CardRewardsEditorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Michaels — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns the top spot for Michaels purchases at 5.0¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Michaels purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Usbank
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Michaels — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns the top spot for Michaels purchases at 5.0¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Michaels purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Usbank
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Michaels — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns the top spot for Michaels purchases at 5.0¢ per dollar — no annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Michaels purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Usbank
Capital One
Citi
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5.0¢ per dollar at Michaels, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Home Improvement Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardUsbank | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Citi Custom Cash CardCiti | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| Choice Privileges Select MastercardWells Fargo | 5x Choice Privileges | 3.0¢/$ | $95 | $15 | mastercard |
| Upgrade Triple Cash RewardsSutton Bank | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $895 | $1,422 | amex |
| Susan G. Komen® Customized Cash RewardsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Hardware where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Capital One
Citi
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5.0¢ per dollar at Michaels, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Home Improvement Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardUsbank | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Citi Custom Cash CardCiti | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| Choice Privileges Select MastercardWells Fargo | 5x Choice Privileges | 3.0¢/$ | $95 | $15 | mastercard |
| Upgrade Triple Cash RewardsSutton Bank | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $895 | $1,422 | amex |
| Susan G. Komen® Customized Cash RewardsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Hardware where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Capital One
Citi
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5.0¢ per dollar at Michaels, the highest in our database. Without an annual fee, the math is simple — every dollar you spend earns immediately. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind a focused rewards structure.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Home Improvement Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardUsbank | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 2x Venture Miles | 3.7¢/$ | $395 | $315 | visa |
| Citi Custom Cash CardCiti | 5% cash back | 5.0¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| Choice Privileges Select MastercardWells Fargo | 5x Choice Privileges | 3.0¢/$ | $95 | $15 | mastercard |
| Upgrade Triple Cash RewardsSutton Bank | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank Of America | 3x Bank Of America Points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 1x Membership Rewards | 1.8¢/$ | $895 | $1,422 | amex |
| Susan G. Komen® Customized Cash RewardsBank Of America | 3x points | 3.0¢/$ | $0 | $8 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $762.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 1.25x Venture Miles | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Other brands in Hardware where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →
