Best Credit Cards For Home Improvement Stores

When people make purchases at home improvement stores (Lowe’s, Ace, etc etc) they are usually quite large – which is why it’s important to try and use credit cards that earn at a high rate at these stores. Below is a list of cards that earn category bonuses on home improvement stores, we’ve split them into personal and business cards (also apologies to the reader who originally asked for this, sorry it took so long! I’ve forgotten who you are, so I haven’t e-mailed you this but hopefully you read it anyway).

Personal Cards

Huntington Voice 3% Cash Back

The Huntington Voice credit card lets you choose your own 3% cash back categories. One of the categories you’re able to choose is home improvement stores. The card has no annual fee, but your limited to $2,500 in spending per quarter in that category ($60 cash back) so for those making a lot of purchases this wouldn’t be a very good choice.

You can also get an extra 10% cash back on all rewards earned (making this a 3.3% cash back card), if you have a Huntington 5 or 25 checking account open. Although the fees on these accounts make this bonus not really make sense. More on this bonus here.

Bank of America Cash Rewards 3%-5.25% Cash Back, First $2,500 Per Quarter, No Annual Fee

The Bank of America cash rewards card lets you select one category to earn 3% cash back in on the first $2,500 in spend per quarter. This deal becomes better with Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. This lets you earn another 25-75% back, meaning this card can earn up to 5.25% cash back on this category.

Honorable Mentions

Chase Freedom – 5% In Rotating Categories

The Chase Freedom card earns 5% cash back in rotating categories that change quarterly (maximum spend of $1,500). Home improvement stores have been a 5% category in 2013, 2014 & again in 2015 all in the second quarter. The downside to a card like this is that you won’t be able to use it for unexpected purchases in Q1, Q3 or Q4.

Discover it – 5% In Rotating Categories

Much like the Chase Freedom card mentioned above, the Discover it also earns 5% cash back in rotating categories (with the same $1,500 spending limit per quarter). Home improvement stores were a 5% category in 2011, 2012, 2014 in Q2 and will probably be part of the Q3 promotion for 2015.

Citi Dividend – 5% In Rotating Categories

You might be noticing a theme here, but the Citi Dividend also offers 5% cash back in rotating categories. There is one slight difference though and that’s the fact that you can spend up to $6,000 per year in these quarters (rather than being limited to $1,500 per quarter). Home depot is a 5% category for Q2 in 2015.

It’s not possible to apply for this card directly, but you can downgrade an existing Citi card to this product (this card was removed from direct applications when the Citi Double Cash card was introduced).

Business Cards

I don’t currently know of any credit cards that earn a category bonus on home improvement stores, prove me wrong in the comments.

Cards We Didn’t Include

Lowe’s Credit Card – 5% Discount/6 Month Financing/One time 10% Discount

Apart from the major disadvantage of only being a discount at Lowe’s, the biggest problem with this card is that if you used any coupons or discounts you won’t get the 5% discount this card offers. It’s always possible to get a 10% discount with the Lowe’s movers coupon, so using this card does not make sense.

Home Depot Credit Card – No Interest For Six Months

If you make a purchase for $299 or more, you can get it interest free for six months. Obviously this has the same pitfalls as the Lowe’s card as well and doesn’t offer any real rewards program apart from this special financing.

Final Thoughts

There really aren’t a lot of credit cards that specifically target home improvement stores. Instead what I’d recommend is that you either buy gift cards to stores that you want to shop at from a gift card reseller (use giftcardgranny to see the rates they offer). If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can purchase the giftcards yourself from a store where you do have a category bonus (e.g if you have a card that earns 5% cash back at grocery stores, you could purchase gift cards to Lowe’s there). Here is a full list of all the credit cards that earn 5% cash back or more and below are links to what the best credit cards are for other categories:

I’m sure I’ve missed some credit cards that earn a category bonus on home improvement stores, if I have let me know in the comments and I’ll add them. As always, if you have a question feel free to e-mail me or ask on Twitter.

 

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Alex
Alex (@guest_1436979)
September 2, 2022 19:58

“It’s always possible to get a 10% discount with the Lowe’s movers coupon, so using this card does not make sense.” Is this still accurate? Any instructions on where to get these?

Lisa K
Lisa K (@guest_1343284)
March 5, 2022 15:26

Citi Custom Cash has home improvement stores as one of their 5% categories.

IGV
IGV (@guest_1218050)
July 5, 2021 23:02

Personal: BBVA Clearpoints – 3% cashback (unlimited)
Business: Huntington Business Voice 4% (up to $7000 per quater, up to $28 000 per year)

LightAcolyte
LightAcolyte (@guest_1148906)
February 23, 2021 00:08

Here’s a tip for the lacking Business Credit Cards section here: the AMEX Lowe’s Business Rewards Card. It gets the 5% discount at Lowe’s like the Lowe’s consumer credit card, but it also earns 2x MR and at least once a year I’ve gotten a $100 Amex Offers Bonus for spending $1,000 at Lowe’s on top of that. So for usually $2,000 a year I get 5% discount + 10% cash back Amex Offers statement credit plus 2x Membership Rewards (these are the limited kind of MR where you must redeem for Lowe’s gift cards, gas gift cards, or Bass Pro/Cabela’s gift cards at least 2,500 points for $25 increments up to $100 at once for best value though, as AMEX gift cards can only be exchanged for these MR at a 1.3-1.4 MR to $1 rate and there is no direct statement credit option unless you ask nicely). My personal experience is that the 5% discount, 10% Amex Offers and bonus MR all count on sale and clearance items as well as price-matched items, but do not count with competitor or Lowe’s coupons and only sometimes count with in-store gift card promotions. I got a $250 statement credit after spending $1,000 when I signed up years ago, but right now there’s an instant $100 statement credit “Welcome Offer” upon approval for this card here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/business/business-credit-cards/lowes-credit-cards/

Corey
Corey (@guest_1103920)
December 6, 2020 11:24

It’s Arizona only but the Vantage West Connect Rewards Signature Visa you get to pick one 5% category of your choosing of up to 1500 in spend per quarter. It has hardware/home improvement stores. It also has 3% gas for instore and automated pumps (unlimited spend I believe) 2% cash back on Groceries and default 1% on everything else. The only downside is you can only use one 5% category per quarter.

Ann
Ann (@guest_750762)
April 21, 2019 12:52

Andrews FCU’s Titanium and Platinum Visa cards are doing a 5x category promo this quarter on a very expansive definition of Home Improvement.

https://www.andrewsfcu.org/whats-new/promotions/specials.html

This spring, why not get rewarded on the things you buy the most, plus your big ticket travel purchases? From the mulch in your driveway, a weeklong trip to the Bahamas, or, to a day at the amusement park, you’ll get 5x Rewards Points on every dollar you spend on your Home Improvement, Travel, and Entertainment purchases.
5x Rewards Points on Home Improvement, Travel, and Entertainment purchases.
April 15 – June 30, 2019
Current and new Visa® Titanium Signature & Platinum Rewards credit card cardholders

Ann
Ann (@guest_750764)
April 21, 2019 12:53

Long list of what’s included in those categories for Andrews FCU – part 1:

* Home Improvement Categories:

Appliance, Furniture, Flooring, & In-Home Stores; Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Repair, Drapery, Upholstery, & Window Coverings, Electronic & Small Appliance Repair, Equipment, Furniture, & Home Furnishings, Fireplace, Fireplace Screens & Accessories, Floor Coverings, Miscellaneous House Furnishings, Reupholstery & Furniture Repair/Refinishing

Contractor Services: Air Conditioning, Architectural, Carpentry, Concrete, Electrical, Engineering, General, Heating, Plumbing, Roofing & Siding, Sheet Metal Work, Surveying

Equipment/Supplies: Electrical Parts & Equipment, Equipment Rentals & Leasing Services, Glass Stores, Hardware Equipment & Supplies, Home Supply Warehouses, Paints, Varnishes & Supplies, Paint, & Wallpaper Stores, Plumbing & Heating Equipment

Landscape Services: Home Supply Stores, Florists/Flowers, Nurseries

…ctd

Ann
Ann (@guest_750765)
April 21, 2019 12:55

Long list of what’s included in those categories for Andrews FCU – part 2:

* Home Improvement Categories ctd:

Other: Art Dealers & Galleries, Artist Supply Stores & Craft Shops, Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Cleaning & Maintenance Janitorial Services, Disinfecting & Exterminating Services, Photographic Studios & Portraits, Swimming Pools Sales & Service, Tent & Awning Shops

* Travel Categories: Airline Tickets, Boat Dealers, Commuter Services (such as Railways, Bus Lines and Taxicabs), Cruise Lines, Hotels & Motels, Motor Home & Recreational Vehicle Rentals, Travel Agencies and Tour Operators, Vehicle Rentals

* Entertainment Categories: Arcades, Amusement Parks, Aquariums, Bands/Orchestras & Miscellaneous Entertainers, Beauty Shops & Barber Shops, Billard & Pool Establishments, Bowling Alleys, Commercial Sports (Pro Sports Clubs, Athletic Fields, & Sport Promotors), DVD/Tape Rentals, Dance (Halls, Studios & Schools), Golf, Health & Beauty Spas, Massage Parlors, Movie Theaters, Theatrical Productions and Ticket Agencies, Tourist Attractions

Dave Sheff
Dave Sheff (@guest_740092)
March 27, 2019 01:59

For those shopping at Home Depot you can buy $20 off $200 coupons on eBay for ~$2 each, less if you are buying multiples. I’ve done it 5 times in the last 6 months. You need to buy the coupon 2-3 hours before you go so the seller can generate the coupon (somehow) and send it to you. The coupons only last for 10 days so that’s a potential downside.

Pelme
Pelme (@guest_1634006)
June 13, 2023 23:18

You can buy coupons at http://www.premiumpromocodes.com

Brandon
Brandon (@guest_708893)
January 19, 2019 22:09

BOA Cash Rewards now lets you choose 3% for home improvement.

Andrew
Andrew (@guest_640176)
September 8, 2018 06:07

BBVA clear points card has a 3% home improvement category

CD
CD (@guest_377276)
March 26, 2017 17:58

What is the redemption ratio for redeeming for cash or statement credit? i.e the old Fidelity Amex was high with a minimum of $75 to redeem.

Does cellphone service fall under Utilities?

CD
CD (@guest_377278)
March 26, 2017 18:00
  CD

For the Huntington CC, what is the redemption ratio for redeeming for cash or statement credit? i.e the old Fidelity Amex was high with a minimum of $75 to redeem.

Does cellphone service fall under Utilities?