10 Best Credit Cards for Buying Furniture and Electronics
I recently met up with a friend deep in the throes of buying his first home with his wife. Aside from the renovation loan he was taking and contractor quotes he was drowning in, the most pressing expense category on his mind surprised me: furniture.
Interestingly, my friend’s woes weren’t about what furniture to buy. They were about how he should buy them. Buying a new sofa or home entertainment system is a major expense, and my friend wanted to earn the most out of the transaction, whether in the form of miles, cashback or rewards points.
But here’s the catch: big-ticket spending doesn’t always play nicely with credit card rewards. You might hit a monthly rewards cap before the full amount is even billed, or worse—discover the purchase didn’t qualify for the bonus earn rate at all.
That’s where having the right credit card comes in.
In this guide, we spotlight a curated list of credit cards—both miles and cashback options—that help you sidestep these issues. Whether you’re team miles or firmly in the cashback camp, these cards can help you make your next major buy a lot more rewarding.
American Express True Cashback Card
DCS Ultimate Platinum MasterCard
Hate tracking MCCs? Try these unlimited cards instead
These cards are the best options I found that let you earn miles or cashback on at least $1,000 worth of spending in a month. Some even have no cap on the amount of spending you can earn bonus rates on—get the details below.
Card Reward type Highest earn rate Bonus spend category Minimum spend Maximum spend (for bonus)
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card Miles 2.4 mpd Online shopping, dining, travel, transport None No cap
DBS Woman’s World Card Miles 4 mpd Online purchases (local & overseas) None $1,500/month
OCBC Rewards Credit Card Miles 4 mpd Department stores, Taobao, Shopee, Lazada, retail None ~$1,111/month
Citi Rewards Card Miles 4 mpd Online purchases (e.g. Lazada, Taobao MCC 5311) None $1,000/month
HSBC Revolution Card Miles 4 mpd Online shopping, dining, selected travel None ~$1,000/month
DBS Woman’s Card Miles 2 mpd Online purchases None $1,000/month
Citi SMRT Card Cashback 5% Online, groceries, transport $500/month $12,000/year
Amex True Cashback Card Cashback 3% (first $5,000) All spend None $5,000 (first 6 months)
HSBC Advance Credit Card Cashback 2.5% All spend >$2,000/month $2,800/month
DCS Ultimate Platinum MasterCard Cashback 2% All spend None $10,000/month
Maximum earn rate: 2.4 mpd (technically 3 mpd, but this rate isn’t applicable to buying furniture)
Bonus spend category: Online shopping (e.g. Shopee, Lazada, Taobao), dining, travel, transport
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: None
Looking for a fuss-free miles card that rewards online shopping with no spend cap? The KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card gives you up to 2.4 miles per dollar on categories like online shopping, dining, travel bookings, and transport, making it a solid all-rounder—even for those big home purchases.
And yes, key platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Taobao qualify—as long as your transaction is processed under the right Merchant Category Code (MCC). Unlike some cards that limit your rewards each month, this card has no cap, so you can fully earn rewards on even the priciest furniture splurges.
Here’s the breakdown of the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card’ earn rates:
3 mpd on spend with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, Kris+, and Pelago
2.4 mpd on eligible spend in bonus categories like online shopping and dining
1.2 mpd on all other transactions
A key perk: your miles are credited directly to your KrisFlyer account, with no conversion fee—making it much easier (and cheaper) to get flying faster.
Plus, you’ll enjoy Kris+ and Scoot perks, as well as savings on rides with Grab, adding more value if you’re travelling or shopping locally.
Maximum earn rate: 4 mpd (10X Points)
Bonus spend category: Online purchases (local & overseas)
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: $1,500
The DBS Woman’s World Card offers an attractive 4 miles per dollar on online purchases—but there’s a small catch: rewards are awarded in blocks of $5 per transaction. That means if you spend $9.90, you’ll only be rewarded for $5.00.
Here’s how the rewards break down:
For every $5 spent online, you get 10 DBS Points (4 mpd)
For overseas spend: 3 DBS Points per $5 (1.2 mpd)
All other spend: 1 DBS Point per $5 (0.4 mpd)
The $1,500 monthly cap on bonus points means it’s best suited for controlled, mid-range online spending. It’s also worth noting the minimum income requirement is $80,000, so it’s not entry-level. Still, for those who qualify, the card is powerful—especially for overseas e-commerce.
Maximum earn rate: 4 mpd
Bonus spend category: Taobao, Lazada, Shopee, department stores, and other eligible retail MCCs. See the full list in their terms and conditions.
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: ~$1,111 (based on 10,000 OCBC$ bonus cap)
The OCBC Rewards Credit Card is a strong contender for anyone buying big-ticket items like furniture or electronics online. With up to 4 miles per dollar (10 OCBC$ per S$1), it’s ideal for large purchases from merchants like Taobao, Lazada, Shopee, Ezbuy, and Amazon—all of which are explicitly whitelisted.
Just like some other high-earning rewards cards, this one also awards points in blocks of $5 spend. For every $5:
5 OCBC$ (base) are awarded automatically
45 OCBC$ (bonus) are added by the end of the next calendar month
That’s a total of 50 OCBC$ per $5, equivalent to 4 mpd
However, the bonus is capped at 10,000 OCBC$ per month, so you’ll only enjoy the full 4 mpd on about $1,111 of spending. After you hit that, you’ll drop back down to base earnings—just 1 mpd.
You can exchange your OCBC$ for:
Miles (10 OCBC$ = 4 miles)
Cash rebates ($10 for 3,600 OCBC$)
Vouchers or lifestyle products
Bonus tip: Until 30 Jun 2025, you can get an extra 2% cash rebate on electronics at BEST Denki—a nice perk if you’re buying appliances or TVs.
Maximum earn rate: 4 mpd (10X Points)
Bonus spend category: Online purchases at eligible merchants (e.g. Lazada, Taobao under MCC 5311 – Department Stores)
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: $1,000
If you’re furnishing a new place or upgrading your home electronics, chances are you’re shopping online—Lazada, Taobao, and other major platforms included. That’s exactly where the Citi Rewards Card shines.
This card gives you 10X Rewards Points (or 4 miles per dollar) on eligible online and shopping transactions, including purchases coded under popular Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) like 5311 for department stores. Yup, that MCC includes favourites like Taobao, which is increasingly a popular platform to shop furniture from.
Best of all, there’s no minimum spend, and your points can be converted to miles, vouchers, cash rebates, or products via the Citi ThankYou Rewards catalogue. If you opt for miles, the conversion rate is 10X Points = 4 miles.
And here’s a pro tip: pair the Citi Rewards Card with the Instarem Amaze Card to maximise your rewards and gain added flexibility. In fact, I think it’s the best candidate to pair with it. Find out why in my review of the best credit cards to pair with the Amaze Card.
Maximum earn rate: 4 mpd (10X Points)
Bonus spend category: Online spend on travel, shopping, and dining (includes Lazada, Taobao)
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: ~$1,000 (bonus capped at 9,000 points)
The HSBC Revolution Card offers generous rewards for digital natives who spend primarily online. You’ll earn 10X HSBC Reward Points (equivalent to 4 miles per dollar) on eligible online shopping, travel bookings, and dining—including platforms like Taobao, Lazada, and department stores under MCC 5311.
What makes this card handy for big-ticket online buys is its wide eligibility scope, including electronics, camera stores, marketplaces, and department stores. That means it covers most furniture and gadget purchases made online.
Here’s the catch: the bonus points are capped at 9,000 per month, which works out to about $1,000 in eligible spend. After you hit the cap, you’ll continue earning the base rate of 1 point per $1, or just 0.4 mpd.
There’s no minimum spend required to enjoy the bonus rate, and no annual fee, making this a low-commitment card to keep in your wallet for reward-rich purchases.
Maximum earn rate: 2 mpd
Bonus spend category: Online purchases
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: $1,000
The DBS Woman’s Card offers similar benefits to its premium counterpart, but with a lower income requirement of $30,000—and yes, it still rewards you for online spending. You earn 2 mpd, but again, only in $5 spending blocks.
$5 online spend = 5 DBS Points (2 mpd)
$5 other spend = 1 DBS Point (0.4 mpd)
So if you make a lot of small online purchases (under $5 each), this might not be the most efficient option. However, it’s still a great way to earn miles on mid-sized online buys—especially if you’re just starting out and can’t qualify for higher-tier cards yet.
The $1,000 monthly cap on bonus points applies here, so plan your big buys accordingly. This card is best suited for lighter monthly expenses like small home accessories or electronics add-ons.
Maximum cashback: 5%
Bonus spend category: Online purchases (plus groceries and transport)
Minimum spend: $500/month
Spend cap: $12,000/year (equivalent to SMRT$600 cashback)
The Citi SMRT Card is a cashback card that quietly excels when it comes to big-ticket spending—thanks to one rare feature: an annual cashback cap. While most cashback cards limit you with tight monthly caps, the SMRT Card lets you earn up to SMRT$600 per year, which translates to $12,000 in eligible spending.
As long as you hit the $500 monthly minimum spend, you’ll get 5% cashback (SMRT$) on online purchases, groceries, and transport. But what makes this card especially handy for buying furniture or electronics is the flexibility to make a large purchase in a single month without missing out on cashback—something monthly-capped cards can’t offer.
Just be sure to buy online to qualify for the 5%, and you’ll enjoy the full value of the annual cap, whether you make one big purchase or spread it out over the year.
Plus, SMRT$1 = $1 cashback, so tracking your rewards is straightforward.
Maximum cashback: 3% (on first $5,000 spend for new cardholders)
Bonus spend category: None (flat rate cashback)
Minimum spend: None
Spend cap: $5,000 for 3% (first 6 months only); unlimited 1.5% cashback thereafter
The American Express True Cashback Card is one of the simplest and most fuss-free options if you’re planning to make a large purchase upfront—like furnishing a new home or upgrading electronics. New cardmembers enjoy 3% cashback on the first $5,000 spent within the first 6 months. That’s a potential cashback of $150 right out of the gate, with no category restrictions, no promo hoops, and no minimum spend required.
After the initial bonus period, you’ll continue to earn a flat 1.5% cashback on all eligible spend, with no monthly or annual cap. This makes it ideal for buyers who value predictability and flexibility, especially if you’re not the type to track merchant codes or optimise for bonus tiers.
The flat cashback structure means you’re rewarded no matter what you buy—furniture, electronics, airfares, or groceries. Just swipe and earn.
Maximum cashback: 2.5%
Bonus spend category: None (applies to all eligible spend)
Minimum spend: >$2,000/month
Monthly spend cap: $2,800 (cashback capped at $70/month)
If you’re planning a big-ticket purchase and can consolidate your spending in a single month, the HSBC Advance Credit Card offers one of the highest general cashback rates available—up to 2.5% on all spend, local or overseas.
To qualify for the top rate, you’ll need to spend more than $2,000 in a calendar month. Once you do, all your eligible spend up to $2,800 will earn 2.5% cashback. That nets you a maximum of $70 cashback per month. Anything beyond that earns no further cashback, so this card is best when you can strategically time a big purchase within the cap.
Outside of this tier, the card still gives you 1.5% base cashback with no minimum spend, so there’s value even on lower months.
Maximum cashback: 2%
Bonus spend category: None (applies to all spend)
Minimum spend: None
Monthly spend cap: $10,000 (cashback capped at $200/month)
The DCS Ultimate Platinum MasterCard is a flat cashback card that quietly competes with the big players—offering 2% cashback on all spend with no minimum spend required.
You can earn up to $200 cashback each month, which effectively applies to the first $10,000 in monthly spend. That makes it a good fit if you’re planning a large one-off purchase—like renovating a home or buying premium appliances—and don’t want to track category bonuses or minimum spends.
As a nice bonus, cardholders enjoy complimentary insurance coverage of up to $1 million, adding a layer of lifestyle protection to your spending.
If you find yourself constantly asking “Wait, will this transaction qualify for bonus miles?” or struggling to keep up with monthly spend caps and eligible MCCs—you’re not alone.
Some of us just want a card that works every time, no mental gymnastics required. That’s where unlimited cashback and general-spend miles cards come in. These are your best bets if you want to earn rewards with zero effort, whether you’re a cashback fan or a miles chaser.
These cards offer flat-rate cashback with no minimum spend and no caps (except the occasional first-spend bonus). Simple mechanics, straight-up value.
Card Cashback Rate Card Association Extra Perks
Mari Credit Card 1.7% local, up to 4.5% overseas Mastercard 3% Shopee Coins on Shopee spend
UOB Absolute Cashback Card 1.7% American Express High-value for big purchases; works well with Apple Pay
Citi Cash Back+ Card 1.6% Mastercard Fast crediting, no spending category restrictions
OCBC INFINITY Cashback Card 1.6% Mastercard Syncs with OCBC rewards and digital ecosystem
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card 1.5% Mastercard Easy-to-use with SCB’s mobile platform
Prefer to earn miles on everything you swipe, without worrying about category exclusions? These entry-level cards offer stronger base earn rates and some bonuses on travel bookings.
Card Local Spend Overseas Spend Bonus Spend
UOB PRVI Miles Card 1.4 mpd Up to 3 mpd Up to 8 mpd via UOB’s Agoda & Expedia booking portals
OCBC 90°N Card 1.3 mpd 2.1 mpd (foreign currency spend) Up to 7 mpd on Agoda stays
DBS Altitude Visa Signature 1.3 mpd Up to 5 mpd (FCY, till 30 Jun 2025) Up to 2.2 mpd on online travel bookings
No matter your reward preference—cashback or miles—these “limitless” options are ideal if you value simplicity, consistency, and flexibility. So if keeping tabs on merchant codes and bonus tiers feels like a full-time job, it might be time to make the switch.
This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.
……Read full article on MoneySmart.Sg
Lifestyle Finance International Singapore
Comments
Leave a comment in Nestia App