AMEX Membership Rewards: How To Earn & Redeem Points

How much are AMEX Membership Rewards points worth?

There are several ways to redeem Membership Rewards points and the value you get out of them will vary depending on how you redeem them. Point values range from 0.5 to 1 cent each when redeeming them through American Express and as much as 2 cents or more when transferring them to partners to redeem for travel.

Calculator: What's The Value of AMEX Membership Rewards Points?

Booking flights via American Express Travel

Booking flights or upgrading flights using Membership Rewards points will give you 1 cent in value per point. This means that 10,000 points would be equal to $100 in flight value.

There are three credit cards that are an exception to this value thanks to the point rebate benefit they offer:

• American Express® Business Gold Card 25% point rebate

  You will receive 25% of your points back when booking a flight using this card. This gives a value of 1.3 cents per point on airfare via AMEX Travel.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express 35% point rebate

  You will receive 35% of your points back when booking a flight using this card. This gives a value of 1.54 cents per point on airfare via AMEX Travel.

• The Business Centurion Card® from American Express 50% point rebate

  You will receive 50% of your points back when booking a flight using this card. This gives a value of 2 cents per point on airfare via AMEX Travel. (This card is typically invite only).

Since this is the easiest and most straightforward way to use Membership Rewards points, this sort of sets the base value for redeeming them. You'll want to always strive to get 1 cent or more in value out of your points.

Booking hotels via American Express Travel

Booking hotels via the American Express Travel portal will give you 0.7 to 1 cent in value per point.

If you have the The Platinum Card® from American Express or the The Business Platinum Card from American Express, you will be able to redeem points for Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings through AMEX Travel for 1 cent per point.

All other pre-paid hotel bookings, including those made through The Hotel Collection, will give you a value of 0.7 cents per point.

Other travel via American Express Travel

All other travel bookings made through the American Express Travel portal will give you 0.7 cents per point. This includes pre-paid hotel bookings, cruises, car rentals, and vacation packages.

Transfer points to AMEX travel partners

The AMEX Membership Rewards program has a large list of transfer partners — more than any other U.S. credit card rewards program. You can transfer your points directly to each of these partner loyalty programs, mostly at a 1:1 rate, meaning that transferring 1,000 Membership points will give you 1,000 points or miles in the partner program.

Here's the full list of transfer partners:

Learn More: AMEX Transfer Partners & Conversion Calculator

The value you get out of transferring points to AMEX's partners will vary based on how you use them after they have been transferred to a partner program. You can expect about 1.2 to 2 cents in value when transferring to frequent flyer programs and about 0.4 to 1 cent in value when transferring to hotel loyalty programs.

Do note that transferring points are final meaning that there's no way to transfer rewards back into your Membership Rewards account after transferring them to a partner. You will want to be sure to confirm award availability at the travel partner’s loyalty website before making your transfer.

Pay with Points at checkout

Membership Rewards points can be used at checkout with a large list of popular retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Dell.com, and Saks Fifth Avenue. This will give your points a value of 0.7 cents apiece with most partners.

Use points for card charges

Membership Rewards points can be redeemed to wipe out charges made to eligible Membership Rewards credit cards at a value of 0.6 cents per point. Every 1,000 points is equal to $6.

When redeeming your points, you can choose which charges to wipe out. If you do not have enough points to cover the charge, it will not allow you to use partial points to cover it.

Redeem points for gift cards

Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for gift cards for a value of up to 1 cent per point. There are a few options that will give you half that value, so be sure to avoid those!

Shop online with points

You can use Membership Rewards Points to shop the Membership Rewards store which features a range of departments such as technology, home & office, sports & games, and more. This is the worse use of Membership Rewards points as you'll get a value of 0.5 cents per point.

Credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points

American Express offers a large handful of personal and business credit cards that you can use to earn Membership Rewards points via welcome bonuses and everyday spending. Points earned with these credit cards are all shared under one account. This means you don't have to worry about moving points between credit cards for better redemption options.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Intro bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points on airfare booked direct or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per year) and 5X points on prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel. All other purchases will earn you 1X.

Card highlights: Over $1,400 in annual credits, global lounge access (Centurion lounges, Delta SkyClub lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, and Priority Pass lounges), superb purchase insurance, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, up to $100 towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and much more.

AMEX Platinum points value: 1 cent each towards airfare and Fine Hotels & Resort bookings through AMEX travel. You can obtain higher value transferring points to AMEX's travel partners.

Annual fee: $695. $175 for up to 3 additional Platinum cardholders, then $175 per card for the 4th user onward. (See Rates and Fees)

Learn more about The Platinum Card from American Express

Calculate Platinum Card Points and Card Value

American Express® Gold Card

Intro bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points on restaurant purchases worldwide, 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X), 3X points on airfare purchased direct or through American Express Travel, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Card highlights: Up to $120 in annual dining credit ($10 per month), up to $120 in annual Uber Cash ($10 per month), and a $100 hotel credit and room upgrade upon arrival (when available) when booking at least a two consecutive night stay through The Hotel Collection.

AMEX Gold points value: 1 cent each towards airfare booked through AMEX travel, but can be transferred to AMEX's partners for increased value.

Annual fee: $250. (See Rates and Fees)

Learn more about the American Express Gold Card

Calculate AMEX Gold Points and Card Value

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Intro bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 2X Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in annual purchases, then 1X for the remainder of the year.

Card highlights: Double the rewards at no annual fee.

Blue Business Plus points value: 1 cent each towards airfare booked through AMEX travel, but can be transferred to AMEX's partner for increased value.

Annual fee: $0. (See Rates and Fees)

Learn more about the Blue Business Plus Credit Card

Calculate Blue Business Plus Points and Card Value

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Intro bonus: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com and 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. All other purchases earn 1X.

Card highlights: Over $1,400 in annual credits, 35% airline bonus (rebate) on flights booked through American Express Travel using points, global lounge access (Centurion lounges, Delta SkyClub lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, and Priority Pass lounges), top-notch purchase insurance, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, up to $100 towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and much more.

Business Platinum points value: 1.54 cents towards AMEX Travel airfare and 1 cent each when booking Fine Hotels & Resorts. You can also obtain high value transferring points to AMEX's travel partners.

Annual fee: $695. Additional Platinum cards are $300 each. (See Rates and Fees)

Learn more about The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Calculate Business Platinum Points and Card Value

American Express® Business Gold Card

Intro bonus: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points on the two select categories your business spent the most each month on up to $150,000 in spend during the calendar year. 1X on all other purchases.

Card highlights: 25% airline bonus (rebate) on flights booked through American Express Travel using points.

Business Gold points value: 1.3 cents each when booking flights through AMEX Travel due to rebate. Points can be transferred to AMEX's partners for increased value.

Annual fee: $295. (See Rates and Fees)

Learn more about the American Express Business Gold Card

Calculate Business Gold Points and Card Value

All information about the American Express EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express EveryDay® Credit Card, and Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Point Calculator and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

American Express EveryDay® Credit Card

• Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earns 2X points on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets and 1X points on everything else.
• Earn 20% more points in a billing period when you make 20 or more purchases on the card. Terms apply.
• No annual fee.

Calculate AMEX points and card value

American Express EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earns 3X points on the first $6,000 spend at U.S. supermarkets, 2X points at U.S. gas stations, and 1X points on everything else.
• Earn 50% more points in a billing period when you make 30 or more purchases on the card. Terms apply.

Calculate AMEX points and card value

American Express® Green Card

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit.
• Earns 3X points on travel, transit, and at restaurants worldwide and 1X points on all other purchases
• Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the card and $100 in LoungeBuddy credits when you use the card to purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app.

Calculate AMEX points and card value

Points can also be earned with the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express.

Other ways to earn Membership Rewards points

Outside of using credit cards, Rakuten Rewards is the only other way that can earn you lots of additional points.

Earn points using Rakuten Rewards

Rakuten Rewards is a free-to-use online cash back portal that pays you to shop online. As part of a partnership, Membership Rewards credit card holders can opt in to receive Membership Rewards points instead of cash back.

Rakuten offers plenty of promos every month that can earn you as much as 10X Membership Rewards points or more.

This allows you to double and triple dip on rewards when shopping online. For example, an online purchase would:

• Earn you Membership Rewards points (or cash back) through Rakuten Rewards.
• Earn you Membership Rewards points or other rewards from the card you used to pay for your online purchase.
• Rewards with the retailer you made the purchase through (assuming you were logged into a loyalty account).

You can sign up for Rakuten Rewards through our link and earn bonus Membership Rewards Points (or cash back) the first time you use the portal. If you don't have a Membership Rewards credit card yet, you can still signup and earn $30 (or more) the first time you use the portal. You can change your earning preferences to Membership Rewards at any time.

If you're looking to get the most out of the Membership Rewards program, you don't want to ignore this program as you can easily earn up to 10X points or more for doing what you would normally do anyway.

Start Earning: Sign up for Rakuten Rewards