Quick Overview
- Earning 1.5% cash back means you'll receive 1.5 cents back for every $1 spent, so if you spend $100, you’d get $1.50 in cash back.
- To calculate 1.5% cash back, multiply the purchase amount by 0.015. For example, 1.5% cash back on a $1,800 purchase is $1,800 x 0.015, which equals $27.
Use our 1.5% cash back calculator to quickly find out how much cash back you’ll earn on any dollar amount at a 1.5% rate.
What is 1.5% cash back?
"1.5% cash back" refers to a rewards rate where you earn 1.5 cents for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases. For example, if you spend $100, you would receive $1.50 back in cash rewards.
This type of cash back rate is common with many credit cards and rewards programs, allowing you to earn a percentage of your spending back as cash, which can typically be redeemed as statement credits, deposits, or other reward options.
It’s a straightforward way to get value from your purchases, as the cash back accumulates with every transaction, turning everyday spending into savings.
How do you calculate 1.5% cash back?
Calculating 1.5% cash back is straightforward: simply multiply your purchase amount by 0.015 to find the cash back earned.
For instance, if you make a purchase of $1,000, you’d multiply $1,000 by 0.015, resulting in $15 in cash back. This calculation applies to any purchase amount—just take the total and multiply by 0.015 to get the 1.5% cash back value.
1.5% cash back calculator
Use our 1.5% Cash Back Calculator to instantly calculate your 1.5% cash back earnings based on any amount entered.
Calculator: How much is 1.5% cash back?
Total Cash Back: | $1.50 |
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Rakuten Rewards offers easy, free cash back when shopping online at thousands of retailers. Maximize your earnings by double and even triple-dipping on rewards—you’ll earn Rakuten cash back, retailer rewards, and any cash back or points from the credit card you use at checkout!
1.5% cash back amounts
The table below lists the amounts for 1.5 cash back for several denominations.
Dollar amount | 1.5% cash back |
---|---|
$100 | $1.50 |
$200 | $3.00 |
$300 | $4.50 |
$400 | $6.00 |
$500 | $7.50 |
$600 | $9.00 |
$700 | $10.50 |
$800 | $12.00 |
$900 | $13.50 |
$1,000 | $15.00 |
$1,500 | $22.50 |
$2,000 | $30.00 |
$3,000 | $45.00 |
$4,000 | $60.00 |
$5,000 | $75.00 |
$10,000 | $150.00 |
$20,000 | $300.00 |
$50,000 | $750.00 |
$100,000 | $1,500.00 |
$150,000 | $2,250.00 |
What's the best 1.5% cash back card?
There are many 1.5% cash back credit cards in the market and while the overall return might be the same, there are cards that offer additional benefits that makes them better than others. This includes things like:
- Travel and purchase insurance
- Cell phone protection
- The ability to convert cash to other rewards
- Ways to earn bonus cash back
- Synergy with other credit cards in the program
These are all important and should be considered when choosing any kind of credit card, especially if you plan on maximizing your spend by having more than one rewards card.
Here are a few of our top picks for best 1.5% back credit cards from our partners:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® - Earns bonus cash back on drugstore, dining, and Chase Travel purchases while earning a base of 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. No annual fee.
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card - Earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases worldwide at no annual fee.
- Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® Card - Doubles as a credit card and personal loan. Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases or borrow from your credit line at a fixed rate. No annual fee.
Are there cards that are better than 1.5% cash back?
There's a good handful of credit cards that earn more than 1.5% cash back, so why would you get a 1.5% cash back card when you know you can earn a higher rate with another card? The answer to that depends on many factors:
- How much do you plan on spending on the card?
- Do you like the issuer/bank and network the card is assigned to?
- Do you plan on using the card internationally?
- Does the card have useful benefits that you'll use?
You have to take all of this into consideration when selecting a credit card.
For example, I own the Citi® Double Cash Card which earns 2% cash back (1% on purchase and 1% when you pay off the purchase) and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card which earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The reason I own both is based on my international travel.
The Citi Double Cash Card has a 3% foreign transaction fee which means that if I use the card outside of the States, I'll be charged a fee of 3 cents on the dollar. Since the card earns 2% back (which is 2 cents on the dollar), I would be technically losing rewards which is not good.
On the other hand, the Quicksilver Card has a 0% foreign transaction fee which means I can use the card internationally and not have to worry about a fee.
So basically, I use the Citi Double Cash for purchases in the U.S. to get up to 2% back on my purchases and I take the Capital One Quicksilver with me when I travel internationally to earn an easy 1.5% back on purchases.
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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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
What is 1.5% cash back?
1.5% cash back means you will earn 1.5 cents ($0.015) for every $1 spent.
Are 1.5% cash back credit cards good?
Yes. 1.5% cash back credit cards typically have no annual fee and offer a great return on your spend. They're best used when paired with other credit cards.
Aren't 2% cash back cards better?
Yes, 2% cash back (and higher) credit cards will earn you more cash back, but most tend to have an annual fee and will require you to focus all of your spend across the card to make it worth the fee. There are some cards that earn 2% and higher that have no fee which will do you better than a 1.5% cash back card.
How much cash back will I earn with a 1.5% cash back card?
It depends on how much spend you run through the card and whether or not the card has an annual fee. You can use the 1.5% Cash Back Credit Card Calculators on this page to calculate total cash back based on your spend.
What's the best 1.5% cash back card?
While there are 1.5% cash back credit cards that are better than others, there's no card that is merely "The Best". You'll want to take into account card benefits, other credit cards in the program, fees, and much more when looking for a great 1.5% cash back credit card.
Are there 1.5% points and miles cards?
There are lots of 1.5% cash back credit cards that are disguised as points and miles cards. For example, the Discover it Miles card earns 1.5 Discover Miles per $1 spent. The miles are worth 1 cents each so you're just looking at a 1.5% return.
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.
What is 1.5% back on $100?
1.5% back on $100 is $1.50.
What is 1.5% back on $500?
1.5% back on $500 is $7.50.
What is 1.5% back on $1,000?
1.5% back on $1,000 is $15.
What is 1.5% back on $5,000?
1.5% back on $5,000 is $75.
What is 1.5% back on $6,000?
1.5% back on $6,000 is $90.
What is 1.5% on $7,000?
1.5% of $7,000 is $105.