Credit Card Cashback Calculator

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Finance Updated 16 Jun 2026

See how much cashback your credit card actually earns you. Enter your monthly spending, the base reward rate, a bonus rate for groceries, and the annual fee, and this calculator shows your monthly and annual cashback — and whether the card pays for itself.

Formula

Regular CB = (Total − Groceries) × Base% Grocery CB = Groceries × Grocery Rate% Monthly = Regular + Grocery Net Annual = Monthly × 12 − Annual Fee
  • Grocery spending earns the higher bonus rate; everything else earns the base rate.
  • Grocery spend is capped at your total spend, so the bonus can't exceed what you actually charge.
  • Net annual cashback subtracts the card's annual fee — that's the figure that tells you if the card is worth keeping.
  • The effective rate is your total cashback divided by total spend, blending the base and bonus rates into one number.
  • Many cards cap bonus categories or rotate them; check your card's terms, as this assumes the rates apply to all qualifying spend.

$2,000/month spend, 1.5% base, 3% groceries, $95 fee

Inputs
  • Total Monthly Spend: 2000 $
  • Base Cashback Rate: 1.5 %
  • Annual Card Fee: 95 $
  • Monthly Grocery Spend: 500 $
  • Grocery Bonus Rate: 3 %

Groceries earn 3% on $500 = $15, and the remaining $1,500 earns 1.5% = $22.50, for $37.50/month ($450/year). After the $95 annual fee, your net cashback is $355, an effective rate of about 1.88%.

Frequently asked questions

Is a card with an annual fee worth it?
Only if your net cashback (after the fee) beats a good no-fee card. This calculator's 'net annual cashback' line answers that directly for your spending.
What is the effective cashback rate?
It's your total cashback divided by your total spending. It blends the base and bonus rates so you can compare cards on a single number.
Why is grocery spend capped at my total spend?
You can't earn the grocery bonus on more than you actually spend. If your grocery figure exceeds total spend, the calculator caps it so the math stays realistic.
Do real cards have spending caps on bonus rates?
Often yes — many limit bonus categories to a quarterly or annual cap, after which spending drops to the base rate. Check your card's terms and adjust your inputs accordingly.
How can I maximise cashback?
Put each purchase on the card that rewards that category best, use bonus categories before they cap, and pay the balance in full so interest never eats your rewards.