The Target co-brand option
Target Circle™ Credit Card
5% off at Target and Target.com, plus 2% on dining and gas
Outside Target, dining, and gas it earns 1% — a flat 2% card wins everywhere else.
Co-brand cards usually earn the most at Target itself but less everywhere else — compare against the general-purpose picks below for your overall spending.
Best cards for Target
Ranked by earn rate (~$500/mo) for how Target codes when you shop this way.
Category used: Department Stores
5.0%
earn rate
$300/yr on Department Stores · $300 net / yr overall
5.0% on Department Stores → $300/yr from your spend
2.0%
earn rate
$120/yr on Department Stores · $192 net / yr overall
Solid 2.0% on Department Stores ($120/yr)
2.0%
earn rate
$120/yr on Department Stores · $120 net / yr overall
Solid 2.0% on Department Stores ($120/yr)
2.0%
earn rate
$120/yr on Department Stores · $120 net / yr overall
Solid 2.0% on Department Stores ($120/yr)
2.0%
earn rate
$120/yr on Department Stores · $120 net / yr overall
Solid 2.0% on Department Stores ($120/yr)
Typical earn rate
2.0%
Median among top cards
Best earn rate
5.0%
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature®
Tips for Target
Match the card to how you shop
Online and in-store purchases can code differently — use the toggle above when both apply.
Watch for quarterly bonuses
Rotating 5% categories on cards like Chase Freedom Flex may include this merchant part of the year.
Stack with store promotions
Combine credit card rewards with Target's loyalty programs and sales.
How to maximize credit card rewards at Target
Choosing the right credit card for Target purchases can add up to hundreds of dollars per year in cash back or points — but only if your card's bonus categories actually include the way Target transactions are coded.
Retail spending at Target may code as department store, online shopping, or general merchandise depending on the issuer. Cards with online shopping or retail bonuses are worth comparing before you default to a flat-rate card.
Target shoppers often ask whether store cards, co-branded cards, or general rewards cards deliver the best value. Store cards may offer high in-store percentages but limit flexibility; general cards with strong category bonuses or a high base earn rate often win on net annual value when you factor in annual fees and usable rewards.
Our rankings above use Target's typical shopping channels — in-store, online, and delivery where applicable — and run each active card in our database through the same rewards engine we use on the optimizer. Results reflect ongoing annual value: category earn rates, caps, and perks, minus annual fees.
Stacking rewards: portals, offers, and gift cards
Beyond your base card earn rate, you may be able to stack shopping portal bonuses, issuer offers (Amex Offers, Chase Offers, etc.), or gift card deals when shopping at Target. Portals pay extra points or cash back when you click through before checkout — often 2–10% on top of your card rewards.
Always compare portal rates against your card's native category bonus. A 5% grocery card used in-store may beat a 2% portal + 1% base card combination. For online orders at Target, portals are often worth checking first.
Gift card promotions at Target or resellers can effectively discount your purchase, but they add complexity and may not combine with certain card bonuses. We focus on straightforward card earn in our rankings; stacking is an advanced tactic on top of those baselines.
What to watch for
Issuer category definitions change. A merchant that coded as grocery last year may not today. Before applying for a new card primarily for Target spend, confirm current terms on the issuer's website.
Annual caps on bonus categories can limit value for heavy Target shoppers. If you spend more than a card's quarterly or annual cap in that category, overflow spend earns at the base rate — our engine models caps explicitly so rankings reflect your real volume.
Welcome bonuses can temporarily skew value. Our rankings use ongoing annual value and keep one-time signup bonuses in a separate first-year number — but if you're planning a large Target purchase that would meet a minimum-spend requirement, your first-year return will be higher than the steady-state numbers suggest.
Get personalized rankings
This page uses representative spend profiles for Target's category. Your optimal card depends on how much you actually spend here versus groceries, dining, travel, and other categories each month.
Use our free optimizer to enter your monthly spending and see net annual value across all cards — including whether a dedicated retail card or a flexible everyday card wins for your wallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What card earns the most at Target?
Based on our engine ranking, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® earns the most at Target — about 5% back on department stores spend. Target's own co-branded card, the Target Circle™ Credit Card, offers 5% off at Target and Target.com, plus 2% on dining and gas (Outside Target, dining, and gas it earns 1% — a flat 2% card wins everywhere else.) — worth comparing directly against general rewards cards.
How does Target code on my credit card statement?
Target.com purchases typically code as Online Shopping; In-store purchases typically code as Department Stores. Coding is set by the merchant's payment processor, not by us or your card issuer, so it can vary by location or purchase type — check your statement to confirm which category applied to your purchase.
About Target
Category
Retail
