RewardPointsCalculator.com

Points vs cash, answered honestly

Hotel Points vs Cash Calculator

Every calculator here asks the same question — is this stay better paid for in points or in cash — and answers it the way most tools won't: net of the points you'd earn back by paying cash, with each program's free-night rules, fee waivers and card discounts built in.

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Published chart

Hyatt

The published chart, all 40 price points, priced against your stay.

Published chart · Fees waived on awards

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Dynamic pricing

Marriott

Three ways to book the same stay — points, certs + points, or cash.

Dynamic pricing · 5th night free · Fees billed

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Dynamic pricing

IHG

No chart at all — paste the dynamic quote, model the free fourth night.

Dynamic pricing · Free 4th night · Fees billed

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Dynamic pricing

Hilton

The fifth night is free — but only behind the status gate.

Dynamic pricing · 5th night free (Silver+) · Fees waived

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Flat tiers

Wyndham

Flat tiers today, a new four-tier chart on September 15 — timing is the decision.

Flat tiers · Card discounts · Fees waived on Go Free

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What a point is worth right now

Baselines, not gospel — every calculator lets you override them. Full detail on the valuations page.

ProgramBaselineAward feesBase earn
World of Hyatt 1.70¢ None — resort fees, taxes and surcharges all waived on awards 5x at Hyatt hotels & resorts, 2.5x at Hyatt Studios Calculator →
Marriott Bonvoy 0.75¢ Resort and destination fees billed on awards at every status level 10x at most brands, 5x at extended-stay brands, 4x at StudioRes Calculator →
IHG One Rewards 0.50¢ Resort and destination fees billed on award stays 10x at most brands, 5x at Staybridge and Candlewood Calculator →
Hilton Honors 0.45¢ Waived on all-points and certificate stays; billed on Points & Money 10x at most brands, 5x at select-service brands, 3x at LivSmart Calculator →
Wyndham Rewards 1.00¢ Go Free covers room and local taxes — except Caesars properties, which bill resort fees 10x at most brands (1,000-point per-stay minimum), 5x at WaterWalk Calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Why is the cents-per-point figure lower than other calculators?
Because paying cash isn't free either — it earns you points back. Every calculator here compares the net cost of paying cash (room, tax and fees, minus the value of the points you'd earn) against the points price. Skipping the earn-back step is why most online calculators overstate the case for burning points.
What does "cents per point" mean?
It's the dollar value a redemption delivers, divided by the points it costs, times 100. If a stay would cost you $500 net in cash and the award costs 25,000 points, the redemption delivers 2 cents per point. Compare that against your own valuation floor: above it, burn the points; below it, pay cash.
Where do the point valuations come from?
Each calculator ships with a defensible 2026 baseline — from 0.45¢ for Hilton to 1.7¢ for Hyatt — informed by each program's published terms, point-sale pricing, and independent valuations. They prefill the form, and you can override them with your own number on any calculator.
Do these calculators store or send my data?
Everything runs locally in your browser. Your inputs are kept in your browser's own storage — nothing you type is sent to us. To share a scenario, use the Copy link button on any calculator: it builds a link to the exact scenario on screen only when you ask for one, and browsing normally keeps your figures out of the page address entirely.
Is this site affiliated with the hotel programs?
No. The site is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any hotel chain or loyalty program. Program facts are checked against each program's own published terms, and every guide links to the official source.

New to award math?

Each calculator has a companion guide explaining where every number in the form comes from and the traps specific to that program. Start with the guides.