Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points: Cost, Promotions and When to Buy
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The purchase of Marriott Bonvoy points allows you to top up a balance or book a specific night without accumulating for months. This guide explains how this purchase works, its cost, and especially when it is worthwhile for a Canadian traveler. Good news: until November 23, 2026, Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 45% bonus when you buy 2,000 points or more.
For example, you could use them in Japan: see our reviews of the Marriott Nagasaki and the Kerama Islands guide in Okinawa.
Normally, the Marriott Bonvoy program charges $12.50 USD per 1,000 points. However, several times a year, the program launches a promotion that reduces this cost through a points bonus or a price discount. The minimum purchase is 1,000 points, but you need to buy at least 2,000 to get a promotional bonus.
Current Promotion: 45% Bonus Until November 23, 2026
From September 29 to November 23, 2026, Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 45% bonus on any purchase or gift of 2,000 points or more, up to the 200,000-point maximum. Unlike the August–September round (30% or 40% depending on quantity), there are no tiers this time: the percentage is the same whether you buy 2,000 or 200,000 points. The only exception is a 1,000-point purchase, which gets no bonus. Note that the bonus can be reduced along the way depending on the quantity available.
| Points purchased | Bonus points | Total received | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 0 | 1,000 | $12.50 |
| 2,000 | 900 | 2,900 | $25 |
| 10,000 | 4,500 | 14,500 | $125 |
| 20,000 | 9,000 | 29,000 | $250 |
| 40,000 | 18,000 | 58,000 | $500 |
| 100,000 | 45,000 | 145,000 | $1,250 |
| 200,000 (maximum) | 90,000 | 290,000 | $2,500 |
What is the cost per point?
Normally, Marriott Bonvoy charges 12.50 USD per 1,000 points, or 1.25 US cents per point. With the 45% bonus running until November 23, 2026, you get 1,450 points for $12.50 USD, or about 0.86 US cents per point before taxes.
| Situation | Bonus | Cost per point (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Current promotion (until November 23, 2026) | 45% | 0.86 cents |
| August–September 2026 promotion (best tier) | 40% | 0.89 cents |
| Regular price | None | 1.25 cents |
Conditions of the promotion
Here are the rules to know before proceeding with your purchase.
- Promotion period: September 29, 2026 (9 a.m. ET) to November 23, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)
- Bonus: 45% on any purchase or gift of 2,000 points or more; the percentage may be reduced depending on the quantity available
- Minimum purchase: 1,000 points (no bonus); 2,000 points to get the bonus
- Annual limit: 200,000 points purchased or gifted (instead of 150,000); bonus points do not count toward this limit
- Taxes: GST/HST charged to Canadian residents, and QST to Quebec residents
- Processing time: points appear in your account within 72 hours (often instantly)
- New members: purchases allowed 30 days after joining Marriott Bonvoy
- No refunds: a points purchase or gift is final
- Additional purchase: up to 100,000 more points a year when booking a stay on marriott.com, without the bonus
Our Take: Is a 45% Bonus a Good Deal?
With a 45% bonus, the cost drops to about 0.86 US cents per point, below the August–September round (0.89 cents at the best tier). But that figure is before taxes: Marriott charges GST or HST to Canadian residents, and QST to Quebec residents. Here is the real cost of buying 200,000 points (290,000 points received), paid with a card with no foreign transaction fees.
| Province of residence | Taxes applied | Total paid (USD) | Real cost per point (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before taxes | — | $2,500 | 0.86 cents |
| Alberta | GST 5% | $2,625 | 0.91 cents |
| Ontario | HST 13% | $2,825 | 0.97 cents |
| Quebec | GST 5% + QST 9.975% | $2,874.38 | 0.99 cents |
For a Quebec resident, that works out to about 0.99 US cents per point, which is still more than earning points. With the American Express Cobalt Card, every dollar spent on groceries or at restaurants gives you the equivalent of 6 Marriott Bonvoy points. Buying makes the most sense to close a specific gap: a night you are missing to get the fifth night free on an award stay, a family booking two rooms in high season, or a Marriott Bonvoy Moments experience (sports, dining, concerts, wellness). With no concrete plan, skip it and rely on a Marriott Bonvoy credit card instead.
Which card to use for purchase?
The transaction is processed in US dollars and goes through Points.com. Consequently, it is not considered a Marriott purchase. Therefore, you will not earn 5 points per dollar with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card; instead, you will earn 2 points per dollar.
To save on conversion fees, use a card with no foreign transaction fees, such as the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card. This represents 2.5% savings compared to a standard card.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$450Total$450Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $450
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 6 months
- Up to 45,000 points
- Ends Jan 3, 2027
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
Should you buy Marriott points?
Buying points is not relevant for everyone. Here is when it is worth it and when you should abstain.
When buying is worthwhile
- To complete an existing balance: you need a few thousand points to reach the threshold for a specific night
- Planned high-cost stay: the cash rate significantly exceeds the value of the points used
- Marriott Bonvoy Moments Experiences: exclusive experiences (sports, dining, entertainment, wellness) often require a large number of points
- High-end hotel in high season: some properties have prohibitive cash rates but maintain a reasonable cost in points
When it’s better to refrain
- Speculative purchase: you don’t have a specific stay in mind
- Targeted Elite Status: purchased points do not count towards Marriott Bonvoy Elite status
- Advantageous cash rate: first check if the stay doesn’t cost less with a travel credit card
- Bonus offer only: for the same percentage, waiting for a discount promotion will be more cost-effective
Before purchasing, always check the cost of nights in dollars to determine if buying points is advantageous for your specific case.
Need a very large balance in one go? The ASMALLWORLD Prestige promo offers 350,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for US$4,190: read our breakdown before comparing it with buying points directly.
Earning Marriott Points in Canada
In Canada, several ways are available to accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points without purchasing them. Consult our best Marriott Bonvoy cards page to compare all options.
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Two cards affiliated with the program each offer a generous welcome bonus.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
With these cards, you earn between 2 and 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent.
Transfer from American Express
You can also earn Marriott points by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points, at a rate of 5 Membership Rewards points for 6 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Our favorite card for this strategy remains the American Express Cobalt® Card. It earns 5x the points on groceries, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, and food delivery. This is equivalent to 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar in these categories.
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Also watch for the Membership Rewards points transfer promotion to Marriott Bonvoy to further maximize your conversion. The last promotion of this type took place last April.
Conclusion
Buying Marriott Bonvoy points represents a good opportunity for travelers with a specific goal, such as a planned stay, a night to complete, or a Marriott Bonvoy Moments experience in mind. Bonus or discount promotions, which return several times a year, make these purchases even more cost-effective.
However, if you are not in one of these situations, buying points is not the most profitable strategy. It will be more advantageous to accumulate your points directly with a Canadian credit card. To ensure you don’t miss any future promotions, subscribe to our newsletter.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 | |||
| $191.88 |
Marriott Bonvoy Point Purchase – Frequently Asked Questions
Is the promotion available to all Marriott Bonvoy members?
Not necessarily. Marriott presents the current offer as exclusive and non-transferable, so some members may see a different percentage. In our account, the bonus shown was 45% on any purchase from 2,000 to 200,000 points. Log in to the Marriott Bonvoy points purchase page to see the offer on your account before you pay.
How do I know how many bonus points I will receive?
During the current promotion, the bonus is 45% on any purchase or gift of 2,000 points or more, up to 200,000 points: 2,000 points become 2,900, and 40,000 points become 58,000. A 1,000-point purchase gets no bonus. The total is shown before you confirm your purchase on the Marriott Bonvoy portal.
Can the 45% bonus drop before November 23?
Yes, and it already has: Marriott advertises up to a 55% bonus, and the percentage drops as low as 35% as the offer's inventory runs out. Under the offer rules, the bonus percentage depends on the quantity available, which is limited: Marriott urges members to buy "before the offer is reduced." If you have a specific need, buy early in the promotion rather than waiting for the last week.
Can I buy more than 150,000 points during the promotion?
Yes. For this promotion, the annual limit rises from 150,000 to 200,000 points purchased or gifted, and bonus points do not count toward that limit. With the 45% bonus, buying 200,000 points gets you 290,000 points for $2,500 USD (before taxes). You can also buy up to 100,000 additional points a year when booking a stay on marriott.com, but without the promotional bonus.
How long does it take for points to be deposited into my account?
Marriott indicates a maximum delay of 72 hours after the transaction. In practice, the deposit is often instantaneous or occurs within a few hours.
Do purchased points count towards Elite status?
No. Points purchased or received as a gift do not count toward achieving Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Only qualifying nights and certain spending with a co-branded card allow you to progress through the status levels.
Which Canadian credit card should I use for this purchase?
Prioritize a card with no foreign currency conversion fees, such as the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card. This will allow you to avoid the 2.5% fee charged by most Canadian cards on USD purchases. Note that this purchase does not code as a hotel transaction, so hotel point multipliers do not apply.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Your Marriott Bonvoy points expire if no qualifying activity is recorded in your account for 24 consecutive months. Qualifying activity includes any earning or use of points (stay, purchase, transfer, etc.).
When will the next Marriott Bonvoy point purchase promotion take place?
A promotion is on right now: up to a 45% bonus until November 23, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), or until the quantity offered at that rate runs out. Marriott Bonvoy usually runs two to three points sales a year; the previous one offered up to a 40% bonus and ended on September 9, 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of the next one.
