Best Credit Cards for Groceries 2026
The average American household spends $5,703/year on groceries (BLS 2024). At 6% cashback that's $342/year back — vs just $114 at a flat 2% card. Picking the right grocery card is one of the highest-ROI financial decisions you can make.
Use our spending calculator to see your exact annual earnings.
Quick answer
Blue Cash Preferred® Card
$95/yr fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: $247/yr net
- ✓ 6% at US supermarkets (up to $6k/yr)
- ✓ 6% on select streaming
American Express® Gold Card
$250/yr fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: $35/yr net
- ✓ 4x at US supermarkets (up to $25k/yr)
- ✓ 4x at restaurants worldwide
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
$95/yr fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: $119/yr net
- ✓ 5x on travel via Chase portal
- ✓ 3x on dining & groceries
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
No annual fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: $171/yr net
- ✓ 3% on dining & drugstores
- ✓ 5% on travel via Chase portal
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
$550/yr fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: -$336/yr net
- ✓ 3x on dining worldwide
- ✓ 5x on flights via Chase Travel
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
$95/yr fee · Est. grocery earnings on $475/mo: $76/yr net
- ✓ 3x on groceries, dining, travel & gas
- ✓ $100 hotel discount benefit/yr
Grocery card FAQs
Does Costco count as a supermarket?
No. Most cards that offer bonus grocery rewards exclude warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club) and superstores (Walmart, Target). The Amex Blue Cash Preferred only earns 1% at these stores.
Is the $95 annual fee on Blue Cash Preferred worth it?
Yes, if you spend over $32/month on groceries ($384/yr). At that spend, 6% cashback earns $138.24 vs $76.80 at 2% — more than offsetting the $95 fee. Most households clear this easily.
What's the $25,000 cap on Amex Blue Cash Preferred?
The 6% rate applies to the first $25,000 in US supermarket purchases per year ($2,083/month). After that, it drops to 1%. Most households won't hit this cap.
Can I use two cards to maximize grocery rewards?
Yes. Use Amex Blue Cash Preferred for the first $25k at supermarkets (6%), then switch to a flat 2% card. For households spending $3,000+/month on groceries, this matters.