Ever Dreamed of That Luxury Stay, But Your Points Balance Isn't Quite There? Here's How Many Marriott Bonvoy Points You Can Buy!
Hey there, fellow travel enthusiasts! Have you ever found yourself eyeing a dream Marriott Bonvoy property – perhaps a stunning beachfront resort in the Maldives or a chic city escape – only to realize your points stash is a little short? Don't despair! Marriott Bonvoy offers a fantastic option to top up your account by purchasing points. This can be a game-changer for unlocking those incredible award stays, especially if you find a sweet spot redemption or want to bridge the gap to a higher elite status.
But before you dive in, it's crucial to understand the rules, limits, and best practices. So, let's break down everything you need to know about buying Marriott Bonvoy points, step by step!
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| How Many Marriott Points Can I Buy |
Step 1: Are You Eligible to Purchase Points? Let's Find Out!
Before you even think about hitting that "buy" button, you need to confirm your eligibility. Marriott Bonvoy has a few simple rules:
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You must be a Marriott Bonvoy member. If you're not already, don't worry – joining is free and takes just a few minutes! You can sign up on the Marriott Bonvoy website.
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New members have a waiting period. If you've just enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy program, you'll need to wait:
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30 days after enrollment if you've had some "qualifying activity" (like a paid stay).
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90 days without any qualifying activity.
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Take a moment right now to check your Marriott Bonvoy account status. Are you a member? How long have you been one? This small check can save you a lot of time later!
Step 2: Understanding the Marriott Bonvoy Points Purchase Limits
This is where it gets important. Marriott Bonvoy has specific caps on how many points you can buy in a calendar year. These limits were updated in 2025, so it's essential to be aware of the current policy.
2.1: Annual Purchase Limit Through the Buy/Gift Points Storefront
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You can purchase or receive points as a gift from another member for a combined maximum of 150,000 points per calendar year. This limit applies to purchases made directly through the "Buy Points" or "Gift Points" storefronts on the Marriott Bonvoy website.
2.2: Additional Purchase Limit When Booking a Stay
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Here's a crucial detail: You can purchase an additional 100,000 points annually when you are actively booking a hotel stay through the reservation path on marriott.com. This means if you're just a bit short for a specific redemption, you might have extra capacity to buy points right at the time of booking.
In summary, for 2025, the total potential points you could acquire through purchase (direct + during booking) is up to 250,000 per calendar year! This is a significant amount and offers considerable flexibility.
QuickTip: Focus on one paragraph at a time.
Step 3: Finding the "Buy Points" Option on the Marriott Bonvoy Website
Navigating the Marriott Bonvoy website can sometimes feel like a maze, but finding the "Buy Points" section is relatively straightforward.
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. This is the first and most critical step.
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Look for the "Points" or "My Account" section. Typically, you'll find a link related to your points balance or account overview once you're logged in.
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Find "Buy Points" or "Purchase Points." This option is usually listed under a "Use Points" or "Manage Points" sub-menu. Marriott also often features direct links on their homepage or in promotional banners when they have sales.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for promotions! Marriott Bonvoy frequently offers bonuses when purchasing points (e.g., a 25%, 30%, or even 40% bonus). These promotions significantly reduce the per-point cost and are often the best time to buy. Check the "Special Offers" or "Promotions" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website, or sign up for their email newsletters to be notified.
Step 4: Executing Your Points Purchase
Once you've found the "Buy Points" portal and determined how many points you need, here's how to complete the transaction:
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Select the quantity of points. Points are typically sold in increments of 1,000.
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Review the cost. The standard price for Marriott Bonvoy points is generally around $12.50 per 1,000 points, which translates to 1.25 cents per point. However, remember that promotions can dramatically lower this cost.
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Enter your payment details. You'll need a valid credit card to complete the purchase.
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Confirm the transaction. Double-check the number of points you're buying and the total cost before finalizing.
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Wait for points to post. Purchased points usually post to your Marriott Bonvoy account within 72 hours after the transaction is complete. Plan accordingly if you need the points for an immediate redemption.
Important Consideration: The value of Marriott Bonvoy points fluctuates. While NerdWallet values them at approximately 0.9 cents per point, the actual value you get depends on your redemption. Always do the math: divide the cash cost of a stay by the number of points required. If the value you're getting is significantly higher than what you're paying for the points (especially during a bonus promotion), then buying points can be a smart move.
Step 5: Gifting Marriott Bonvoy Points (and Receiving Them)
Marriott Bonvoy also allows members to gift points to other members. This falls under the same 150,000 combined annual limit as buying points for yourself through the storefront.
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To gift points: You'll use a "Gift Points Storefront" on the Marriott Bonvoy website, similar to the "Buy Points" section.
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Recipient eligibility: The recipient must also be a Marriott Bonvoy member and meet the same waiting period requirements (30 days with qualifying activity, 90 days without).
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Non-refundable: Purchased and gifted points are non-refundable once the transaction is complete.
This can be a great strategy if, for example, a family member has a points balance that needs topping up for a shared trip, or if you want to pool points from multiple accounts to reach a higher redemption goal.
Step 6: Understanding Points Expiration
Don't let your hard-earned (or hard-bought!) points go to waste! Marriott Bonvoy points do expire if your account goes 24 consecutive months without a qualifying activity.
Tip: Read aloud to improve understanding.
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What counts as qualifying activity?
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Earning points from a hotel stay.
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Redeeming points for a stay or other rewards.
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Making a purchase with a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
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Purchasing points! This is a key way to reset the 24-month clock if you're nearing expiration.
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Earning points through partners (e.g., car rentals, dining programs).
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Hosting a meeting or event at an eligible property.
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What DOESN'T count?
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Gifting points to another member.
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Receiving points as a gift or transfer from another member.
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Make it a habit to check your Marriott Bonvoy account activity at least once a year to ensure your points remain active. A quick purchase of 1,000 points can save a much larger balance from expiring!
Step 7: When Does Buying Points Make Sense?
While often discouraged at face value, there are specific scenarios where buying Marriott Bonvoy points is a smart financial decision:
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To top off an award stay: You're just a few thousand points short of booking that dream hotel, and the cash rate is significantly higher than the cost of buying the remaining points.
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During a major promotion: When Marriott offers a 30-50% bonus on purchased points, the per-point cost can drop to a level where it becomes competitive with, or even better than, paying cash for certain hotel nights.
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For "PointSavers" or Off-Peak Redemptions: If you find a fantastic PointSavers rate or an off-peak redemption that offers exceptional value, buying points at a discounted rate can make it even sweeter.
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To maintain elite status (indirectly): While buying points doesn't directly earn you elite night credits, having points can enable you to book more award stays, which do count towards elite nights, helping you reach or maintain status.
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For Marriott Bonvoy Moments: These exclusive experiences (concerts, culinary events, sporting events) can sometimes offer outsized value for points, and purchasing points might be the only way to access them if your balance is low.
Step 8: Considering Alternatives to Buying Points
While this post is about buying points, it's always good to be aware of other ways to accumulate them:
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Hotel Stays: The most straightforward way! You earn 10 points per dollar spent at most Marriott brands (some exceptions like Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element earn 5 points per dollar; Marriott Executive Apartments earn 2.5 points per dollar). Elite members earn bonus points on top of this.
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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Co-branded credit cards from Chase and American Express are incredibly powerful for earning points through everyday spending and often come with substantial sign-up bonuses and annual free night certificates. Many also provide automatic elite status (e.g., Silver, Gold, or even Platinum).
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Transferring Points from Other Programs: While not as common for Marriott, some flexible points programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards via specific cards) allow transfers to Marriott Bonvoy. Note: As of now, Amex Membership Rewards does NOT transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, and Chase Ultimate Rewards no longer directly transfers to Marriott Bonvoy. However, you can transfer points to airline partners that also partner with Marriott.
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Airline Partners: You can convert airline miles from over 40 airline loyalty programs into Marriott Bonvoy points (though usually at an unfavorable ratio).
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Marriott Bonvoy Dining Program: Earn points when dining at participating restaurants.
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Refer a Friend: If you refer new members to Marriott Bonvoy, you can earn bonus points.
Step 9: Calculating the Value – When is it Worth It?
The key to smart points buying is understanding the value proposition.
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Find your desired Marriott hotel and dates.
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Check the cash rate for those dates. Let's say it's $300 per night.
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Check the points rate for those dates. Let's say it's 30,000 points per night.
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Calculate the cents per point (CPP) redemption value: ($300 / 30,000 points) = $0.01 per point, or 1 cent per point.
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Compare this to the cost of buying points.
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Standard rate: 1.25 cents per point. In this scenario, you're paying more to buy the points than they're worth for this specific redemption. Not a good deal.
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With a 40% bonus: If you buy 100,000 points (cost $1250) and get 40,000 bonus points (total 140,000 points), your effective cost is $1250 / 140,000 = ~0.89 cents per point. In this scenario, buying points at 0.89 cents per point to redeem at 1 cent per point is a good deal!
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Always prioritize getting more value from your points than what you pay for them. Marriott's dynamic pricing means some redemptions will be excellent, and others will be terrible. Do your homework!
Step 10: Final Considerations Before You Buy
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Purpose: Are you buying points for a specific, high-value redemption, or just to have them? Speculative buying is generally not recommended unless there's an incredible sale.
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Flexibility: Points offer flexibility, especially with Marriott's "Fifth Night Free" on award stays (book four nights with points, get the fifth free). This can significantly increase the value of your points.
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Cash vs. Points: Always compare the cash price to the points price. Sometimes, a promotional cash rate might be better than using points, even if you bought them at a discount.
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Taxes and Fees: When you book an award stay with points, you typically don't pay hotel taxes or resort fees, which can be a significant saving. When paying cash, these can add a considerable amount to your bill.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
Tip: Pause, then continue with fresh focus.
How to Check My Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance?
You can check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your points balance is prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to Purchase Marriott Bonvoy Points Online?
To purchase Marriott Bonvoy points online, log in to your account, navigate to the "Buy Points" section (usually under "Use Points" or "Manage Points"), select the desired quantity, enter your payment information, and confirm the purchase.
How to Know If Marriott Bonvoy Points Are On Sale?
Marriott Bonvoy typically announces points purchase promotions on their website's "Special Offers" or "Promotions" section, and they often send out email notifications to members. Keep an eye on travel blogs and points news sites, as they frequently report on these sales.
How to Gift Marriott Bonvoy Points to Another Member?
You can gift Marriott Bonvoy points to another member by using the "Gift Points Storefront" on the Marriott Bonvoy website. Both the sender and recipient must be Marriott Bonvoy members and meet the respective eligibility criteria.
How to Avoid Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration?
To prevent Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring, you must have a qualifying activity on your account at least once every 24 months. This includes earning points from stays, redeeming points, making purchases with a co-branded credit card, or buying points.
Tip: Reread complex ideas to fully understand them.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Miles?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to miles with various airline partners through your Marriott Bonvoy account. The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile for most partners, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
How to Calculate the Value of My Marriott Bonvoy Points?
To calculate the value of your Marriott Bonvoy points for a specific redemption, divide the cash price of the room (excluding taxes and fees you'd avoid with points) by the number of points required for that same room. This gives you the "cents per point" (CPP) value.
How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points for Free Nights?
To use Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights, search for a hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app, and select the option to "Use Points / Awards." The search results will then display the points required for each night.
How to Get Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy Without Staying Many Nights?
While not directly related to buying points, you can often earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status faster by acquiring a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card, as many offer automatic elite status (e.g., Silver, Gold, or even Platinum) or provide Elite Night Credits annually.
How to Reach Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service for Points Inquiries?
You can reach Marriott Bonvoy customer service for points inquiries through their dedicated phone lines (available on their website under "Help & Contact Us"), or by using the contact options within your Marriott Bonvoy account online.
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