MileIntel

Free Tool · Calculator

Credit Card Rewards Calculator — How Many Points Do You Earn?

Find out exactly how many points and miles your credit card earns you each year. Enter your spending by category and see your total rewards with estimated dollar values.

Select Your Cards

3 of 10 selected
Monthly Spending ($)

Optimal Strategy

$1,314.60

a year, using the best of your 3 cards in each category

Use these cards for each category to maximize your earnings.

Dining$500/moAmex Gold4x · $480.00/yr
Travel$200/moAmex Gold3x · $144.00/yr
Groceries$400/moAmex Gold4x · $384.00/yr
Gas$150/moAmex Gold1x · $36.00/yr
Streaming$50/moChase Sapphire Preferred3x · $30.60/yr
Everything Else$1,000/moAmex Gold1x · $240.00/yr

Card Rankings by Net Value

Total net annual value including credits and annual fee.

    1. American Express Gold64,800 MR points · $1,296.00 value · $325 AF
      +$1,295.00/yr
    2. Chase Sapphire Reserve44,400 UR points · $888.00 value · $550 AF
      +$698.00/yr
    3. Chase Sapphire Preferred43,200 UR points · $734.40 value · $95 AF
      +$689.40/yr

How it works

How to Calculate Your Credit Card Rewards

Use our calculator to estimate your annual points and miles earnings.

  1. Select your credit card

    Choose your card from our database or enter custom earning rates.

  2. Enter monthly spending

    Input how much you spend in each category: dining, travel, groceries, gas, and other.

  3. View points earned

    See your estimated monthly and annual points earnings broken down by category.

  4. See the dollar value

    View the estimated cash value of your points based on typical redemption rates.

Methodology · Amex Gold

Annual points × cents per point ÷ 100 + credits − annual fee = net value

Multiply your spending in each category by the card's earning rate. For example, if you spend $500 on dining with a 3x card, you earn 1,500 points.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate my credit card rewards?

Multiply your spending in each category by the card's earning rate. For example, if you spend $500 on dining with a 3x card, you earn 1,500 points. Our calculator does this across all categories and shows your total annual earnings.

What is a good rewards rate on a credit card?

A flat 2% cash back or 2x points on all purchases is considered a strong base rate. Category-specific cards can earn 3x to 5x in areas like dining, travel, or groceries. The best strategy often combines a high-category card with a strong flat-rate card.

Are credit card points worth the same as cash?

Not always. Credit card points typically have a baseline value of 1 cent each, but can be worth 1.5 to 2+ cents when transferred to airline or hotel partners. Cash back is always worth face value. The redemption method you choose significantly affects your points' value.

Do bonus categories change throughout the year?

Some cards like the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it have rotating 5% categories that change quarterly and require activation. Other cards like the Amex Gold have fixed bonus categories year-round. Our calculator accounts for both types.

How many points do I need for a free flight?

Domestic economy flights typically cost 10,000 to 25,000 miles one-way, while international business class can range from 50,000 to 120,000 miles. Use our calculator to see how quickly your spending gets you to these thresholds.

Automate your rewards strategy

MileIntel tracks all your points balances, optimizes which card to use for every purchase, and alerts you to transfer bonuses.

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