To get a Category Cheat Sheet card, click here. Only $5 plus shipping to get all your cards in one place.

If you wish to look up which category gets bonuses for your specif card, look at the table below.

 

Below are all of the categories bonuses related to credit card.

 

Category Bonus Index

  • Stores: Bookstores, Department Stores, Drug Stores, Grocery Stores, Office Supply Stores
  • Travel/Gas/Food: Car Rentals, Gas, Hotels, Restaurants, Travel/Airlines
  • Other: Charities, Online Purchases, Phone, Cellular, Internet, Rotating Categories

Overview

One way to increase credit card rewards to to use the right cards for the right purposes. It’s possible to routinely earn 5X (e.g. 5 points per dollar) by using cards that offer the best bonuses for each type of spend. For example, some cards offer bonuses at grocery stores, some at office supply stores, some at gas stations, etc. Below is a roundup, by category, of the best credit card category bonuses. Since there are multiple fee-free cards that offer 2% returns for all spend, I’ve only included cards that offer better than 2% returns within categories.

For cards that earn points instead of cash back, I’ve listed the “X” which is the number of points per dollar earned in that category. For example, “5X” means that the card earns 5 points per dollar in the given category.

 

Transferable Points

Cards that earn points transferable to airline and hotel programs are called out with a short code next to the indicated bonus amount as follows:

DC = Diner’s Club
MR = Membership Rewards Points
TY = ThankYou Points
UR = Ultimate Rewards Points

 

Bookstores (including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble)

Example Visa merchant codes: 5942 – BOOK STORES

Bookstores
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
US Bank Cash+ (1) 5% 5% $2000 per quarter
SallieMae World MasterCard 5% 5% $750 per month
Barnes & Noble MasterCard 5% (Barnes & Noble bookstores only) 5%
Amazon Store Card 5% (Amazon only) 5% Requires Amazon Prime membership.
Chase Amazon.com Rewards 3X (Amazon only) 3%

 

Car Rental

Example Visa merchant codes: Rental car companies each have their own individual merchant code, e.g. 3357 – HERTZ RENT-A-CAR

Car Rental
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
US Bank Cash+ (1) 5% 5% $2000 per quarter
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) 3X UR 4.5%
Citi ThankYou Premier 3X TY 3.75%
Citi Prestige 3X TY 3.75% 3X only for car rentals booked through travel agency
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard 2X 3.46%
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (4) 2X UR 3%

 

Charities

Example Visa merchant codes: 8398 – CHARITABLE/SOC SERVICE ORGS

Charities
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
US Bank Cash+ (1) 5% 5% $2000 per quarter
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) 3X 3.96%

 

Department Stores

Example Visa merchant code: DEPARTMENT STORES – 5912,5532,5311

Department Stores
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
US Bank Cash+ (1) 5% 5% $2000 per quarter
Citi AT&T Access More 3X TY 3.75% Only online retail purchases earn 3X
Amex Blue Cash Preferred 3% 3%
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter

 

Drug Stores

Example Visa merchant code: 5912 – DRUG STORES

Drug Stores
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card (8) 5% 5% First 6 months
Amex Blue Cash (old version) (5) 1%, 5% 1%, 5% 1% for first $6500 annual spend, then 5%
Diner’s Club Card Elite 3X DC 4.74%
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter

Gas

Example Visa merchant codes:
5541 – SERVICE STATIONS
5542 – AUTOMATED FUEL DISPENSERS (e.g. pay at the pump)

Gas
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card(8) 5% 5% First 6 months
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Plus 5% 5% 5% specific to gas purchases paid at pump
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum 5% 5%
SallieMae World MasterCard 5% 5% $250 per month
Amex Blue Cash (old version) 1%, 5% 1%, 5% 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5%
Sam’s Club MasterCard 5% 5% $6K per year
Diner’s Club Card Elite 3X DC 4.74%
Amex True Earnings Business Card from Costco 4% 4% $7K per year
Costco Anywhere Visa 4% 4% $7K per year
Citi ThankYou Premier 3X TY 3.75%
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards 3% 3%
Chase AARP 3% 3%
Amex Blue Cash Preferred 3% 3%
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa 3% 3%
Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards 3X 3%
UMB Simply Rewards VISA 3X 3%
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card 3X 3%
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) 3% 3% $50K per year
Santander Bravo 3% 3% $5K per quarter
Huntington Voice 3% 3% $2K per quarter
BOA Cash Rewards for Business 3% 3% $250K per year
BOA Americard Cash Rewards (7) 3% 3% $1500 per quarter
Amex EveryDay Preferred (9) 2X to 3X MR 2% to 3%
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex 2X 2.64%
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) 2X 2.64%
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus 2X UR 3% $50K per year
Chase Ink Classic, Ink Cash(4) 2X UR 3% $25K per year
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business 2X 2.64%
Paypal Extas MasterCard, EBay MasterCard 3X 2.5%
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass 6X 2.7%
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express 2X MR 2%
Amex Business Gold Rewards 2X MR 2%

Grocery Stores

Example Visa merchant code: 5411 – GROCERY STORES/SUPERMARKETS

Grocery Stores
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Amex Blue Cash Preferred 6% 6% $6K per year
Amex EveryDay Preferred (9) 3X to 4.5X MR 3% to 4.5% $6K per year
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card(8) 5% 5% First 6 months
SallieMae World MasterCard 5% 5% $250 per month
Amex Blue Cash (old version) (5) 1%, 5% 1%, 5% 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5%
Diner’s Club Card Elite 3X DC 4.74%
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) 2X 2.64%
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa 3% 3%
Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards 3X 3%
UMB Simply Rewards VISA 3X 3%
Santander Bravo 3X 3% $5K per quarter
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
Amex Blue Cash Everyday 3% 3% $6K per year
Consumers Credit Union Visa Signature Cash Rebate 3% 3% $6K per year beginning Jan 1 2016
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express 2X MR 2%
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass 6X 2.7%

Hotels

 

Hotels
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) 3X UR 4.5%
Citi Prestige 3X TY 3.75%
Citi ThankYou Premier 3X TY 3.75%
Citi AT&T Access More 3X TY 3.75% Online travel purchases only
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) 3% 3% $50K per year
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) 2X UR 3%
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus 2X UR 3% $50K per year

 

Office Supply Stores

Example Visa merchant codes: OFFICE SUPPLIES / STATIONERY – 5943, 5111

Office Supply Stores
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Chase Ink Plus 5X UR 7.5% $50K per year
Chase Ink Cash (4) 5X UR 7.5% $25K per year
Amex Simply Cash Plus (6) 5% 5% $50K per year
Discover Business Card 5% 5% $2K per year
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard 2X 3.46%
BOA Cash Rewards for Business 3% 3% $250K per year
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
Lowe’s Business Rewards 3X 3%
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business 2X 2.64%

 

Online Shopping

Example Visa merchant codes: Not relevant to this category

Online Shopping / Portal Purchases
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
uPromise World MasterCard 5% via uPromise portal 5%
Amazon Store Card 5% (Amazon purchases only) 5% Requires Amazon Prime membership.
Citi AT&T Access More 3X TY 3.75% 3X for all online retail purchases (will stack with portal rewards)
Ebates Cash Back Visa 3% via Ebates portal 3%

 

Phone, cellular, internet

Example Visa merchant codes: 4814 – TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

Phone, Cellular, Internet
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus 5X UR 7.5% $50K per year
Chase Ink Classic, Ink Cash(4) 5X UR 7.5% $25K per year
Amex SimplyCash (6) 5% 5% $50K per year
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard 2X 3.46%
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) 2X 2.64%
Lowe’s Business Rewards 3X 3%?
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business 2X 2.64%

 

Restaurants

Example Visa merchant codes: RESTAURANTS / BARS – 5812, 5814

Restaurants
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
US Bank Cash+ (1) 5% 5% fast food only $2000 per quarter
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) 3X UR 4.5%
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex 3X 3.96%
Costco Anywhere Visa 3% 3%
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards AMEX (2) 2X 2.64%
Chase AARP 3% 3%
Sam’s Club MasterCard 3% 3%
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa 3% 3%
UMB Simply Rewards VISA 3X 3%
Lowe’s Business Rewards 3X 3%
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) 3% 3% $50K per year
Santander Bravo 3X 3% $5K per quarter
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) 2X UR 3%
Chase Sapphire (4) 2X UR 3%
Chase Ink Cash (4) 2X UR 3% $25K per year
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business 2X 2.64%
Paypal Extas MasterCard 3X 2.5%
EBay MasterCard 3X 2.5%
Citi Prestige 2X TY 2.5%
Citi ThankYou Premier 2X TY 2.5%
Citi ThankYou Preferred 2X TY 2.5%
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass 6X 2.7%
Barclaycard Arrival 2X 2.2%

 

Rotating Categories

Example Visa merchant codes: Varies

Rotating Categories
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Chase Freedom (4) 5X UR 7.5% $1500 per quarter
Discover It 5% 5% $1500 per quarter
Citi Dividend Platinum Select 5% 5% $6K per year

 

Travel / Airlines

Example Visa merchant codes: 4511 – AIRLINES, AIR CARRIERS, 4722 – TRAVEL AGENCIES

Travel / Airlines
Card Category Bonus Estimated Value Spend limit for category bonus
Amex Platinum (Personal Cards Only) 5X 5% 5X only when booked directly with airline
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) 3X UR 4.5%
PenFed Premium Travel Rewards 5X 4.25%
Citi Prestige 3X TY 3.75% 3X for airlines, hotels, and travel agencies
Citi ThankYou Premier 3X TY 3.75% 3X for all travel
Citi AT&T Access More 3X TY 3.75% 3X for online travel purchases only
Costco Anywhere Visa 3% 3%
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express 3X MR 3% 3X only when booked directly w/ airline
Amex Business Gold Rewards 3X MR 3% 3X only when booked directly w/ airline
TD First Class Visa Signature 3X 3%
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite 3X 3%
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex 2X 2.64% Airlines
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) 2X 2.64% Airlines
AAA Member Rewards 3X 3%
Union Bank Graphite Amex 3% 3%
Sam’s Club MasterCard 3% 3%
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) 3% 3% $50K per year
Huntington Voice 3X 3% $2K per quarter
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) 2X UR 3%
Barclaycard Arrival 2X 2.2%