Cash Back Calculator
FINANCECash back calculator for credit card rewards — see monthly and yearly cash back and net rewards after any annual fee.
Enter values and click Calculate
ℹ️ About Cash Back Calculator
A cash back calculator shows exactly how much a rewards credit card puts back in your pocket. Enter what you spend in a month, the card's cash back rate, and any annual fee, and it works out your rewards per month, per year, and — most importantly — your net rewards after the fee is deducted. That last number is what actually decides whether a flashy rewards card is worth keeping, or whether a plain no-fee card leaves you better off.
📖 How to Use Cash Back Calculator
1
Enter your monthly spend
Use the total you typically charge to the card each month.
2
Enter the cash back rate
The percentage the card advertises, e.g. 1.5% or 2%.
3
Add the annual fee
Leave it at 0 for a no-fee card, or enter the yearly fee.
4
Read your net rewards
See monthly and yearly cash back, and the net after the fee.
💡 Examples
Flat-rate no-fee card
INPUT
$1,000/mo at 1.5%, no fee→
OUTPUT
$15/mo · $180/yr · net $180Fee card still wins
INPUT
$2,000/mo at 2%, $95 fee→
OUTPUT
$40/mo · $480/yr · net $385Fee nearly cancels rewards
INPUT
$400/mo at 2%, $95 fee→
OUTPUT
$8/mo · $96/yr · net $1📊 Yearly Cash Back by Spend & Rate (before fees)
Annual rewards for common monthly spend levels and cash back rates.
| Monthly spend | 1% | 1.5% | 2% | 3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $60 | $90 | $120 | $180 |
| $1,000 | $120 | $180 | $240 | $360 |
| $2,000 | $240 | $360 | $480 | $720 |
| $3,000 | $360 | $540 | $720 | $1,080 |
| $5,000 | $600 | $900 | $1,200 | $1,800 |
Subtract any annual fee from these figures to get your net rewards.
🚀 Pro Tips
✓The headline rate is not your real return — a 2% card with a $95 fee only beats a no-fee 1.5% card above a certain spend. This calculator finds that break-even for you.
✓Cash back is only "free money" if you pay the balance in full every month; one month of interest usually wipes out a whole year of rewards.
✓Tiered cards (e.g. 5% on groceries, 1% on everything else) pay different rates per category — run each category separately and add the results.
✓A sign-up bonus can outweigh the ongoing rate in year one; factor it in separately when comparing cards.
✓Effective rate = net yearly rewards ÷ yearly spend. It is the single fairest way to compare two cards.