Let‘s start with a quick answer – here‘s how much 1,000 points are typically worth across major rewards programs:
| Program | Value of 1,000 Points |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | $10-$15 |
| Amex Membership Rewards | $10-$20 |
| Citi ThankYou Points | $10-$12.50 |
As you can see, point values vary depending on the program and redemption method. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know to maximize the monetary value of credit card points.
Calculating Point and Mile Values
The value of points depends on how they are redeemed. Here is the basic formula:
Point/Mile Value = Reward Value / Number of Points/Miles
For example, if you redeem 50,000 American Airlines miles for a $750 flight, each mile is worth 1.5 cents (750/50,000).
When miles are redeemed for expensive premium cabin tickets or hotel suites, their value per mile can be much higher – often exceeding 10 cents each!
Average Airline Mile Values
- American AAdvantage miles: 1.4 cents
- United MileagePlus miles: 1.3 cents
- Delta SkyMiles: 1.2 cents
These valuations are based on average domestic economy class redemptions. International business and first class awards can make miles worth up to 5 cents each or more!
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are widely considered one of the most valuable flexible points currencies. Here is how much 1,000 Chase UR points are worth for various redemption options:
- Cash back: 1 cent per point = $10 for 1,000 points
- Travel in Chase portal: 1.25 cents per point = $12.50 for 1,000 points
- Hyatt transfers: ~2 cents per point = $20 for 1,000 points
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a 50% bonus redeeming points through Chase Travel, making their points worth 1.5 cents each or $15 for 1,000 points.
Based on WalletHub data, here is the average value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points:
| Points | Average Value |
| 20,000 | $214 |
| 50,000 | $535 |
| 100,000 | $1,070 |
As you can see, 1,000 Chase points are worth approximately $10 on average.
Maximizing Chase Ultimate Rewards
To get premium value from Chase points:
- Transfer to Hyatt and book high-end hotels
- Transfer to United, British Airways and book int‘l business/first class
- Redeem in Chase portal for 1.5x value with Sapphire Reserve
I recently redeemed 80,000 Chase points for a $1,200 business class ticket to Asia by transferring to United MileagePlus. That made my points worth 1.5 cents each, 50% more than the baseline 1 cent valuation.
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards are also extremely valuable when transferred to airline partners for premium cabin awards.
- Cash back: 0.6-1 cent per point
- Travel: 1-2 cents per point
- Transfers: Up to 2 cents per point
On average, 1,000 Membership Rewards points are worth approximately $10-20 depending on redemption.
Based on WalletHub‘s valuations, here is what American Express points are worth for sample amounts:
| Points | Average Value |
| 25,000 | $203 |
| 50,000 | $406 |
| 100,000 | $812 |
As you can see, Amex points average around 1-2 cents but can offer outsized value when transferred to airline partners.
Maximizing Amex Membership Rewards
Follow these tips to maximize the value of MR points:
- Save points for int‘l biz/first class tickets
- Transfer to ANA, Air Canada for premium redemptions
- Use Pay With Points for up to 1.5 cents per point value
I recently booked a $3,000 business class ticket to Europe by transferring points to Air Canada‘s Aeroplan program. My 100,000 MR points were worth 3 cents each – triple the baseline 1 cent valuation!
Citi ThankYou Points
Citi ThankYou points are best used for airfare redemptions. Here are their typical values:
- Cash/gift cards: 1 cent per point
- Airfare: 1.25 cents per point with Citi Prestige
This makes 1,000 Citi TY points worth around $10-12.50 depending on redemption.
According to WalletHub, here is the average value for Citi points:
| Points | Average Value |
| 15,000 | $157 |
| 50,000 | $525 |
| 100,000 | $1,050 |
As you can see, 1,000 Citi ThankYou points are worth about $10 on average.
Maximizing Citi ThankYou Points
Follow these tips to get increased value from Citi TY points:
- Book airfare with Prestige card for 25% point bonus
- Transfer points to airline partners for int‘l business class awards
- Redeem for purchases over $500 for 50% more value
I try to exclusively use my Citi Prestige card for airfare so I can take advantage of the 25% redemption bonus and make my TY points worth up to 1.33 cents each.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide has helped explain how to calculate point values and maximize popular credit card rewards programs. The key takeaways are:
- Aim for at least 1-1.5 cents per point in value
- Transfer points to airlines/hotels for premium redemptions
- Use points for high-end travel and experiences
- Take advantage of bonus categories
Monitoring point valuations takes a bit of work, but helps you extract maximum value from credit card rewards. Let me know if you have any other questions!
