How do you calculate cashback?

Multiply the qualifying amount by the cashback rate. For example, £250 at 3.5% is £250 × 0.035 = £8.75. The qualifying amount is often the price after discounts and excluding delivery.

Is cashback calculated before or after a voucher code?

It varies by provider and retailer, but it is commonly based on the amount you pay after the code. Always check the terms of the offer.

Can I use a voucher code and cashback together?

Sometimes. Some cashback schemes do not pay out if you use a code that did not come from them, and some retailers exclude certain codes. Check both sets of terms before you buy.

How do I work out the real cost of an order?

Subtract the voucher from the basket total, then subtract the cashback earned on what you paid. £100 with 10% off and 5% cashback costs £85.50.

Is a 10% code and 5% cashback the same as 15% off?

No. Cashback is worked out on the discounted price, so £100 becomes £90 and 5% of that is £4.50. The total saving is 14.5%.

Which is better, cashback or a voucher code?

Compare the pounds saved. A code gives you the money off at checkout, while cashback arrives later and can be cancelled. If both can be used, using both gives the biggest saving.

Why is my cashback pending?

Cashback usually waits for the retailer to confirm the purchase and for the return period to end, which can take weeks or months.

What happens to cashback if I return an item?

It is typically cancelled or reduced, so only count it as a saving on items you plan to keep.

Cashback Calculator UK: Code + Cashback Cost

To work out your real cost, take the voucher code off your basket first, then calculate cashback on what is left: real cost = (basket − code) − (cashback % × amount paid). A £100 basket with a 10% code and 5% cashback costs £85.50, a saving of 14.5%. The calculator above does this for you, including an optional discounted gift card.

How to calculate cashback

Cashback is simply a percentage of what you spend, paid back after the purchase.

Cashback earned = amount that qualifies × cashback rate ÷ 100

£250 spent at 3.5% cashback: £250 × 0.035 = £8.75 back.
£40 spent at 8% cashback: £40 × 0.08 = £3.20 back.

The "amount that qualifies" is the key phrase. It is often the order value after discounts and usually excludes delivery, VAT-exempt items or gift cards. The retailer's cashback terms will say exactly what counts.

Voucher code and cashback together: worked examples

Code first, then cashback

Basket: £100.
10% voucher code: £100 − £10 = £90.
5% cashback on £90 = £4.50.
Real cost: £90 − £4.50 = £85.50, or 14.5% off.

Notice it is 14.5%, not 15%. The cashback is worked out on the smaller, discounted total, so the two percentages never simply add up. See the Stacked Discount Calculator if you want to test other combinations.

Including delivery

Basket: £120, with 15% off using a code: £120 − £18 = £102.
Delivery: £4.99, which is not eligible for cashback.
4% cashback on £102 = £4.08.
You pay £106.99 and get £4.08 back, so the real cost is £102.91.

Adding a discounted gift card

Say you pay £95 for £100 of gift card credit (a 5% discount) and use it on an order that is £90 after a 10% code.

Cost of the £90 of credit: £90 × 0.95 = £85.50.
3% cashback on £90 = £2.70.
Real cost: £85.50 − £2.70 = £82.80, which is 17.2% off the original £100.

Be careful with this one. Many retailers do not allow codes on gift card payments, and many cashback schemes do not pay on orders settled that way. Check both sets of terms before assuming the full stack works.

Cashback or voucher code: which is better?

Compare the pounds you save, not the headline percentages. Take a £60 order:

Option	Saving	When you get it
10% voucher code only	£6.00	At checkout
8% cashback only	£4.80	Weeks or months later
Code, then 8% cashback on £54	£6.00 + £4.32 = £10.32 (17.2%)	Part now, part later

Here the code beats the cashback alone, because a 10% code is worth more than 8% cashback and arrives immediately. If both can be used, combining them wins. If they cannot be combined, work out which is bigger. The Voucher Comparison Calculator helps when one offer is a percentage and the other is a fixed £ amount.

How cashback works in the UK

Cashback sites and apps are usually paid a commission by retailers for sending you a sale, and share part of it with you. Typically you click through to the retailer, shop as normal, and the purchase is tracked and shown as pending. Once the retailer confirms the order and the return period is over, it becomes payable.

Timing: confirmation can take weeks or months, so do not count it toward money you need soon.
Tracking: ad blockers, switching devices, or using a code from another source can stop a purchase being tracked. Always read the cashback terms about codes before you apply one.
Exclusions: some products, categories, delivery charges and payment methods may not earn cashback.
Returns: returned items normally cancel or reduce the cashback.
Rates change: rates are not fixed, so check the current rate at the time you buy.
Credit cards: card cashback is a separate thing. It is a percentage returned by your card provider and is not the same as shopping-portal cashback, though both can sometimes apply to one purchase.

Treat cashback as a bonus on top of a price you are already happy with, rather than a reason to buy something.

Tips to get the most from both

Decide whether you want the item at the discounted price before you consider cashback.
Check whether the code and cashback can be used together before you start checkout.
Keep your order confirmation until cashback is paid, in case you need to raise a missing claim.
Check delivery charges, as free delivery may be cheaper than a bigger discount. Try the Free Delivery Calculator.
Add up your yearly savings with the Annual Savings Calculator.

You can browse current voucher codes by retailer in PrimeVoucher's store directory.

Cashback & Voucher Calculator