What Can You Use Amex Points For

American Express offers multiple rewards cards, some of which earn points on purchases in the course of Membership Rewards.

Membership Rewards vary in how much they're worth depending on how yous cull to redeem them. For instance, you could potentially double their value past turning them into Hilton Honors loyalty points versus using them to shop at Yeti — and those are simply two out of hundreds of options.

Here's how to get the most out of your American Express Membership Rewards.

American Limited Membership Rewards: The basics

Earning points: Many American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points with each buy. Cards that earn points include AmEx'south signature Green, Gold and Platinum cards.

Yous'll earn at least 1 bespeak per dollar spent with your card. Depending on the card, you may earn actress points for spending in specific categories, such as 3 points per dollar at restaurants or 5 points per dollar on certain travel purchases. ( Bound ahead to cards that earn Membership Rewards points. ) Additional points can be earned through bonus offers for new cardholders , targeted "Amex Offers" that give you bonus points for shopping with specific merchants, or other incentives.

Using points: Membership Rewards points tin can be redeemed for things similar:

Travel.
Point transfers to partners, including airlines and hotels.
Gift cards.
Statement credits.
Shopping.
Donations to charity.

You can view all of your options by logging into the American Express Membership Rewards website.

How much are American Limited Membership Rewards points worth?

You have a lot of options when information technology comes to redeeming your Membership Rewards points — and the value you lot become per point varies depending on how yous use them. Yous can likewise look up the values for dissimilar options based on your card using a tool on the American Limited Membership Rewards website . Here are ways to redeem:

Book travel via the AmEx portal or Expedia

You can use Membership Rewards points to book travel direct through American Limited via the AmEx Travel site, where you tin can find flights, hotels and vacation packages. You can also utilize points to volume directly through Expedia at checkout. Either way, the value of points ranges between 0.seven and 1 cent each in these cases.

Transfer points to travel partners

AmEx has multiple transfer partners — more than whatsoever other major U.S. card loyalty program — and y'all can transfer your points straight to those partners' loyalty programs. The transfer rate varies by partner, but in most cases, it's 1-to-1, significant that when you transfer i,000 Membership Rewards points, you get 1,000 points in the partner program.

1 thing to go on in heed: When transferring Membership Rewards points to U.Due south. airlines, you'll owe a fee of 0.06 cents per point, up to a maximum of $99. For a 1,000-point transfer, that comes out to sixty cents.

Full list of Membership Rewards transfer partners

Airlines

Aer Lingus (ane:1 ratio).
AeroMexico (1:one.half dozen ratio).
Air Canada. (ane:i ratio).
Air France/KLM (1:one ratio).
ANA (ane:i ratio).
Asia Miles (one:ane ratio).
Avianca (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:ane ratio).
Delta Air Lines (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:i ratio).
Etihad Airways (1:i ratio).
Hawaiian Airlines (ane:1 ratio).
Iberia Plus (1:i ratio).
JetBlue Airways (two.5:two ratio).
Qantas (one:1 ratio).
Singapore Airlines (ane:i ratio).
Virgin Atlantic Airways (one:1 ratio).

Hotels

Pick Hotels (1:1 ratio).
Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1:ii ratio).
Marriott Hotels & Resorts (1:1 ratio).

The exact value yous ultimately get per signal depends on which program you transfer to and how you redeem the points within that program, only NerdWallet estimates the overall transfer value at 2 cents per betoken.

Use points to upgrade your seat

The Upgrade with Points feature , available via the Membership Rewards portal, allows you to bid on seat upgrades with your points at over xx participating airlines. It's a convenient option when you fear you lot may be cramped into a long flight. Nevertheless, be aware that your points can lose value as your bid escalates. Membership Rewards are worth at least one cent per bespeak, depending on how you redeem them. If you're not getting the equivalent corporeality on your bid, information technology may not be the best use of your rewards.

Cover your carte charges

Y'all can redeem your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit, which is substantially a cash-back option. Points are generally worth 0.6 cent apiece when used in this style.

Store with points via the American Express site

Cardholders can get discounts and store with points at retailers from Sephora to Tumi, with the point value varying by shop. At Yeti, for instance, points are worth nearly 0.five cent each. Cardholders can also shop for unique experiences, similar VIP treatment at the Met Museum in New York, a $300 value that costs lx,000 points, for a value of 0.v cent each.

Utilise points toward online purchases elsewhere

When you're shopping online at retailers including Walmart and Amazon, you can use your points to pay at checkout. You may take to sign into the retailer's business relationship, enter your bill of fare number or otherwise follow the prompts to pull up your point balance. Each betoken is typically worth 0.7 cent when used in this mode, with some variance.

Redeem for gift cards

You can redeem your points for gift cards through the AmEx site at several dozens of retailers, from Home Depot to iTunes, and the bespeak value varies by retailer. At Target, a $25 gift menu costs three,572 points, making each betoken worth about 0.vii cents. At Tiffany, a $250 gift card costs 25,000 points, making each point worth 1 cent.

Donate to clemency

After selecting a cause through the JustGiving website, you lot tin can make a donation using points. Points are generally worth 0.7 cents when used in this style.

» HOW THEY STACK Upwards: See how American Express Membership Rewards points compare with other issuer programs on our points and miles valuations page . Or:

Cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points

More than a dozen American Express cards earn Membership Rewards; hither are some of the most popular, including some with no annual fee :

Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

Earn ii Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $six,000 per year in purchases.
Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

American Express® Green Carte

Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all eligible travel and transit purchases.
Earn 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide.
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

American Limited® Gold Card

Earn four Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants.
Earn iv points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in spending each year, then ane indicate back).
Earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines and American Limited Travel.
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

The Platinum Menu® from American Limited

Earn 5 Membership Rewards points on flights booked straight with airlines or with American Express Travel.
Earn 5 points on prepaid hotels booked on American Express Travel.
Earn 1 point on all other eligible purchases.

American Limited® Business Gilded Menu

Earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent in 2 categories (from the following six) where you spend the about each billing cycle (upwards to the outset $150,000 in combined purchases per year; so 1 signal back):

Airfare purchased directly from airlines.
U.South. purchases at restaurants.
U.South. purchases at gas stations.
U.Due south. purchases for shipping.
U.S. purchases for advertizing in select media (online, TV, radio).
U.S. purchases made directly from select applied science providers of computer hardware, software and cloud solutions.

Other spending earns 1 point per dollar spent. Terms apply — see rates and fees .

The Business concern Platinum Carte du jour® from American Express

Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Limited — and earn i betoken for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers and shipping providers — as well equally on purchases of $5,000 or more than everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar yr.

Other AmEx cards that earn Membership Rewards points include:

Other ways to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

AmEx doesn't take a traditional online "bonus mall," simply you tin can enroll in individual "AmEx Offers" when you log in to your account, either online or via the American Express app. Past adding these offers to your carte, you'll earn actress Membership Rewards points for a limited time when you use the card at the featured retailer.

Rakuten is a cash-back shopping website , but users tin opt to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash. (You need an eligible American Express card first, also as a minimum of 500 points for a transfer.)
Terms utilize.

The fine print

Membership Rewards points don't expire, and there's no cap on the amount you can earn.

Frequently asked questions

How does the American Limited Membership Rewards program work?

American Limited Membership Rewards is a points system. You earn at least ane bespeak for every dollar you spend with selected American Express cards. Most of those cards too earn extra points on purchases in specific categories, such as travel or restaurants. Non all AmEx cards earn Membership Rewards, however. The issuer has several cards that pay rewards in greenbacks back rather than points.

Options for using points include booking travel, redeeming for statement credit or souvenir cards or transferring them to partner airline or hotel loyalty programs. How much a point is worth depends on how you lot use it, but yous should exist able to get at least 1 cent of value per point.

How do I redeem American Express Membership Rewards points?

You redeem your Membership Rewards points by logging into your rewards business relationship online. Redemption options include booking travel, transferring points to airline and hotel partners and redeeming for statement credit, gift cards or merchandise. The value yous go per point depends on what you redeem your points for.

How much are 50,000 Membership Rewards points worth?

Y'all should aim to get at least ane cent of value per point, so you tin can recollect of 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards points equally being worth virtually $500. Nonetheless, the exact value of a point varies according to how you redeem information technology. Using points for travel generally has a higher value than redeeming them for statement credit or gift cards.

Do American Express Membership Rewards points elapse?

American Express Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as your business relationship is open.

Do all American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points?

Many American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points, but several practise not.

Cash back cards such every bit the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Limited and the Blue Greenbacks Everyday® Carte from American Express earn rewards that y'all can employ as a credit on your statement.

AmEx cards issued with an airline or hotel partner, such equally the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Carte du jour and the Hilton Honors American Limited Card , earn points or miles in the partner's loyalty program.

How does the American Express Membership Rewards program work?

American Express Membership Rewards is a points system. Yous earn at least 1 point for every dollar you spend with selected American Express cards. About of those cards likewise earn extra points on purchases in specific categories, such as travel or restaurants. Not all AmEx cards earn Membership Rewards, however. The issuer has several cards that pay rewards in cash back rather than points.

Options for using points include booking travel, redeeming for statement credit or gift cards or transferring them to partner airline or hotel loyalty programs. How much a indicate is worth depends on how y'all use it, but yous should exist able to get at least i cent of value per point.

How exercise I redeem American Express Membership Rewards points?

You redeem your Membership Rewards points by logging into your rewards account online. Redemption options include booking travel, transferring points to airline and hotel partners and redeeming for statement credit, gift cards or merchandise. The value you get per betoken depends on what y'all redeem your points for.

How much are 50,000 Membership Rewards points worth?

Y'all should aim to get at least ane cent of value per point, and then y'all tin can call back of 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards points every bit existence worth near $500. Still, the exact value of a bespeak varies according to how you redeem it. Using points for travel generally has a college value than redeeming them for statement credit or souvenir cards.

Exercise American Limited Membership Rewards points expire?

American Express Membership Rewards points practice not expire equally long as your account is open.

Do all American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points?

Many American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points, simply several do not.

Cash back cards such as the

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Limited

and the

Bluish Cash Everyday® Menu from American Express

earn rewards that you tin apply every bit a credit on your statement.

AmEx cards issued with an airline or hotel partner, such as the

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

and the

Hilton Honors American Express Menu

, earn points or miles in the partner'south loyalty program.

More than rewards. Less work.

Chop-chop compare cards and accounts to find the smartest rates and rewards.

All information most the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been nerveless independently past NerdWallet. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Carte is no longer bachelor through NerdWallet. come across rates and fees run into rates and fees see rates and fees

To view rates and fees of the American Limited® Business Gold Carte du jour , come across this page . To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , run across this page .

All information nearly the American Express Cash Magnet® Menu has been collected independently past NerdWallet. The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Limited , meet this folio . To view rates and fees of the Bluish Cash Everyday® Menu from American Express , run into this page .