Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of IHG One Rewards hub
GUIDE
How to buy IHG One Rewards points: caps and rules
IHG One Rewards points can be bought directly from the programme in increments of 1,000, up to 200,000 points in a calendar year, and the membership terms state that no cancellations or refunds are permitted, subject to local laws [4]. Points bought this way are classified as Non-Elite Qualifying Points, so the purchase does not count toward elite status [4].
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- A member can buy up to 200,000 IHG One Rewards points per calendar year, in minimum increments of 1,000 points [4].
- Purchases must be paid for with a valid, accepted credit card or another approved payment method, and cannot be cancelled or refunded, subject to local laws [4].
- Point purchases are Non-Elite Qualifying Points, so they do not count toward Elite Qualifying Points or Elite Qualifying Nights [4].
- Reward Night prices vary by brand, hotel and day of week, and reward inventory is limited even though there are no blackout dates [4].
How many IHG One Rewards points can you buy in a calendar year?
The IHG One Rewards membership terms set the cap at 200,000 points per member within a calendar year, and points must be bought in minimum increments of 1,000 [4]. Payment can only be made with a valid, accepted credit card or an approved payment method [4].
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Annual cap | 200,000 points within a calendar year [4] |
| Minimum purchase | 1,000 points [4] |
| Payment method | Valid, accepted credit card or approved payment method [4] |
| Cancellations and refunds | Not permitted, subject to local laws [4] |
| Elite progress | None; purchases are Non-Elite Qualifying Points [4] |
Purchases run through the programme's Points Purchase service, which IHG lists under "Buy, gift, or transfer points" [5]. The membership terms direct members to the link in the Earn Points area of the IHG One Rewards website, or to IHG Customer Care, for more information about a purchase [4].
Bought points join the same balance used for Reward Nights, which IHG advertises from 10,000 points at more than 7,000 hotels and resorts [3]. For the wider picture across other loyalty programmes, see the guide to buying hotel points.
Do purchased IHG One Rewards points count toward elite status?
No. IHG's points table separates Elite Qualifying Points, which count toward status, from Non-Elite Qualifying Points, which do not, and it places point purchases in the non-qualifying column alongside vouchers, deposits and transfers [4]. Elite status is awarded on Elite Qualifying Points or Elite Qualifying Nights achieved within a calendar year, so a purchase adds redeemable points without moving a member toward Silver Elite or above [4].
The room-rate side works the same way. A Reward Night is a Non-Qualifying Rate, so no points are earned on the room-rate equivalent of a stay booked with points, although other eligible charges billed to the room do earn [4]. The night itself is treated differently: Reward Nights count as Qualifying Nights toward elite qualification [4].
Points also carry no cash value. The terms state that points have no retail value, cannot be redeemed for cash or any other form of credit, and have no value until presented for redemption, and that outside the transfer and purchase routes the programme allows, points may not be sold or bartered [4].
How do you check a Reward Night before you buy points?
Start with the live award price, because the number of points needed for a Reward Night can vary by brand, hotel and day of week [4]. IHG states that there are no blackout dates, but reward room inventory is limited and subject to prior sale, so a room sold for cash is not automatically available on points [4].
Reward Nights can be booked on the IHG One Rewards website, in the app or through IHG Customer Care, and members must be signed in to redeem online [4]. Advance reservations are required and a credit card is needed to guarantee the booking [4]. Members may not be able to redeem points for Reward Nights at IHG Army Hotels or at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas [4].
Check what the quote covers before committing. A Reward Night is valid for a standard room for one night, including government-mandated, state and/or locally administered taxes or fees [4]. Extra-person charges can apply beyond double occupancy [4], resort fees and service charges at individual hotels may be paid directly to the hotel before check-out [4], and food and drink outside all-inclusive properties, gratuities and incidentals are not included [4].
Cancellation terms decide whether bought points are at risk. A member who cancels before the hotel's cancellation time has the points redeposited, while a no-show is charged under the hotel's policy to the card used to guarantee the room [4]. If a Reward Night point price is published in error, IHG may cancel the booking and refund the points [4]. To weigh a points booking against a paid rate, see hotel points vs cash.
Exceptions and limits
- Transfers are a separate, fee-bearing route. Points can be moved between two designated member accounts once an authorization form is submitted, and the member authorizing the transfer is charged US$5 per 1,000 points transferred, with no cancellations or refunds [4].
- Points & Cash. This option lets a member redeem a mix of existing points and points purchased at the time of booking, and the amounts required to buy those additional points can change at any time [4]. The cash portion is paid to Six Continents Hotels rather than to the hotel, so in Chinese mainland neither party can issue a VAT invoice for it [4].
- Local law. The programme and participation in it are void where prohibited or restricted by law in the member's home country, and the purchase rules apply subject to local laws [4].
- Closed accounts. Members whose accounts are cancelled, whether by IHG or by the member, forfeit all points, vouchers and reward nights held on the account [4]. IHG also reserves the right to permanently cancel a membership that has had no activity for five years [4].
- Promotional offers. Bonus points offers carry their own terms, and many IHG promotions are open only to members who receive a targeted communication; registering for an invitation-only offer is a programme violation [4]. See promotional miles for how bonus offers are commonly structured.
Frequently asked questions
How many IHG One Rewards points can you buy in one calendar year?
Up to 200,000 points, bought in minimum increments of 1,000 [4].
Do bought IHG One Rewards points count toward elite status?
No. Purchases are classified as Non-Elite Qualifying Points and do not count toward Elite Qualifying Points or Elite Qualifying Nights [4].
Can you get a refund if you buy points by mistake?
The membership terms state that no cancellations or refunds are permitted, subject to local laws [4].
When do IHG One Rewards points expire?
For Club-level members, points expire when the account has had no earn or redeem transaction for 12 months or longer, while Elite members' points do not expire as long as Elite status is maintained [4].
What is the difference between buying and transferring IHG points?
A purchase adds points to your own account through Points Purchase, whereas a transfer moves points between two designated member accounts and costs US$5 per 1,000 points transferred [4].
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers IHG One Rewards only; other hotel loyalty programmes, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt, are not covered here — see the guide to buying hotel points.
- IHG One Rewards programme home page, checked 18 October 2026
- IHG One Rewards membership terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- IHG Hotels & Resorts home page and frequently asked questions, checked 18 October 2026