Up to a 100% Bonus on Buying IHG Points, Through November 5, 2026
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Buying IHG One Rewards Points
IHG One Rewards is offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased points from October 21 (12:00 a.m. ET) to November 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). The offer is targeted: the percentage shows in your account once you log in and can vary from one member to another. At a 100% bonus on the best tier, a point costs about 0.5 US cents. Outside a promotion, a 1,000-point block costs US$13.50: that is the price to compare before any purchase. Before you buy, log in to see your own bonus; the offer is for eligible members only, cannot be transferred and cannot be combined with any other offer. You reach it from IHG's points purchase page.
- current sale: a bonus of up to 100% from October 21 (12:00 a.m. ET) to November 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), from 5,000 points purchased per transaction;
- targeted offer: the percentage shown in your account can vary from one member to another and with the amount purchased;
- a cap of 200,000 points purchased per calendar year, less your 2026 purchases (some accounts show a higher cap);
- outside a promotion: US$13.50 per 1,000-point block, or 1.35 US cents per point.
Remember that Iberostar Resorts all-inclusive hotels are part of the IHG hotel chain, allowing you to redeem your IHG One Rewards points for free nights at these all-inclusive hotels!
While there is no longer a credit card linked to the IHG One Rewards program in Canada, it is still possible to accumulate points:
- By staying at one of the IHG group hotels;
- By buying IHG One Rewards points, especially during promotions offering a bonus of up to 100%.
A 100% bonus changes the equation: during the sale, a point can drop to about 0.5 US cents. The bonus applies from 5,000 points purchased in a single transaction, but it can be lower on smaller purchases: on some accounts, the 100% only shows from 40,000 points. Outside a promotion, a 1,000-point block costs US$13.50, or 1.35 US cents per point, and buying loses all its appeal.
The cap is 200,000 IHG One Rewards points per calendar year, before bonus. Points already purchased since January 1, 2026 count against it: if you bought 50,000 earlier this year, you can buy 150,000 more.
At a 100% bonus, a single 200,000-point purchase gives you 400,000 points in total, for US$2,000.00 plus tax.
How Much Does Buying IHG Points Cost?
The price of a 1,000-point block falls as you buy more, from US$13.50 down to US$10.00. No bonus applies below 5,000 points purchased in a single transaction. You buy on the official purchase page, and here is what the current sale gives you at a 100% bonus:
| Points purchased | 100% bonus | Total received | Price | Real cost per point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5,000 | None | Purchased points only | US$13.50 per 1,000 points | 1.35 US cents |
| 40,000 | 40,000 | 80,000 | US$400.00 | About 0.50 US cents |
| 200,000 (annual cap) | 200,000 | 400,000 | US$2,000.00 | About 0.50 US cents |
The points purchase transaction is in U.S. dollars. For Canadian residents, add sales tax (and QST for residents of Quebec).
We recommend paying with a credit card that charges no foreign currency conversion fees, which saves you 2.5% in fees on this purchase, promotion or not. Here are the two best cards in Canada:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Is It Worthwhile to Buy IHG One Rewards Points?
The answer comes down to two figures: the bonus shown in your account and how many points you buy in one transaction.
In Canada, we do not have the advantage of credit cards that allow us to accumulate IHG One Rewards points directly or indirectly (unlike the multiple credit card options to earn Marriott Bonvoy points).
Buying IHG One Rewards points can be a worthwhile solution only when you have a very specific goal in mind.
Milesopedia values the IHG One Rewards point at 0.7 Canadian cents, roughly 0.5 US cents at current exchange rates. That is the benchmark that decides whether a purchase is worth it: at the best tier you buy the point for exactly what we say it is worth, so the gain comes from the booking you have in view rather than from the bonus.
- below 5,000 points purchased, no bonus: you pay the regular price, well above what the point is worth;
- at a 100% bonus on the US$10.00 tier, each point costs you about 0.5 US cents, roughly its value;
- with a smaller bonus or on a small purchase, each point costs you more than it is worth.
Add the applicable sales tax on top, and 2.5% in conversion fees if your card charges them. During the sale, buying therefore makes sense only at a 100% bonus, with a specific booking in mind and a card that charges no foreign transaction fees. Outside a promotion, at 1.35 US cents per point, the math no longer works.
Buying Status-Qualifying Points
IHG offers a second, lesser-known way to buy points: adding up to 5,000 points per night directly to a booking, as you pick your rate on the IHG site or in the IHG One Rewards app.
Unlike points bought during a promotion, these top-up points are status-qualifying: they count toward your next Elite tier. It is the only IHG points purchase that moves your status forward. They cannot, however, be combined with 7-day free cancellation rates.
To reach a status tier faster, also watch for targeted offers: through December 31, 2026, some members can earn IHG Diamond status in 10 paid nights, or double elite qualifying nights.
Who Should Buy IHG Points?
Buying IHG points can therefore be interesting for some, especially if you have a specific travel goal or if you want to top up your points balance to get a free night.
During the sale, log in to your account first to see your bonus, then aim for the amount that unlocks it in full in a single transaction. Any purchase also counts as activity and pushes your balance's expiry back by twelve months.
Before you buy, also look at the 15% discount on Reward Nights at new and renovated IHG hotels, including 7 in Canada: at those hotels, the same night costs you fewer points.
Until November 2, 2026, the IHG Points & Cash discount of about 15% gives you another way to get IHG points at about 0.5 US cents each, if the targeted offer shows up in your account.
If you are staying in Europe, the Ruby Hotels promotion pays 10,000 bonus points for every 2 nights through November 4, 2026, with nothing to buy.
Outside those situations, Marriott Bonvoy remains more accessible in Canada: its points are earned directly with a hotel credit card, which IHG no longer allows here.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Bottom Line
IHG One Rewards' points sale offers up to a 100% bonus through November 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The offer is targeted: check your bonus in your account before settling on an amount. At a 100% bonus, a point costs about 0.5 US cents, roughly what it is worth; outside a promotion, you pay 1.35 US cents. Since award nights are dynamically priced, buy only with a booking in view, after comparing the points cost against the cash rate.
To hear about the next points sale, create your free member account: you pick the newsletters you want from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an IHG points purchase promo right now?
Yes. From October 21 to November 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, IHG One Rewards offers up to a 100% bonus on purchased points, from 5,000 points bought in a single transaction. The offer is targeted: the percentage shows once you log in to your account and can vary from one member to another. Until November 2, 2026, the targeted Points & Cash discount also lets some members get IHG points at about 0.5 US cents each.
What bonus does IHG offer in its current points sale?
Up to a 100% bonus, from 5,000 points purchased in a single transaction, from October 21 to November 5, 2026. The offer is targeted: the percentage appears once you log in to your IHG One Rewards account, it can vary from one member to another, and it can be lower on smaller purchases. Check your own account before settling on an amount.
How many IHG points can you buy per year?
The cap is 200,000 points per calendar year, before bonus, less whatever you have already purchased in 2026; some accounts show a higher cap. At a 100% bonus, a single 200,000-point purchase lands 400,000 points in total, for US$2,000.00.
Is buying IHG One Rewards points worthwhile?
It can be worthwhile if you have a specific booking and the cost in points (even purchased) is cheaper than the cash rate, especially at expensive hotels or during peak demand.
Which card should you use to pay for an IHG points purchase?
The purchase is processed by Points.com (often in US dollars), so a card with no foreign transaction fees is ideal to avoid about 2.5% in FX fees, such as the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card.
At what point does buying IHG points pay off?
With a 100% bonus at the US$10.00 per 1,000-point tier, each point costs about 0.5 US cents, roughly 0.70 Canadian cents, which is about what we say an IHG point is worth. For example, US$400.00 gets you 80,000 points with a 100% bonus on 40,000 points purchased. With a smaller bonus, or outside a promotion at 1.35 US cents a point, you pay more than the point is worth.
Do purchased points count toward IHG Elite status?
No. Purchased points and the bonus points that come with them do not count toward Elite status. Only top-up points added to a booking, up to 5,000 per night, are status-qualifying.
Do IHG One Rewards points expire?
Yes, after twelve months without a single earning or redemption transaction, under the programme’s terms. A points purchase counts as activity and pushes that deadline back by the same twelve months. Elite members’ points, for their part, do not expire as long as the status is maintained.
