Rent Credit Card Calculator
Answers the only question that matters: does paying your rent with a credit card actually make or lose money? Enter your numbers below.
Your numbers
What you pay your landlord each month.
Points × point value. Flat 2% cash back = 2. Bilt rent earning at 1x ≈ 1.5%.
Plastiq 2.99%. RentMoola varies. Direct-accept landlords 0%.
Bilt Mastercard has zero fee on rent payments. Check this box to override the service fee with 0%.
Welcome offer cash value, spread across year one.
Your result
What this means
How to use this calculator
Three numbers determine whether paying your rent with a credit card is profitable:
- Monthly rent — what you pay your landlord each month.
- Your card's effective rewards rate — not the advertised rate, but what you actually earn once you factor in point value. A 2% cash-back card equals 2%. Bilt's 1x earning on rent at ~1.5¢ per point equals about 1.5%.
- Service fee percentage — what your payment service charges. Plastiq 2.99%, RentMoola varies, Bilt Mastercard 0%, direct-accepting landlords 0%.
The Bilt advantage
The Bilt Mastercard is unique in this category: it charges zero fees on rent payments through the Bilt Rent app, so the entire rewards rate becomes pure profit. Check the Bilt Mode box above to override the service fee with 0% and see how much a Bilt-based strategy could net you.
Reading the result
- Net positive — you're earning more in rewards than you're paying in fees. The strategy pays off, assuming you pay your statement in full each cycle.
- Net negative — you're losing money on every cycle. Either switch to Bilt (0% fee), use a card with higher rewards, or skip the strategy.
- Near break-even — you're using this for cash flow timing or credit building, not rewards. Make sure the benefit is worth the small cost.
What the calculator does NOT account for
- Sign-up bonus after year 1. The calculator amortizes a welcome offer across 12 months. In year 2 onward, bonus value drops to zero unless you open a new card.
- Interest on carried balances. If you don't pay your statement in full, interest at 20-29% APR wipes out any rewards. This calculator assumes you always pay in full.
- Credit building value. Some rent payment services report to credit bureaus, which has real long-term value for your credit score. That's not captured in a pure dollars-and-cents calculator.
- Landlord acceptance. Not every landlord accepts credit card rent payments, and some that do pass the fee on to you. Verify with your landlord first.
- Tax implications. Credit card rewards on personal purchases are generally non-taxable, but consult your CPA if you're unsure.