Estimate the yearly value of different reward structures from your annual card spending and a one-time welcome bonus.
Use this estimator to see the gross yearly value of a reward structure before you subtract annual fees. Pick a reward structure, enter how much you expect to put on the card in a year and, if the card has a welcome bonus you can realistically earn, its value in dollars.
Formula. Low estimate = annual spending x low rate + welcome bonus. High estimate = annual spending x high rate + welcome bonus. The rate ranges in the drop-down are illustrative blended values, not quotes for any specific card, because real earning rates vary by category and change over time.
Worked example (illustrative). With $60,000 of yearly spending and a flat cash-back card earning 1.5% to 2%, rewards are $900 to $1,200. Add a $500 welcome bonus in the first year and the range becomes $1,400 to $1,700. In year two the bonus drops out, so you would compare $900 to $1,200 against the annual fee and any cost of carrying a balance.
Limits. Rewards only beat costs if you pay the balance in full: at a 24% APR, interest on a $5,000 balance for a month is about $100, which can erase a month of rewards on $6,000 of spending. Points valued above one cent require redemptions that may not be available to you. Rewards are generally treated as a reduction in purchase price rather than income, but confirm with a tax professional.
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