Quick Overview
- Earning 2% cash back means you'll receive 2 cents back for every $1 spent, so if you spend $100, you'd get $2 in cash back.
- To calculate 2% cash back, multiply the purchase amount by 0.02. For example, 2% cash back on a $200 purchase is $200 x 0.02, which equals $4.
Use our 2% cash back calculator to quickly find out how much cash back you'll earn on any dollar amount at a 2% rate.
What is 2% cash back?
"2% cash back" means you earn 2 cents for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. For example, if you spend $100, you’ll receive $2 in cash back rewards.
This rate is commonly offered as a bonus for spending in specific categories on credit cards. Some credit cards even offer this rate on all purchases which is fantastic.
How do you calculate 2% cash back?
To calculate 2% cash back, take the total amount of your eligible purchase and multiply it by 0.02 (the decimal equivalent of 2%). For example, if you spend $500, the calculation would be $500 × 0.02, resulting in $10 in cash back rewards.
This calculation applies to each qualifying transaction, so you can easily track how much you’re earning over time. Some credit cards offer 2% cash back on all purchases, while others may limit it to specific categories like groceries, gas, or online shopping.
2% cash back calculator
Use our 2% cash back calculator to calculate 2% cash back earnings based on any value entered.
Calculator: How much is 2% cash back?
Total Cash Back: | $2.00 |
---|
2% cash back amounts
The table below lists the amounts for 2% cash back for several denominations.
Dollar amount | 2% cash back |
---|---|
$100 | $2.00 |
$200 | $4.00 |
$300 | $6.00 |
$400 | $8.00 |
$500 | $10.00 |
$600 | $12.00 |
$700 | $14.00 |
$800 | $16.00 |
$900 | $18.00 |
$1,000 | $20.00 |
$2,000 | $40.00 |
$5,000 | $100.00 |
$10,000 | $200.00 |
$20,000 | $400.00 |
Best 2% back cards
There is a small handful of credit cards that offer 2% back on your purchases. This includes cash back cards as well as travel rewards cards.
If you're looking for simple cash back and don't want to have to worry about spending in specific categories or categories that change every quarter, a flat-rate 2% cash back or travel rewards card is an excellent choice.
Here are a few of the best 2% back credit cards in the market:
- Citi Double Cash Card:
Earns 1% cash back on purchases and 1% back when you pay off those purchases for a total of 2% back. No annual fee.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:
Earn an unlimited 2X miles on all purchases that can be put towards any kind of travel including airfare, hotels, car rentals, and more—all at a low annual fee. Minimum 2% return, but can be worth much more.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card:
Earn 2% cash back on all purchases. No annual fee.
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.
Toggles the Mobile Pay option to on for all categories.
Toggles the Mobile Pay option to off for all categories.
Clear all of the spend amounts entered into the calculator.
No Results. This is usually due to:
- There's no good card options based on the spend entered.
- The calculator is having a brain-fart and is not calculating rewards properly.
Enter different values or try again later.
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 2% cash back?
2% cash back means you will earn 2 cents ($0.02) for every $1 spent.
Are 2% cash back credit cards good?
2% cash back credit cards are among the best rewards cards you can have.
Are there cards that earn higher than 2%?
There's a very few select cards that earn 2.5%-3% cash back on all purchases. There's also cards that feature 5% quarterly rotating categories such as the Chase Freedom Flex® and Discover it® Cash Back card (which I recommend picking up).
How much cash back will I earn with a 2% 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 2% Cash Back Calculator on this page to calculate total cash back based on your spend.
What's the best 2% cash back card?
There's no card that is considered to be "The Best", but the most popular 2% cash back in the market is the Citi® Double Cash Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card.
Are there 2% points and miles cards?
Yes. There's a good handful of points and miles cards that earn a 2% return. The most popular card is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is also another superb card.
How do I know what's the best credit card for my spend?
You can use the Search For Credit Cards By Spend calculator to get a list of the best credit cards based on your spend across categories.