Values of Points and Miles

There are many different credit card points out there and they seem to all have different values. Knowing how much each point is valued at from these different programs can help you get the most out of each of your redemptions.

Below is a list of common credit card point programs, airlines, hotels, and their associated values. These values are either published by the issuers themselves or is the current standard across the credit card and travel community. You should use this guide as an expectation of the average value or minimum expectation for point redemptions. 

These point values do not take into account the possible values when transferring out to travel partners. Please note that the value of points and miles do change and over time and points may face devaluation. Thus, it is not recommended to collect points and miles for a trip 3+ years down the road. 

Credit Card Point Values

American Express Membership Rewards 

  • Redemption range is 0.5 to 2 cents per point

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

Bank of America Travel Rewards

  • Redemption range is 0.6 to 1 cent per point

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

Capital One Rewards

  • Standard redemption rate is 1 cent per point

Chase Ultimate Rewards 

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred card, redeeming points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal gets you a redemption rate of 1.25 cents per point

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve card, redeeming points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal gets you a redemption rate of 1.5 cents per point

Citi ThankYou Points

  • Redemption range is 0.5 to 1 cent per point

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

Hotel Point Values

Choice Hotels

  • Standard value is 0.6 cent per point

Hilton Honors

  • Standard value is 0.5 cent per point

Hyatt Hotels

  • Standard value is 1.4 cents per point

IHG Hotels and Resorts

  • Redemption range is 0.5 to 0.8 cent per point

  • Average redemption rate is 0.5 cent per point

Marriott Bonvoy 

  • Standard value is 0.7 cent per point

Wyndham Rewards

  • Standard value is 1.11 cents per point

Airline Point/Mile Values

American AAdvantage

  • Standard value is 1.4 cents per point

British Airways Avios

  • Redemption ragne is 1.2 to 1.5 cents per point

Delta Skymiles

  • Redemption range is 1 to 1.2 cents per point

Hawaiian Airlines Miles

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

Southwest Rapid Rewards

  • Standard value is 1.4 cents per point

United MileagePlus

  • Standard value is 1 cent per point

How to Calculate Cent Per Point (cpp)

To calculate how much each point is worth for a booking or just to see what kind of redemption rate you're getting, you use this formula:

Total cash cost / total points cost = cents per point

For hotels, this includes resort fees, other fees, and all taxes for the entire stay. Then, divide it by the total amount of points it would cost you to book the ticket/stay. This should give you a value per point. See example below.

Example: A three night standard stay at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki costs $299 per night not including taxes and fees. Per night, resort fees costs $48.29, sales tax is $14.09, and a lodging tax of $30.65.

  • Room rate of $299 x 3 nights = $897

  • Taxes and fees of $93.03 x 3 nights = $279.09

  • So the three nights total would cost $1,176.09

For a points booking, the same standard stay at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki would cost 20,000 points per night. No additional fees or taxes!

  • 20,000 Hyatt points x 3 nights = 60,000 Hyatt points

  • Plugging this into our equation above we get:

  • $1,176.09 / 60,000 points = 1.96 cents per point!

Bottom line

You should always try to get the most value out of your points. However, sometimes it’s just easier and more convenient to book via the points’ respective portals at a standard point value. At the end of the day, it’s up to you on how you value your points. If you’re happy with your redemption then that’s all that matters. Points have no real value until you redeem them. Note that some points programs have an expiration date if there is no activity on the account. Activities usually include using some of the points or earning more points into that account.