⚠️ Not financial advice: This tool is for educational purposes only and gives a general estimate. I'm not a licensed financial advisor. Point values change often — always confirm current pricing and do your own research before redeeming.
How many points/miles the award booking would cost.
Taxes, surcharges, or co-pays you'd pay on top of the points (enter 0 if none).
What you'd pay in dollars for the identical booking (all-in, after taxes).
Sets the recommended baseline. Pick "Custom" to value points your own way.
Recommended for Chase Ultimate Rewards: 2.05¢ (TPG, May 2026)
Your value
— ¢/pt
Net cash you'd save
—
Cash price minus the fees you'd still pay.
How your redemption stacks up
Rally says: "A point isn't worth a point — it's worth whatever it saves you. I once 'spent' 60,000 miles on a flight that cost $180 cash. That's 0.3 cents a mile. A treat I'd return. Make the number earn its keep before you redeem it."
How the math works
The tool figures out your cents per point (CPP) — how many cents of value each point buys you in this specific redemption — then compares it to a baseline value for your points currency.
Example: a flight costs $400 cash, or 25,000 points + $5.60 in taxes. You're using points to avoid $400 but still paying $5.60, so the points save you $394.40. That's (394.40 ÷ 25,000) × 100 = 1.58¢ per point.
Points or cash?
If your redemption value beats your baseline, points are usually the better deal — you're getting more than they're "worth," and the cash stays in your pocket. If it falls below baseline, paying cash is often smarter: you keep the points for a richer redemption later. When your value lands close to baseline, it's roughly a wash and other factors (cash flow, point balance, flexibility) break the tie.
Why you can change the baseline
The dropdown loads a recommended value for each program, but value is personal. If you'd struggle to ever use those points, they may be worth less to you. If you reliably get premium-cabin or peak-season redemptions, they may be worth more. Set your own number and the recommendation follows your judgment. If you set a custom value that's different from the recommended baseline, the tool flags both so you can see how the call changes.
New to all this? Start with our Capital One Venture X review or learn the fundamentals in how to set up your first rewards card. Planning a trip? See how we booked a nearly free Seattle getaway with points.
Baseline values are drawn from The Points Guy's monthly valuations (May 2026) and are estimates, not guarantees. Award pricing, taxes, and surcharges change frequently — confirm current rates with the airline, hotel, or card issuer before booking. This tool runs entirely in your browser and stores none of your inputs.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate cents per point?
Cents per point (CPP) = (the cash price you avoid − any fees you pay on the points booking) ÷ the number of points used, times 100. Paying 25,000 points plus $5.60 in taxes for a flight that costs $400 cash works out to (400 − 5.60) ÷ 25,000 × 100 = 1.58 cents per point.
Should I pay with points or cash?
Compare your cents-per-point value against a baseline value for that points currency. If your redemption beats the baseline, using points is generally a good deal. If it falls below, you're usually better off paying cash and saving the points for a higher-value redemption later.
What is a good cents-per-point value?
It depends on the program. According to The Points Guy's May 2026 valuations, flexible bank points like Chase Ultimate Rewards (~2.05¢) and Amex Membership Rewards (~2.0¢) are worth the most, while hotel points like Marriott Bonvoy (~0.8¢) and Hilton Honors (~0.4¢) are worth less. A redemption is "good" whenever it beats the baseline for that specific currency.
Does this tool store my information?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your points, fees, and prices are never sent anywhere or saved — close the tab and it's gone.