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Staples Rewards Guide

4 data points

Top 3 Credit Cards by Earning Rate at Staples

CitiThankYou Mastercard
2X ThankYou points
Bank of AmericaCustomized Cash Rewards
1% cash back
CitiShop Your Way Mastercard
1% cash back

Staples

USA

Department StoresRetail

Date

2026-07-14fromFlyerTalkFlyerTalk↗

Giftcard Purchased

No

Purchase Type

🛒

In-Store Purchase

Reward Details

Amount

Earning Rate

100 USD2X

Rewards

200 ThankYou Points

Additional Notes

Confirmed in Flyertalk - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37840414-post821.html - Staples in-store count for RetailRead more

Staples

USA

Other

Date

2026-05-06fromDoctor of CreditDoctor of Credit↗

Giftcard Purchased

No

Purchase Type

🛒

In-Store Purchase

Reward Details

Amount

Earning Rate

100 USD1% Cash Back

Rewards

1 USD

Additional Notes

Confirmed in Doctor Of Credit - https://www.doctorofcredit.com/which-online-retailers-earn-3x-with-bank-of-america-cash-rewards/#comment-2316366 - Staples.com via Apple Pay / Scan to Pay did not code as online shoppingRead more

Staples

USA

Retail

Date

2025-09-24

Giftcard Purchased

Visa

Purchase Type

🛒

In-Store Purchase

Reward Details

Amount

Earning Rate

300 USD1% Cash Back

Rewards

3000 Shop Your Way Points

Staples

USA

Office Supplies And Printing

Date

2025-09-20

Giftcard Purchased

Visa

Purchase Type

🌐

Online Purchase

https://www.staples.com

Reward Details

Amount

Earning Rate

500 USD1% Cash Back

Rewards

5000 Shop Your Way Points

Additional Notes

Does not count as retail spending

Quick Rewards Guide for Staples

💡 Top Performing Card: The community-verified best credit card for Staples purchases is the Citi ThankYou Mastercard. Transactions on this card consistently earn 2X ThankYou points by coding in the "Retail, Department Stores" category.

🔍 Merchant Category Coding (MCC): Staples transactions most frequently code as "Retail, Department Stores" (or sometimes "Other / Retail / Office Supplies And Printing"). Ensure your chosen card offers high multiplier rewards for this category to maximize your cash back or travel points.

💳 Maximize Online & App Bookings: For online or mobile app purchases at Staples, checkout options like PayPal, Apple Pay, or purchasing digital gift cards can sometimes trigger alternative bonus categories (like 5% quarterly rotating categories) that outperform standard card multipliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What category does Staples code as on credit cards?

Based on community data points, Staples transactions primarily code under the "Retail, Department Stores" category. However, coding can vary depending on whether the purchase is made online, through a third-party gateway, or via an app.

Q:Which credit card is best to use at Staples?

The Citi ThankYou Mastercard is highly recommended, as it has been verified to earn 2X ThankYou points on Staples. Any card offering 3% or more cash back (or 3x points) on "Retail, Department Stores" purchases will also deliver excellent value.

Q:Does Staples code differently depending on the card network?

Yes, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover maintain separate merchant category databases. While Staples usually codes as "Retail, Department Stores" consistently, international purchases or transactions paid through digital wallets may experience slight category variations.