Ace Rewards

What Is Ace Rewards?

Ace Rewards is the free loyalty program for Ace Hardware, America's largest hardware cooperative with over 5,200 locally owned stores. You earn 10 points per dollar spent, and every 2,500 points turns into a $5 reward you can use on your next purchase. That's an effective 2% back — solid for a hardware store, and it doesn't require a credit card.

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When Is Ace Rewards Worth It?

Without effort: Spend $150/month at Ace, just give your phone number at checkout → $35/year back, plus a $5 birthday coupon = ~$40/year

With the 3 moves: Time purchases around Rewards Days events, ask for price matches on bigger items, and use reward certificates before they expire → realistically $60–100/year

Recent changes: The co-branded Ace Rewards Visa credit card appears to have been discontinued for new applicants. Ace ran a Home Services pilot in the Philadelphia area through 2025, letting members earn points on home services. The store network keeps growing — over 100 new locations opened in 2025 alone.

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How It Works

Where it works: All participating Ace Hardware stores (5,200+ US locations) and acehardware.com.

What you earn: 10 points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases (before tax, after discounts). That's a straightforward 2% back.

How you get it back: Every 2,500 points automatically converts to a $5 reward certificate, usable in-store or online.

What it costs: Free. Always has been.

How to sign up: In-store or on the Ace website — just need an email address. Takes 2 minutes. You earn 1,000 bonus points immediately. After signing up, you can scan your card into SuperCards via screenshot so it's always ready at checkout.

Member perks: $5 birthday coupon (standard members) or $10 (Premier members). Free delivery on orders of $50 or more. Access to member-only Ace Rewards Days sales events. Premier status kicks in at $750/year in spending and adds a 10% off welcome bonus plus 3x points on one purchase.

Good to know: Points don't expire as long as you shop at Ace at least once a year. But the $5 reward certificates do expire — on the last day of the 4th month after issuance. If your certificate is issued in January, it's gone by May 31. Check your account regularly.

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The 3 Moves That Actually Matter

1. Time bigger purchases around Ace Rewards Days

Ace runs member-only Rewards Days events several times a year offering 15% off select regular-priced items (typically on $99+ purchases) plus 2x bonus points. A $200 purchase during Rewards Days saves you $30 in discounts plus earns double points — compared to $4 in regular rewards. Sign up for Ace email alerts so you don't miss them.

2. Ask for price matches on big-ticket items

Many Ace stores will match Home Depot and Lowe's prices on identical products (same brand, model, quantity). There's no company-wide guarantee — each store decides — so call ahead. When it works, you get the big-box price AND earn Ace Rewards points on the purchase. Worth the 30-second phone call on anything over $50.

3. Use your reward certificates before they vanish

The #1 way members lose value: letting $5 certificates expire after 4 months. Keep your card in SuperCards so you never forget to scan, and check your rewards balance monthly. Even a small purchase (pack of screws, light bulbs) uses up a certificate that would otherwise disappear.

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Get Your Points Out (Best → Worst)

$5 reward certificate in-store — 2,500 points = $5 off any purchase. Simple, automatic, full value.

$5 reward certificate online — Same value, applied at acehardware.com checkout.

There's a way to push your effective return well beyond 2% on certain purchases — see Pro Tips below.

Letting certificates expire — The only real "trap." Certificates die after ~4 months. There's no cash-to-bank option, no gift card exchange, no alternative. Use them or lose them.

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Watch Out For

• Reward certificates expire fast. ~4 months after issuance. Points are safe (with any activity in 12 months), but once they convert to a certificate, the clock starts.
• Franchise inconsistency. Ace stores are independently owned. Policies on price matching, coupon acceptance, and service quality vary store to store. Find a good one and stick with it.
• No retroactive points. Forget to give your phone number or scan your card? Points generally won't be added after the fact. Keep your account info handy.
• Certificate stacking limits. Reward certificates typically can't be combined with other Ace coupons on the same transaction.

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When to Skip Ace Rewards

• Large renovation projects: Home Depot and Lowe's have lower base prices on most products. On a $5,000 kitchen remodel, the price difference alone will dwarf Ace's 2% rewards.
• Online-only shopping: Cashback portals regularly offer 3–12% back on acehardware.com purchases, far exceeding the 2% Ace Rewards rate. For online orders, the portal rate matters more than the loyalty program.
• Under $30/month at Ace: Your annual return would be under $7. Not worth thinking about.

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Quick Reference

As of May 2026