Quick Overview
- Earning 5% cash back means you'll receive 5 cents back for every $1 spent, so if you spend $100, you'd get $5 in cash back.
- To calculate 5% cash back, multiply the purchase amount by 0.05. For example, 5% cash back on a $1,000 purchase is $1,000 x 0.05, which equals $50.
Use our 5% cash back calculator to quickly find out how much cash back you'll earn on any dollar amount at a 5% rate.
What is 5% cash back?
A 5% cash back rate means that for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases, you earn 5 cents back in the form of cash rewards. For example, if you spend $200 on a purchase that qualifies for 5% cash back, you would receive $10 in rewards.
This type of reward is typically offered on specific spending categories on credit cards or during promotional periods at retailers. They can often be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits, or even gift cards, depending on the program.
How do you calculate 5% cash back?
To calculate 5% cash back, simply multiply your total eligible purchase amount by 0.05. This will give you the amount of cash back you’ll earn.
For example, if you spend $600 on a purchase that qualifies for 5% cash back, you would calculate $600 × 0.05, which equals $30 in cash back rewards. This calculation applies to any purchase amount—just take the total and multiply by 0.05 to get the 5% cash back value.
5% cash back calculator
Use our 5% Cash Back Calculator to calculate 5% cash back earnings based on any value entered.
Calculator: How much is 5% cash back?
| Total Cash Back: | $5.00 |
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5% cash back amounts
The table below lists the amounts for 5% cash back for several denominations.
| Dollar amount | 5% cash back |
|---|---|
| $25 | $1.25 |
| $50 | $2.50 |
| $75 | $3.75 |
| $100 | $5.00 |
| $200 | $10.00 |
| $300 | $15.00 |
| $400 | $20.00 |
| $500 | $25.00 |
| $600 | $30.00 |
| $700 | $35.00 |
| $800 | $40.00 |
| $900 | $45.00 |
| $1,000 | $50.00 |
| $1,200 | $60.00 |
| $1,500 | $75.00 |
| $2,000 | $100.00 |
| $4,000 | $200.00 |
| $5,000 | $250.00 |
| $10,000 | $500.00 |
| $20,000 | $1,000.00 |
| $40,000 | $2,000.00 |
5% quarterly rotating credit cards
Two credit cards offer 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories: the Chase Freedom Flex® and Discover it® card.
Both cards cap cash back at $1,500 in combined spending across the 5% categories each quarter. Once you reach this cap, your cash back rate drops to 1% for the rest of the quarter. This allows you to earn up to $75 in 5% cash back per quarter, or $300 annually, if you maximize your spending in these categories.
I recommend having both cards to maximize rewards, especially when valuable 5% categories align with your spending. Plus, with no annual fees, there's no downside to keeping them in your wallet.
5% cash back credit cards
There are a good handful of credit cards that offer 5% cash back or more in specific categories. Which cards are best will depend on how much you spend.
Here are a few of our favorite credit cards that can earn you 5% cash back or more in a specific category:
- Citi Custom Cash Card: Earn 5% back on your top eligible spend category on up to $500 per month (then 1%). No annual fee.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Earn 6% cash back on the first $6,000 in annual U.S. supermarket purchases (then 1%). Also earns high returns on gas station, streaming services, and transit.
What's the best cash back credit card?
Which cash back credit card is best for you will depend on a large number of factors — how much you spend per month, the type of benefits you're looking for, preferred banks (if any), and more.
Use our cash back credit card calculator to find cards that will earn you the most cash back based on your spending habits and other criteria. You can then click on cards to learn more about them and to see if they fit what you're looking for.
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- There's no good card options based on the spend entered.
- The calculator is having a brain-fart and is not calculating rewards properly.
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Results
Listed below are the results based on what you entered into the tool above. These estimates are to help guide you towards making the best decision when it comes to picking up a rewards credit card.
You can click on "Show Calculations" to see a breakdown of how the rewards were calculated, click on the card itself to learn more/apply through our partners (big thanks if you do!), or click on any of the other links to learn more about the card and it's rewards.
Do note that some of the calculations are rounded so it is possible that the estimated values may be off by a point or two when added up.
Remember that this particular tool uses our point/mile valuations, the intro bonuses we have in the database, and includes the maximum (calculable) bonuses for each card. If you want to have control over these options and much more, slide over to the Rewards Credit Card Directory & Calculator.
These calculations should be used for illustrative purposes only.
FAQs
How much is 5 percent cash back?
5% cash back is 5 cents back on the dollar. So for every $1 spent, you would get 5 cents back.
What is 5% cash back on $100?
5% cash back on a $100 purchase would would earn you $5 back.
How much cash back can I earn at 5% cash back?
It depends on how much you spend. You can use the 5% Cash Back Calculator on this page to calculate total cash back based on your spend.
Which credit cards offer 5% cash back?
There are several credit cards that offer 5% cash back in select categories including the Citi Custom Cash Card, Chase Freedom Flex® Card, and Discover it® Card.
How do I know what's the best credit card for my spend?
You can use the Credit Card Finder Tool to get a list of the best credit cards based on your spend across categories.
