Best Credit Card for Big Lots in 2026
Big Lots is classified under MCC 5331 (Variety Stores). The best card for Big Lots purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 6x on variety stores — an effective return of 6.00%.
Big Lots, with its variety of goods and everyday essentials, is a great fit for Shopper Cash Rewards cards offering 6x points here. These cards are perfect for frequent shoppers looking to maximize rewards on their weekly trips.
To maximize rewards, time your visits to Big Lots around the start of your billing cycle when most points programs reset their multipliers.
Big Lots purchases are classified under MCC 5331 (Variety Stores).
MCC Details for Big Lots
Best Credit Cards for Big Lots (2026)
How Big Lots Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Big Lots at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5331 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a variety stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "variety stores" purchases, Big Lots transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Big Lots specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Big Lots transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5331 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Big Lots
About MCC 5331: Variety Stores
Merchant Category Code 5331 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Variety Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5331, all qualifying card programs that include variety stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Variety Stores merchants: 99 Cents Only Stores, Building 19, Burlington.
What You Could Earn at Big Lots
Spending $200/month at Big Lots with the Shopper Cash Rewards (6x on variety stores) earns approximately $144/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $95 annual fee, that is $49 more per year.