Enter what you spend each month and see how many Amex points, or how much cash back, five American Express cards would earn in a year, what the points are worth, and what is left after the annual fee. Results re-sort as you type, and nothing is sent anywhere.
MaxPoints is independent and is not affiliated with American Express. Earn rates were checked with the issuer in October 2026.
How many Amex points will your spending earn?
Enter what you spend in a typical month. We estimate a year of points on each Amex card, what they are worth, and the total after the annual fee.
5× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel, 1× most else
Points 33,840 · Rewards $677 · Fee −$895
−$218
How we estimate
Points are valued at The Points Guy’s October 2026 figures: Amex Membership Rewards 2¢, Chase Ultimate Rewards 2.05¢, Citi ThankYou (Strata Premier) 1.9¢, Capital One 1.85¢ and Bilt 2.2¢. Cash back is valued at 1¢, and so are points from no-fee cards that only reach their program’s value when paired with a premium card (Chase Freedom Unlimited, Citi Strata, Citi Double Cash).
Net subtracts the card’s full annual fee from rewards on this category alone. Most people also earn on other spending, so the full calculator is the better test for fee cards.
Welcome bonuses are left out so the numbers reflect an ordinary year.
Membership Rewards points (Gold, Platinum, Green) are valued at 2¢, The Points Guy’s October 2026 value, which assumes you transfer them to airline or hotel partners. The Blue Cash cards pay cash back, valued at 1¢ and shown without a points total.
Amex Gold: 4× at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 a year and 4× at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year, each cap separate, then 1×. 3× on flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel. Hotels booked directly earn 1×.
Amex Platinum: 5× on flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel. Hotels booked directly earn 1×; the 5× is for prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, which this calculator leaves out. Amex Green: 3× at restaurants, on travel, and on transit.
Blue Cash Preferred: 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%; 6% on select U.S. streaming; 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Blue Cash Everyday: 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail, each on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%.
Earn rates checked with issuers in October 2026. Offers change, so confirm terms with the issuer before you apply. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
Amex is one issuer. Send these amounts to the full calculator to see how Amex cards stack up against Chase, Citi, Capital One and the rest, fees included.
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What Amex points are worth in dollars
A point is worth what you get when you redeem it. At 1¢ it is worth about the same as cash. We use 2¢, The Points Guy’s October 2026 value for Membership Rewards, which assumes you transfer points to an airline or hotel partner.
Amex points converted to dollars at 1¢ and 2¢ a point.
Points are multiplied, then valued. A card’s multiplier times your spend gives points: $500 a month at U.S. supermarkets on the Amex Gold is 2,000 points a month at 4×, until the $25,000 yearly cap. What those points are worth depends on how you redeem them.
Caps change the answer. The Gold’s 4× stops at $50,000 a year at restaurants and $25,000 at supermarkets. The Blue Cash cards’ top rates stop at $6,000 a year in each category. The calculator applies each cap and the 1× rate after it.
Cash back is a different tool. Blue Cash cards pay cash back, so there is no point value to guess. If you only want cash back, compare them with other issuers on our grocery and gas pages.
Fees and credits. Tick the credits box only if you would use those credits anyway. Welcome bonuses are left out so the numbers reflect an ordinary year.
Our top picks, and who should skip them
Earn rates checked with issuers in October 2026. The best card still depends on the rest of your spending, so treat this as a shortlist.
Best for dining and groceries
1. Amex Gold
4× dining and U.S. supermarkets, 3× flights · $325 annual fee
Why choose it
✓4× at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, the highest everyday points rate of any Amex card.
✓Membership Rewards transfer to airline and hotel partners, which is where points are worth the most.
✓Dining, Uber, Resy and Dunkin’ credits can cover much of the $325 fee if you would use them anyway.
Why skip it
✗The 4× rates have yearly caps: $50,000 at restaurants and $25,000 at supermarkets.
✗Supercenters and warehouse clubs generally don’t count as U.S. supermarkets.
✗Gas, streaming and most everyday spending earns only 1×.
6% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k a year), 6% streaming, 3% gas and transit · $95 annual fee
Why choose it
✓6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets is the highest grocery rate on an Amex card.
✓Also 6% on select U.S. streaming and 3% on U.S. gas and transit.
✓Cash back, so there are no point values to estimate.
Why skip it
✗Grocery spend above $6,000 a year drops to 1%.
✗The $95 fee is waived the first year only.
✗Cash back doesn’t transfer to airlines or hotels.
Best no-fee Amex for cash back
5. Amex Blue Cash Everyday
3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas and online retail (each up to $6k a year) · No annual fee
Why choose it
✓No annual fee, and 3% back at supermarkets, gas stations and online stores.
✓Simple cash back with nothing to enroll in or track.
Why skip it
✗Each 3% category stops at $6,000 a year, then pays 1%.
✗Half the Preferred’s rate at supermarkets and on streaming.
FAQ
How do I calculate my Amex points?
Multiply what you spend in each category by the card’s multiplier, then add everything else at 1×. On the Amex Gold, $400 a month at restaurants is 1,600 points a month at 4×, up to $50,000 a year. The calculator above does this for every category and applies each card’s yearly caps.
How much is an Amex Membership Rewards point worth?
It depends on how you redeem it. We use 2¢ a point, The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuation, which assumes you transfer points to airline or hotel partners, and 1¢ a point for cash back. The table on this page shows 10,000 to 250,000 points at 1¢ and at 2¢.
Which Amex card earns the most points?
It depends on your spending. The Amex Gold earns 4× at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, the Platinum earns 5× on flights and prepaid Amex Travel hotels, and the Green earns 3× at restaurants and on travel and transit. Enter your numbers above to see which wins after the annual fee.
Which Amex card is best for cash back?
The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, 6% on select U.S. streaming, and 3% on U.S. gas and transit for a $95 annual fee. The Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee and earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and online retail, each on up to $6,000 a year.
Is this the official American Express rewards calculator?
No. MaxPoints is an independent site. These are estimates built from public earn rates, not a statement of what Amex will credit, and offers change. Confirm terms with American Express before you apply.
What does the calculator leave out?
Welcome bonuses, transfer bonuses, Amex Offers, and any credit you don’t tick. It also leaves out the 5× on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Use the full credit card rewards calculator to compare Amex with Chase, Citi and Capital One across all your spending.
Is Amex even the right issuer?
This page only compares Amex cards. The MaxPoints optimizer ranks Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One and more against all of your spending, annual fees included.
Important notice. This tool is provided for educational purposes only. The information and recommendations presented here are not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for personalized financial guidance. Credit card terms, rewards, and benefits are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.
