Chase Sapphire Bonus Categories: Everything You Need to Know
Chase is one of the most beloved names in the travel rewards credit card space, and for good reason. Its flagship Sapphire lineup — the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, and the newer Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ — all earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, widely regarded as some of the most flexible and valuable points available to consumers today. But what really sets these cards apart from the competition is the strength of their bonus spending categories.
If you've ever wondered exactly what qualifies for bonus points on your Chase Sapphire card, you're not alone. The category definitions can be surprisingly nuanced. And with the Chase Sapphire Preferred picking up two brand-new bonus categories as part of its June 2026 refresh — gas stations and EV charging, plus vacation rentals — there's even more to unpack. In this guide, we'll walk through the bonus categories for both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve, explain how each one is defined, and help you figure out which card best aligns with your spending habits.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Bonus Categories
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely considered one of the best entry-level travel rewards cards on the market. For a relatively modest annual fee, it offers a compelling lineup of bonus categories that covers many everyday spending areas. Here's what the updated card earns:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ — This applies when you book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel through the Chase Travel portal. It's one of the highest earn rates on the card and a compelling reason to use Chase's booking platform.
- 3x points on dining — This includes restaurants, takeout, eligible delivery services, and even some bars and food-focused entertainment venues. It's a broad category that's easy to maximize in everyday life.
- 3x points on online grocery purchases — This covers grocery purchases made online, excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs. If you regularly shop at stores like Whole Foods online or use grocery delivery apps, this is a meaningful earning opportunity.
- 3x points on select streaming services — Popular platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and Disney+ typically qualify here, making it easy to rack up points passively every month.
- 2x points on all other travel — This catch-all travel category covers purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, rental car companies, trains, taxis, and more — as long as they aren't booked through the Chase Travel portal.
- 2x points on gas stations and EV charging (NEW in 2026) — This is one of the two newly added bonus categories from the June 2026 refresh. It's a practical addition for the everyday commuter, whether you're filling up a traditional vehicle or charging an electric one.
- 2x points on vacation rentals (NEW in 2026) — The second addition from the 2026 refresh covers vacation rental services like Airbnb and Vrbo, which were previously a gray area for bonus earning. This makes the Preferred even more competitive for travelers who prefer alternative accommodations over traditional hotels.
- 1x points on all other purchases — Everything else earns a base rate of one point per dollar spent.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Bonus Categories
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the premium sibling in the Sapphire lineup. It carries a significantly higher annual fee, but it compensates with elevated earn rates, stronger travel protections, and a robust set of travel benefits including a $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass lounge access. Here's how the Reserve stacks up on bonus categories:
- 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠ — When you book hotels or rental cars through the Chase Travel portal, the Reserve rewards you at an extraordinary rate. This is one of the highest earn rates available on any mainstream travel credit card.
- 10x points on Chase Dining — Purchases made through the Chase Dining platform earn at this elevated rate, making it worth exploring if you enjoy curated dining experiences.
- 5x points on flights through Chase Travel℠ — Booking flights through the portal on the Reserve earns a strong 5x, rewarding loyal Chase Travel users.
- 3x points on all other travel — Travel purchased directly with providers outside of Chase Travel earns 3x, a full point more per dollar than the Sapphire Preferred's comparable 2x rate.
- 3x points on dining — Like the Preferred, the Reserve earns 3x on dining worldwide, covering restaurants, takeout, and delivery services.
- 1x points on all other purchases — Non-bonus purchases earn one point per dollar.
How Chase Defines These Bonus Categories
One important thing to understand is that Chase uses merchant category codes (MCCs) assigned by payment networks to determine whether a purchase qualifies for a bonus category. This means the merchant's primary business classification matters more than what you actually bought. For example, a gas station purchase at a station that also sells groceries might code as a gas station rather than a grocery store, affecting which rate you earn.
The dining category is generally broad and includes full-service restaurants, fast food, coffee shops, bars, and most food delivery services. However, some food-related purchases at non-restaurant businesses — like a café inside a bookstore — may not qualify. The travel category covers a wide range of transportation and lodging merchants, but always double-check if you're unsure about a niche provider.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ultimately comes down to your annual spending and travel habits. The Reserve's higher earn rates on travel are genuinely powerful, and the $300 travel credit helps offset its annual fee. However, if you're a more casual traveler, the Preferred's refreshed 2026 lineup — especially the new gas and vacation rental categories — makes it an exceptional everyday card at a fraction of the cost.
Both cards allow you to transfer points to Chase's impressive roster of airline and hotel transfer partners, including United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, and Air Canada Aeroplan, giving your points significant redemption flexibility regardless of which card you carry.
Final Thoughts
Understanding exactly which purchases earn bonus points on your Chase Sapphire card is key to getting the most value out of your spending. With the Sapphire Preferred's June 2026 additions of gas stations, EV charging, and vacation rentals, the gap between the Preferred and the Reserve has narrowed in meaningful ways. Whether you go with the Preferred for its value or the Reserve for its premium perks, either card puts you in a strong position to earn and redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for exceptional travel experiences.