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With 18 brands spread across 122 countries and territories, the Hilton portfolio has 7,000 properties worldwide. Consequently, this gives Hilton Honors members a large selection to choose from when they want to redeem their reward points for stays. Membership to the Hilton Honors program is free.

You can earn reward points when you stay at Hilton properties. You'll earn points faster by using one of Hilton’s co-branded credit cards to make purchases. Some even come with spend-based bonus offers for new cardholders, enabling you to rack up even more points quickly. Using your points for free nights at Hilton properties is relatively easy. You can also transfer your points to different airline travel partners and redeem them in other ways.

There is no official Hilton award chart to turn to for determining the value of your points because Hilton uses a variable pricing structure based on demand, time of year and the cash rate for rooms. However, you can expect one point to fetch 0.6 cents on average when redeemed for a hotel stay.

Joining the Hilton Honors program might be worth your while if you’re looking for variety in the types of properties you can choose from and wish to enjoy its elite status benefits. The fact that there are no blackout dates is a plus.

One noticeable drawback is that you might receive poor value for your points at lower-end and midrange properties. While Hilton points are generally worth less on a per-point basis than other brands, members often earn more points for every dollar that they spend at Hilton hotels and on the hotel's credit cards than with competing brands.

On This Page:
MoneyGeek’s Takeaways

points icon

The average value of one Hilton Honors point is 0.6 cents, but it's sometimes possible to redeem them for a higher value.

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You may have to spend anywhere from 5,000 points to 120,000 points to book a standard room for one night.

tiered icon

The higher your Hilton Honors membership tier, the more bonus points you'll earn on your hotel stays.

How Much Are Hilton Honors Points Worth?

When you use your Hilton Honors points to book a free night at a Hilton property, the value you receive depends on the property you select and your travel dates. For instance, you might have to spend more points to get a free weekend night instead of one on a weekday. On average, one Hilton Honors point is worth 0.6 cents. You may use this number to determine if you’re getting the most out of your points.

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HOW THE POINTS VALUE IS CALCULATED

Cash Price / Equivalent Points needed to book a room = Points Value

How Many Hilton Honors Points for a Free Night?

Depending on the property you select, and when you plan to stay there, you may get a free night for as little as 5,000 points. If you’re redeeming your points for a standard room, the maximum you’ll need to pay is typically limited to 95,000 points. However, booking a standard room for one night at a few select properties that offer specialty accommodation could cost up to 120,000 points.

As of this writing, if you were to plan a trip to the DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort in Thailand in November 2022, you’ll need to pay between 25,000 to 40,000 points per night. On the other hand, a night at the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Times Square Central during the same period would set you back by 70,000 points per night.

How Often Do Hilton Honors Points Change?

Given that room rates at Hilton properties are subject to change in real time, so can the number of points you need to get a free night. Just how often the value of your points changes also depends on the demand for any particular property.

Consequently, you may be leaning toward booking a room or staying at a particular property based on the points it needs, but that number might change by the time you decide to move forward with the booking. In some cases, you might spend more points than originally expected, although the reverse may hold true as well, especially during off-peak periods.

How Hilton Honors Points Compare to Other Hotels

Hilton gives you different types of properties from which to choose the world over, but there are other hotel loyalty programs that offer better value for money. However, other factors require your consideration as well.

A Comparison of the Top Hotel Loyalty Programs
Hotel
Value of Points to Dollars

Hilton

Point Value = 0.5 cents to 0.6 cents per point
Why We Geek Out - The Hilton Honors program gives you plenty of options across different categories of properties. You get the fifth night free if you redeem points for a four-night stay. American Express offers a few co-branded Hilton credit cards that help you make the most of this program. Transferring your Amex Membership Rewards Points to this program is possible

IHG/Intercontinental Hotel Group

Point Value = 0.5 cents to 0.7 cents per point
Why We Geek Out - IHG Rewards gives its members plenty of options from which to choose. If you have the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card and redeem points for stays of four nights, you get the fourth night for free

Marriott

Point Value = 0.7 cents to 0.9 cents per point
Why We Geek Out - This is the largest group of hotels in the world, so you have a variety of options when choosing a place to stay. Redeeming points for a four-night stay comes with a fifth free night. Chase and Amex offer co-branded Marriott credit cards. In addition, you may transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards points to this program

Hyatt

Point Value = 1.7 cents to 2.8 cents per point
Why We Geek Out - Despite its seemingly small global presence, we like this program because it offers members great value. Besides, it’s not hard to find Hyatt properties in most big cities globally. It provides a published award chart, giving you certainty in redemption value. If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you get a free reward night each year, and you may earn a second by meeting a spend-based requirement

How to Earn Hilton Honors Points

You can earn Hilton Honors points in different ways. These include spending at properties within the Hilton portfolio, using co-branded rewards credit cards and spending through partner merchants.

Join Hilton Honors

The Hilton Honors rewards program is free to join, and you may sign up online. All members enjoy guaranteed discounted rates when they book through the Hilton Honors app or website. Reward stays don’t require you to pay resort fees separately. And you can redeem your points to book additional free nights. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t get any bonus points for joining the program.

Book a Stay at Hilton Hotels

Once you join the Hilton Honors rewards program, you get rewards points every time you stay at a Hilton property.

  • Base-level members get 10 points per dollar.
  • Silver members earn 12 points per dollar (20% points bonus).
  • Gold members get 18 points per dollar (80% points bonus).
  • Diamond members receive 20 points per dollar (100% points bonus).

There are exceptions when it comes to Tru by Hilton & Home2 Suites by Hilton stays, where the points you earn may vary by region. Typically:

  • Base-level members get 5 points per dollar.
  • Silver members earn 6 points per dollar.
  • Gold members get 9 points per dollar.
  • Diamond members receive 10 points per dollar.

Earn Points via Hilton Co-Branded & Regular Credit Cards

American Express offers co-branded Hilton Honors cards for individuals and businesses. These cards enable you to earn Hilton Honors points when you stay at Hilton properties and when you make purchases in select bonus categories — such as at supermarkets, gas stations or restaurants. Depending on the card you select, you may get complimentary Silver, Gold or Diamond status, which allows you to earn points even faster.

The points you earn by using your card are in addition to the tier-based points you earn as a Hilton Honors member.

Hilton Co-Branded Credit Cards at a Glance
Credit Card Name
Points Earned per Dollar Spent
How to Earn Points
  • 7X points at Hilton properties
  • 5X points at U.S. gas stations,
    U.S. supermarkets and U.S.
    restaurants
  • 3X points on all other purchases
  • Get a welcome bonus of 100,000
    points by spending $1,000 on
    purchases in the first three months
  • Use your card to make purchases
  • 12X points at Hilton properties
  • 6X points at U.S. gas stations,
    U.S. supermarkets and U.S.
    restaurants
  • 3X points on all other purchases
  • Get a welcome bonus of 130,000
    points by spending $2,000 on
    purchases in the first three months
  • Make purchases using your card

American Express Hilton
Honors Aspire Card

  • 14X points at Hilton properties
  • 7X points on select travel
    purchases
  • 7X points at U.S. restaurants
  • 3X points on all other purchases
  • Get a welcome bonus of 150,000
    points by spending $4,000 on
    purchases in the first three months
  • Use your card to make purchases
  • 12X points at Hilton properties
  • 6X points on select travel
    purchases
  • 6X points at U.S. gas stations
  • 6X points on shipping and
    wireless phone service purchases
    made directly through U.S.
    service providers
  • 3X points on all other purchases
  • Get a welcome bonus of 130,000
    points by spending $3,000 on
    purchases in the first three months
  • Make business purchases using
    the card

Hilton Honors Card

The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Card comes with automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. You get 7X points per dollar for stays at properties within the Hilton portfolio. Spending on a few other bonus categories earns up to 5X points per dollar. This card comes with a spend-based welcome bonus of 100,000 points.

Hilton Honors Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card charges a $95 annual fee, which it waives for the first year. This card comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status. It offers 12X points per dollar for stays at Hilton properties. A few other bonus categories let you earn up to 6X points per dollar. A spend-based welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 130,000 bonus points.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card comes with a $450 annual fee. It offers automatic Hilton Diamond status, a $250 credit at Hilton resorts, and a $250 airline fee credit. You'll also receive a free weekend night that can be used at almost any Hilton property. Spending at Hilton properties earns 14X points per dollar. You stand to earn up to 7X points per dollar through a few more bonus categories. A spend-based welcome bonus of 150,000 points is also there for the taking.

Hilton Honors Business Card

The Hilton Honors Business Card charges an annual fee of $95 and comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. Stays at Hilton properties earn 12X points per dollar. You can earn 6x points per dollar through a few other bonus categories. And new cardholders can receive 130,000 bonus points via a spend-based welcome offer.

>> More: Flexible Points vs. Miles: Which Credit Card Reward Is Better?

Buying Points From Hilton

You may purchase Hilton points if you want to redeem them for a stay but don't quite have enough points to fully book it with your points. However, whether this is worthwhile depends on your specific situation. For example, you typically need to pay one cent per point when buying them, which is less than the value you get for them in most scenarios.

However, Hilton sometimes runs promotions where you can buy points for half the usual price. Ideally, you should determine the value you stand to receive before making a purchase. In addition, you should ideally buy Hilton Honors points to make up for shortfalls, not to create a stockpile.

Spending on Hilton Partner Merchants

You can also earn Hilton Honors points when you spend on Hilton partner merchants.

  • Lyft: You may earn Hilton Honors bonus points for Lyft rides in the U.S. and Canada. You need to link your Lyft and Hilton Honors accounts first. Then, you get 3X bonus points per dollar on economy and luxury Lyft rides, as well as on extra seats. Spending on shared rides earns 2X points per dollar.
  • Hilton dining: When you join the Hilton Honors Dining program and spend at participating restaurants, bars or clubs, you get 1X bonus points per dollar.
  • Car rentals: Qualifying car rentals made through Alamo, National and Enterprise earn up to 20,000 points.

Transferring Points to Hilton Honors

American Express lets you transfer your Membership Rewards points to the Hilton Honors program. If you opt to do this, you get 2 Hilton Honors points for every Membership Rewards point. Determine if making the transfer might be worth your while by looking at the value you stand to receive for the same or a comparable hotel stay through Amex Travel.

>> More: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Transfer Partners

How to Redeem Hilton Honors Points

Using your Hilton Honors points to book stays at properties within the Hilton portfolio is pretty simple. If you have Hilton Silver status or higher, you get a fifth night free when you book your stay using only points. Converting your points to airline miles by transferring them to the program’s travel partners is also possible. There are other ways to redeem your points as well.

Transfer Points to Miles

The Hilton Honors program lets you transfer your points to various loyalty programs run by domestic airlines — such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and American Airlines — and international airlines — such as Aeromexico, ANA All Nippon, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

In most cases, you get 1 to 1.5 miles per 10 Hilton Honors points.

Can I Use My Points for Something Else?

You may use your points to get VIP access to sporting events, concerts and dining through Hilton Experiences. Using your points to pay for Lyft rides is possible. You may use your points to shop at the Hilton Honors online mall or Amazon.com and to pay for car rentals through Alamo, Enterprise and National.

Hilton Honors Elite Status

There are four tiers in the Hilton Honors rewards program. These include Member, Silver, Gold and Diamond. All members get access to guaranteed discount rates. They also get free Wi-Fi access across Hilton properties.

Hilton Honors Elite Status Tiers
Level
Qualified Nights or Qualified Points
Bonus Points
Expiration of Member Status
Rollover Nights

Club Member

Automatic

None

Never

Not allowed

Silver

3 stays, 7 nights
or 17,500 base
points

20% bonus
points on
stays

March 31 of the
year following
the next
calendar year

Allowed

Gold

14 stays, 28 nights
or 52,500 base
points

80% bonus
points on
stays

March 31 of the
year following
the next
calendar year

Allowed

Diamond

21 stays, 42 nights
or 84,000 base
points

100% bonus
points on
stays

March 31 of the
year following
the next
calendar year

Allowed

Hilton Honors benefits for Diamond members include 100% bonus points on stays, milestone bonuses, executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, availability-based room upgrades, a 48-hour room guarantee and a status extension.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Chances are, if you have a Hilton Honors points card, you like to travel. Honestly, the best way to use your points is based on your situation. For instance, maybe that Lyft ride is what you really need, and that's okay! But, I'm a big fan of saving up for that splurge you wouldn't normally get for yourself, the one that would possibly be too expensive otherwise. Just don't forget to keep your card active!
Sarah Mattie, contributing expert for MoneyGeek

How We Determined the Value of Hilton Points

We have arrived at the average Hilton point value after accounting for factors such as how you get to redeem them as well as how many points it could cost to book stays at different Hilton properties at different times of the year and different days of the week.

Other Questions You May Have About Hilton Points

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About Rajiv Baniwal


Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.


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