% cash back cards ranking.
To maximize your cash back rewards, use cards that pay higher rates in your biggest spending categories. Watch for special offers and promotions, but don't let them trick you into spending more than you normally would.
To compare cash back credit cards, look at cash back rates, bonus categories, spending caps and annual fees. Use a cash back calculator to estimate your rewards based on how you actually spend. This comparison shows which card offers the best value for your spending habits.
Whether cash back credit cards beat other rewards cards depends on your spending and what rewards you'll actually use. Cash back cards offer straightforward rewards you can use anywhere. Travel cards offer points or miles that can be worth more if you travel frequently. Pick whichever rewards you'll use most.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
