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.

Loading...

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.

Stack Even More Discounts With Rakuten Rewards!

Rakuten Rewards is a free cash back portal that lets you earn up to 10% cash back (or more) when shopping online. Stack your savings by combining Rakuten cash back with existing discounts and rewards from your favorite retailers.

It’s easy to sign up and use, making it a win-win for any online shopper!

Signup For Free & Earn $30

5% cash back calculator

Wondering how much you’ll earn with 5% cash back? Use this interactive calculator to instantly determine the value of 5% back based on any purchase amount. Whether you’re estimating rewards from credit cards, loyalty programs, or promotional offers, this tool makes it easy to break down the value of your spending.

Calculator: How much is 5% cash back?

Enter the total cost of the purchase to calculate 5% cash back.
$ Cost
Total Cash Back: $5.00

5% cash back amounts

The table below lists the amounts for 5% cash back for several denominations.

5% cash back amounts
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:

Our Top Partner Credit Card Picks

We've run the calculations and checked them twice — here are the credit cards that consistently provide outstanding value to our users: