Dreaming of that luxurious Marriott stay but a few points short? Or perhaps you're planning a grand adventure and need to top up your Marriott Bonvoy balance to unlock that incredible redemption. Whatever your reason, buying Marriott Bonvoy points can be a strategic move – but it's essential to understand the rules and limits. So, let's dive deep into "how many Marriott points can I buy in a year" and walk through the entire process!
Unleashing Your Travel Dreams: A Guide to Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points
Are you ready to elevate your travel experiences? Imagine extending that dream vacation by an extra night, or finally affording that aspirational stay at a St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton. Buying Marriott Bonvoy points can make these aspirations a reality, but it's crucial to understand the annual limits and the best way to do it. Let's get started on unlocking those amazing travel possibilities!
Step 1: Discovering Your Annual Marriott Bonvoy Point Purchase Limit
Before you get too excited about all those potential free nights, the first and most important step is to understand exactly how many Marriott Bonvoy points you are allowed to purchase within a calendar year. This limit isn't a "one-size-fits-all" number, as it depends on how you're purchasing the points.
Understanding the Two Main Purchase Avenues
Marriott Bonvoy offers two distinct ways to purchase points, each with its own annual cap:
A. Direct Purchase via Buy Points Storefront/Gift Points Storefront: This is the most common and straightforward method. Through the official Marriott Bonvoy "Buy Points" or "Gift Points" storefronts (which are often powered by Points.com), you can directly purchase points for yourself or send them as a gift to another member.
The Limit Here: For 2025, members may purchase or receive points purchased by another member as a gift for a combined maximum of 150,000 points per calendar year through these storefronts. Historically, this limit was 100,000 points, so it's a generous increase!
B. Purchase During a Hotel Reservation (Booking Path): This is a lesser-known but equally valuable option. When you are actively booking a hotel stay on Marriott.com, you might be presented with the option to purchase additional points to complete your redemption or even just to top up your account for future use.
The Limit Here: Members may purchase up to an additional 100,000 points annually when booking a hotel stay through the reservation path on Marriott.com. This is in addition to the points you can buy through the storefront.
Calculating Your Total Potential Purchase
So, theoretically, if you max out both avenues, you could purchase:
150,000 points (from the storefront) + 100,000 points (through reservation path) = 250,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a calendar year!
Keep in mind: You must be enrolled as a Marriott Bonvoy Member for a minimum of 30 days before you are eligible to purchase points.
Step 2: Evaluating the Cost of Marriott Bonvoy Points
Now that you know how many points you can buy, let's talk about the price. Marriott Bonvoy points are typically sold in increments, and the standard price is often a little higher than their average redemption value.
The Standard Price Per Point
Marriott Bonvoy points are generally sold in increments of 1,000 points.
The standard cost is $12.50 per 1,000 points.
This translates to a cost of 1.25 cents per point.
Why Timing Your Purchase Matters: Look for Promotions!
While 1.25 cents per point is the standard rate, Marriott Bonvoy frequently runs promotions offering discounts or bonus points when you buy. These can significantly reduce your effective cost per point, making the purchase much more worthwhile.
Common Promotions: You might see offers for 25% off, 30% off, or even a bonus of 40% or 50% extra points.
Example: If there's a 25% off promotion, 1,000 points would cost you $9.375, bringing your cost down to 0.9375 cents per point. This is often closer to or even below the average redemption value of Marriott points (which NerdWallet typically values around 0.9 cents per point).
When to Buy: It is highly recommended to wait for one of these promotions before making a significant point purchase. Subscribing to Marriott Bonvoy email updates or checking points blogs frequently can help you catch these sales.
Step 3: A Step-by-Step Guide to Purchasing Marriott Bonvoy Points
Ready to pull the trigger? Here's how to navigate the purchase process.
Sub-heading 3.1: Purchasing via the Buy Points Storefront
This is the most common method for a general top-up or planned redemption.
Access the Buy Points Page:
Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (Marriott.com).
Navigate to the "Marriott Bonvoy" section.
Look for a link that says "Buy Points" or "Buy/Gift Points." You can often find this under "Use Points and Awards" or "Manage Points."
Alternatively, a quick search for "Marriott Bonvoy Buy Points" will usually lead you directly to the storefront.
Log In to Your Account:
You'll be prompted to sign in with your Marriott Bonvoy member number and password. Ensure you are logged into the correct account.
Select Purchase or Gift:
Choose whether you want to "Buy Points" for yourself or "Gift Points" to another member. The process is similar for both.
Choose the Number of Points:
You'll see a selection of point increments (e.g., 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, etc.). Select the amount you wish to purchase, keeping your annual limit in mind.
If a promotion is active, the discounted price will typically be reflected here.
Review Your Order:
Double-check the number of points, the total cost, and confirm that any applicable promotion has been applied.
Read the terms and conditions carefully.
Enter Payment Information:
Provide your credit card details.
Consider using a credit card that offers bonus points on travel or everyday purchases to maximize your rewards.
Complete the Purchase:
Click "Submit" or "Complete Purchase."
You'll usually receive an email confirmation of your transaction.
Sub-heading 3.2: Purchasing Points During a Reservation
This method is ideal if you're slightly short for a specific award stay.
Search for Your Desired Hotel Stay:
On Marriott.com, search for your hotel, dates, and number of guests as you normally would.
Select Your Room and Rate:
Proceed through the booking process until you reach the step where you select your room type and rate.
If you've selected an "Awards" redemption or a cash rate that might benefit from a points top-up, you might see an option to "Purchase Points" or "Buy More Points" to complete the reservation.
Choose to Add Points:
If the option is available, select it. You'll typically be given specific point increments that bridge the gap to your desired redemption.
Review and Complete:
The cost of the additional points will be added to your total.
Review all reservation and payment details before confirming your booking.
Step 4: Understanding When Your Points Will Post
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to points posting!
Marriott Bonvoy states that purchased points will typically be posted to your Marriott Bonvoy Account within 72 hours after the transaction is complete.
In some cases, it might be faster, but it's always wise to allow for the full 72-hour window, especially if you're planning a time-sensitive redemption.
Step 5: Strategic Considerations for Buying Points
Buying points isn't always the best option. Here are some factors to consider:
A. Compare Cost to Cash Price
Always calculate the value per point you'd be getting by buying points for a specific redemption versus paying the cash rate for the same room.
Calculation: (Cash Rate - Taxes/Fees) / (Number of Points Required). If your calculated value is significantly higher than 1.25 cents (or your promotional cost), then buying points can be a good deal. If it's much lower, consider paying cash.
B. Avoiding Point Expiration
Marriott Bonvoy points do expire if your account goes 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity.
Purchasing points is considered a qualifying activity and will reset your 24-month expiration clock. If you're close to losing a large sum of points, a small purchase can be a worthwhile investment to keep them active.
Note: Receiving gifted points or transferring points from another member does not reset the expiration clock.
C. Meeting Elite Status Requirements (Indirectly)
While buying points directly won't earn you Elite Night Credits (ENCs), having enough points for award stays can reduce your cash outlay, allowing you to save money while still accumulating ENCs from your award nights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points
Here are 10 common questions related to purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points, with quick answers:
How to check my current Marriott Bonvoy point balance? You can check your point balance by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance is usually displayed prominently on your account dashboard.
How to find current Marriott Bonvoy point purchase promotions? Marriott Bonvoy usually announces purchase promotions on their "Buy Points" page, through email newsletters, and via travel loyalty blogs. It's recommended to check these sources regularly.
How to know if buying Marriott points is a good deal for my specific trip? Calculate the "value per point" for your desired redemption by dividing the cash price (minus taxes/fees) by the number of points required. Compare this value to the cost per point you'd pay (especially with a promotion). If the value is higher, it's a good deal.
How to ensure my Marriott Bonvoy points don't expire? Engage in a "qualifying activity" at least once every 24 months. This includes earning points from stays, credit card spending, or purchasing points.
How to buy points for someone else as a gift? On the Marriott Bonvoy "Buy Points" storefront, select the "Gift Points" option. You'll need the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy member number and last name.
How to pay for purchased Marriott Bonvoy points? You can pay for purchased points using a major credit card directly on the Marriott Bonvoy Buy Points storefront.
How to combine points from multiple Marriott Bonvoy accounts? While you can't officially combine points from separate individual accounts into one, Marriott does allow point transfers between members. However, these transfers do not count as "qualifying activity" for expiration purposes.
How to use purchased points for an immediate reservation? Once the purchased points post to your account (allow up to 72 hours), they will be available for immediate use for award night redemptions through Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app.
How to get a refund on purchased Marriott Bonvoy points? Generally, purchased points are non-refundable. Always double-check the terms and conditions before completing your purchase.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without buying them? You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points through hotel stays, co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, dining at participating restaurants, booking car rentals with partners, and participating in Marriott Bonvoy promotions.
