Credit Card Points Valuation Guide
How much are your points actually worth? Use these valuations to compare bonuses across different rewards programs.
How We Value Points
Point valuations are estimates based on average redemption value. The actual value you get depends on how you redeem: transferring to airline partners for premium cabin flights yields the highest value, while cashing out gives you the lowest.
Our valuations represent what a reasonably savvy user can expect. They're conservative compared to some sites that inflate valuations based on aspirational first-class redemptions most people never make.
Use the points calculator to see the estimated value of any bonus using these rates.
Transferable Points Programs
These are the most valuable points because you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners for outsized value.
| Cash back (statement credit) | 1¢ | $1,000/100K |
| Chase Travel Portal | 1.25¢ | $1,250/100K |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve portal | 1.5¢ | $1,500/100K |
| Transfer partners (average) | 1.8¢ | $1,800/100K |
| Transfer partners (sweet spots) | 2.5¢ | $2,500/100K |
| Statement credit | 0.6¢ | $600/100K |
| Amex Travel portal | 1¢ | $1,000/100K |
| Transfer partners (average) | 1.5¢ | $1,500/100K |
| Transfer partners (sweet spots) | 2.2¢ | $2,200/100K |
| Statement credit | 0.5¢ | $500/100K |
| Citi Travel portal | 1¢ | $1,000/100K |
| Transfer partners (average) | 1.4¢ | $1,400/100K |
| Transfer partners (sweet spots) | 2¢ | $2,000/100K |
| Statement credit | 0.5¢ | $500/100K |
| Capital One Travel portal | 1¢ | $1,000/100K |
| Transfer partners (average) | 1.4¢ | $1,400/100K |
| Transfer partners (sweet spots) | 1.8¢ | $1,800/100K |
Airline Miles
Airline mile values vary widely by redemption type. Premium cabin redemptions can yield 2-5x the value of economy redemptions.
| Pay with Miles | 1¢ | $500/50K |
| Domestic economy | 1.1¢ | $550/50K |
| International business | 1.5¢ | $750/50K |
| Domestic economy | 1.1¢ | $550/50K |
| International premium cabin | 1.8¢ | $900/50K |
| Excursionist perk | 2¢ | $1,000/50K |
| Business Select | 1.1¢ | $550/50K |
| Wanna Get Away | 1.4¢ | $700/50K |
Hotel Points
| Airline transfer (3:1) | 0.5¢ | $500/100K |
| Hotel redemption (average) | 0.7¢ | $700/100K |
| Hotel redemption (aspirational) | 1.2¢ | $1,200/100K |
| Standard hotel redemption | 0.4¢ | $400/100K |
| 5th night free redemptions | 0.5¢ | $500/100K |
| Aspirational redemptions | 0.6¢ | $600/100K |
How to Get the Most Value from Your Points
Transferring Chase or Amex points to airline partners typically yields 1.5-3 cents per point, compared to 1-1.25 cents through the issuer's travel portal.
Some airline programs have fixed-rate award charts with outsized value on specific routes. Hyatt points, for example, are consistently worth 2+ cents when redeemed at high-end properties.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth 1 cent as cash back but 1.5+ cents when transferred. Amex points are only worth 0.6 cents as a statement credit. Use cash back cards if you want cash.
Always check the cash price of what you're booking and divide by the points cost to get your actual cents-per-point value. If it's below the baseline valuations above, look for a better redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Chase Ultimate Rewards point worth?
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth approximately 1.5 cents each when transferred to airline/hotel partners and redeemed for premium travel. They're worth 1.25-1.5 cents through the Chase travel portal with the Sapphire Reserve, and 1 cent when redeemed for cash back.
How much is an Amex Membership Rewards point worth?
Amex Membership Rewards points are worth approximately 1.5 cents each when transferred to airline partners for business/first class redemptions. For economy flights and hotels, they're closer to 1-1.2 cents. Cash back redemptions are worth 0.6-1 cent per point.
Are airline miles worth more than cash back?
It depends on how you redeem them. Airline miles transferred from flexible points programs and redeemed for premium cabin flights can be worth 2-5+ cents each. But if you redeem miles for economy flights or non-travel purchases, they're often worth less than 1 cent. Cash back is always worth face value.
Why do different sites give different point valuations?
Point valuations are estimates, not fixed exchange rates. They depend on how you redeem — transferring to airline partners for business class yields higher values than booking economy through a portal. Different sites use different assumptions about average redemption behavior.