Discover’s latest 5% Cashback Bonus categories are now live, and for Q2 2026, cardholders can earn bonus rewards at Restaurants and Home Improvement Stores. Whether you’re dining out more as the weather warms up or tackling spring projects around the house, this quarter offers two practical categories that could help you max out your bonus.
What Counts (and What Doesn’t)
Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and caterers. However, restaurants located inside or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retail stores, and establishments classified as bakeries may not qualify.
Home Improvement Store purchases include online and in-store purchases at home improvement retail stores, building supply stores (such as lumber, paint, and hardware stores), home furnishing stores, home appliance stores, floor covering stores, and lawn, nursery, and garden supply stores. However, purchases made through third parties, such as contractors, may not qualify.
A Familiar Spring Combo
Neither of these categories is especially surprising for the second quarter. Restaurants are always a useful bonus category, especially for a card aimed at everyday consumers. Home improvement stores also make sense this time of year, when many people start spending on home projects, gardening supplies, and seasonal upgrades.
That said, the home improvement category is broader than it first appears. It’s not limited to big-box chains like Home Depot or Lowe’s. Based on Discover’s terms, it can also include purchases at building supply stores, home furnishing stores, appliance stores, floor covering stores, and even lawn and garden supply stores. That gives this category more flexibility than the name might suggest.
Maximizing This Quarter
- Don’t forget to activate — If you haven’t already, log into your Discover account or app and confirm your 5% activation. You only start earning from the date you activate.
- Plan around spring spending — Between restaurant meals and home-related purchases, many cardholders should be able to make solid progress toward the $1,500 cap.
- Watch the exclusions — Restaurants inside other businesses and purchases made through contractors may not qualify, so it’s worth paying attention to how merchants code.
Final Thought
Discover’s Q2 2026 categories may not be flashy, but they’re practical. Restaurants are almost always easy to use, and the broad definition of home improvement stores gives this quarter a little more value than you might expect at first glance. If these line up with your spring spending, this could be an easy way to earn the full $75 cashback cap.
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