How Much Are Hotel Points Worth? A 2026 Value Guide | MilesBuyer
Hotel Loyalty Programs · 2026 Value Guide

How Much Are Hotel Points Worth in 2026?

Updated July 25, 2026  ·  10 min read  ·  By MilesBuyer

Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, IHG — we break down the real dollar value of every major hotel loyalty currency, plus when selling your points for cash beats redeeming them.

Get a Free Cash Quote →

If you've been accumulating hotel points across Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, or IHG One Rewards, there's one question worth answering before you do anything with them: how much are your hotel points actually worth in dollars? The answer varies significantly by program — and in 2026, the gap between the best and worst hotel loyalty currencies is wider than ever.

TL;DR — Quick Answer
  • Hyatt points are worth the most — approximately 1.7¢ per point on average, up to 4–6¢+ at premium properties.
  • Marriott Bonvoy points are worth approximately 0.7–0.8¢ per point under dynamic pricing.
  • IHG One Rewards points are worth approximately 0.5–0.6¢ per point — and expire after just 12 months of inactivity.
  • Hilton Honors points trail the field at 0.35–0.5¢ per point following June 2026 devaluations.
  • Can't redeem? Sell them. MilesBuyer buys hotel points from all major programs and pays via PayPal before you transfer a single point. Get a free quote →

Hotel Points Value at a Glance: 2026 Rankings

ProgramAvg. Value Per PointPricing ModelExpiry
World of Hyatt1.55–1.7¢Fixed award chart24 mo. inactivity
Marriott Bonvoy0.7–0.8¢Dynamic pricing24 mo. inactivity
IHG One Rewards0.5–0.6¢Dynamic pricing12 mo. inactivity
Hilton Honors0.35–0.5¢Dynamic pricing24 mo. inactivity

Sources: TPG July 2026, NerdWallet May 2026, roompoints.com April 2026, besthiltonhotels.com 2026.

The spread between Hyatt (1.7¢) and Hilton (0.35¢) is enormous — a difference of over 400% per point. Knowing exactly where your program falls on that spectrum is the starting point for any decision about how to use or sell your hotel points.

Program-by-Program Breakdown

World of Hyatt
Fixed award chart
1.7¢ / pt avg

Hyatt points are the most valuable hotel loyalty currency available to U.S. travelers in 2026 — by a significant margin. The core reason: while Marriott, Hilton, and IHG use dynamic pricing where award costs rise with demand, Hyatt maintains a fixed award chart assigning each property a set standard point cost.

When the Park Hyatt Sydney spikes to $1,200/night over New Year's Eve, the standard award cost stays at 30,000 points — not 90,000. That fixed ceiling is where Hyatt's per-point value truly shines, with best-case redemptions at Category 6–7 properties regularly exceeding 4–6¢ per point.

2026 Update: In May 2026, Hyatt overhauled its award chart — replacing three pricing tiers with five new tiers. 112 of 136 affected properties moved to higher pricing, with top-end redemptions rising by up to 67%. The fixed chart structure remains, but premium redemptions now cost more than a year ago. Selling now locks in today's cash rate before further adjustments.
PointsAvg Value (1.7¢)Best Case (4¢+)
40,000$680$1,600+
60,000$1,020$2,400+
100,000$1,700$4,000+
200,000$3,400$8,000+
Marriott Bonvoy
Dynamic pricing
0.7–0.8¢ / pt

Marriott Bonvoy sits second in the hotel points value hierarchy at 0.7–0.8¢ per point, placing the program well above Hilton and IHG. However, Marriott's fully dynamic pricing model compresses the value ceiling. The program's per-point maximum in 2026 sits at approximately 1.2¢ — achievable but requiring careful destination and date selection.

Where Marriott genuinely wins: portfolio depth. With 9,000+ properties, Marriott covers markets where Hyatt has limited presence — Southeast Asia, Africa, secondary U.S. cities — where redemptions at 0.9–1.0¢+ per point can be compelling.

PointsAvg Value (0.8¢)Best Case (1.2¢)
100,000$800$1,200
200,000$1,600$2,400
500,000$4,000$6,000
Hilton Honors
Dynamic pricing
0.35–0.5¢ / pt

Hilton Honors points are worth approximately 0.35–0.5¢ per point in 2026 — the lowest per-point value of any major hotel loyalty program. Following recent program changes, TPG's June 2026 valuations placed Hilton points at just 0.35¢ per point.

Hilton offsets this with volume — sign-up bonuses of 100,000–150,000 points are common. A 100,000-point bonus is worth approximately $350–$500 in hotel stays. The best Hilton sweet spots can reach 0.8–1.7¢ per point at premium properties like the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills or Conrad Maldives, but these require significant flexibility.

For most members with large Hilton balances and no aspirational stays planned, 0.35–0.5¢ is the realistic figure — which makes selling Hilton points an increasingly attractive option compared to low-value redemptions.
PointsLow (0.35¢)Avg (0.5¢)Best Case
200,000$700$1,000$1,400+
500,000$1,750$2,500$3,500+
1,000,000$3,500$5,000$7,000+
IHG One Rewards
Dynamic pricing
0.5–0.6¢ / pt

IHG One Rewards points are worth approximately 0.5–0.6¢ per point in 2026, placing the program above Hilton but well below Marriott and Hyatt. IHG's global footprint — InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn — is particularly strong in smaller markets where Hyatt or Marriott have limited presence.

⚠️ Urgent: IHG expires points after just 12 months of inactivity — the most aggressive expiry policy of any major hotel program. If your account has been dormant for close to a year, act now.

Find out what your hotel points are worth in cash

MilesBuyer buys Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG points. Get your free quote in minutes — paid via PayPal before you transfer a single point.

Get My Free Quote →

How to Calculate Hotel Points Value Yourself

Before any redemption, run this calculation on your specific booking:

The Cents-Per-Point Formula

CPP = (Cash price ÷ Points required) × 100

Example: Room costs $350 cash and 50,000 points → ($350 ÷ 50,000) × 100 = 0.7¢ per point

1.5¢+ per point — Excellent. Book it.
0.8–1.5¢ per point — Reasonable redemption.
0.4–0.8¢ per point — Mediocre. Consider paying cash instead.
Under 0.4¢ per point — Poor value. Pay cash or sell your points.

Hotel Points Expiry: Know Before You Lose Them

All major hotel programs expire points after a period of account inactivity. Here's where each program stands:

Hyatt
24 mo.
inactivity
Marriott
24 mo.
inactivity
Hilton
24 mo.
inactivity
IHG
12 mo.
⚠️ Most aggressive
Points nearing expiry? If your account is approaching the inactivity deadline with no planned stays, selling your hotel points to MilesBuyer is the only way to guarantee you capture their value before forfeiture. Get a free quote before they expire →

Hotel Points vs. Cash Sale: Which Delivers More?

ProgramRedemption ValueCash Sale OptionBest Choice When...
Hyatt1.7¢+ avg, 4–6¢ bestYes — MilesBuyerRedeem if specific award is open; sell if not traveling soon
Marriott0.7–0.8¢ avgYes — MilesBuyerCash sale often competitive vs. average redemption
Hilton0.35–0.5¢ avgYes — MilesBuyerCash sale frequently outperforms average redemption
IHG0.5–0.6¢ avgYes — min 20,000 ptsSell if approaching 12-month expiry with no stays planned

For Hyatt points, the redemption case is strong — if you have a specific aspirational stay in mind and award availability is confirmed open. For Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, the calculus is often different. At 0.35–0.8¢ per point in redemption value — with dynamic pricing making the top end of that range increasingly hard to achieve consistently — a cash sale through MilesBuyer can compare very favorably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hotel points are worth the most in 2026?
World of Hyatt points at approximately 1.7¢ per point on average, with best-case redemptions exceeding 4–6¢ at premium properties. Marriott Bonvoy follows at 0.7–0.8¢, IHG at 0.5–0.6¢, and Hilton Honors at 0.35–0.5¢ per point.
How do I calculate whether a hotel points redemption is good value?
Divide the cash price of the room by the number of points required, then multiply by 100. A result of 1.5¢+ is excellent. Below 0.8¢ is generally mediocre — you may be better off paying cash and keeping your points for a better redemption, or selling them to MilesBuyer for cash.
Can I sell hotel points for cash?
Yes. While selling hotel points violates most programs' terms of service, it is not illegal under U.S. federal law (Utah excepted). MilesBuyer buys hotel points from all major programs — Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and IHG One Rewards — and pays via PayPal before you transfer a single point.
Do hotel points expire?
Yes. Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton all expire points after 24 months of account inactivity. IHG has the most aggressive policy at just 12 months. If your points are nearing expiry with no planned stays, selling is the only way to guarantee you capture their value before forfeiture.
Are hotel points worth more than airline miles?
It depends on the program. Hyatt points at 1.7¢ compare favorably to many airline programs. However, transferable currencies like Amex Membership Rewards can yield 2¢+ per point through strategic premium cabin redemptions, outpacing most hotel programs.
What is the minimum amount of hotel points I can sell to MilesBuyer?
MilesBuyer buys IHG points starting at a minimum of 20,000 points. Minimums for Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt vary — fill out a free quote form for exact details on your program and balance.

Get a Free Quote for Your Hotel Points

Fill out the form below. Our team responds with a competitive cash offer within minutes during business hours. Paid via PayPal before you transfer a single point.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Please enter a number greater than or equal to 40000.
Contact Authorization*
Text Authorization