Best Credit Card for Christmas Tree Shops in 2026
Christmas Tree Shops is classified under MCC 5331 (Variety Stores). The best card for Christmas Tree Shops purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 6x on variety stores — an effective return of 6.00%.
Christmas Tree Shops are great for holiday shoppers and home decor enthusiasts, falling under the variety store category where many credit cards offer high rewards rates, typically up to 6x points.
To maximize your rewards, consider using a credit card that offers bonus points at variety stores and plan your big holiday shopping trips during periods when these cards double or triple their usual reward rates.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Christmas Tree Shops with a card that offers 6x Shopper Cash Rewards, you earn $144 in extra rewards annually compared to a standard 1% cash back card which would only net you $24 over the same period.
Christmas Tree Shops purchases are classified under MCC 5331 (Variety Stores).
MCC Details for Christmas Tree Shops
Best Credit Cards for Christmas Tree Shops (2026)
How Christmas Tree Shops Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Christmas Tree Shops 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, Christmas Tree Shops transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Christmas Tree Shops specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Christmas Tree Shops 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 — Christmas Tree Shops
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, Big Lots, Building 19.
What You Could Earn at Christmas Tree Shops
Spending $200/month at Christmas Tree Shops 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.