Points vs Cash Calculator
Find your cents-per-point value and whether a redemption is worth it
Frequently Asked Questions
CPP = (cash price of the redemption ÷ points required) × 100. For example, a $400 flight that costs 25,000 points is worth 400 ÷ 25,000 × 100 = 1.6 cents per point.
It depends on your card, but 1.5-2 cents per point is a commonly used baseline for 'good' value, since many flat cash-back cards already earn around 2% back on every purchase. Above 2 cents per point is generally considered a strong redemption.
Generally yes, if the CPP beats what you'd otherwise earn back in cash (like a 2% cash-back card), points are the better deal for that specific redemption — though also factor in whether you actually need the points balance for something else.
No, this calculates the raw redemption value only. Award flights often carry separate taxes and fees paid in cash even when booked with points — factor those in separately when comparing your true out-of-pocket cost.
Cents-per-point formula
CPP = (cash price ÷ points required) × 100. Compare the result against your cash-back baseline (what a flat-rate cash-back card would earn on the same spend) to see whether redeeming points or paying cash and banking the cash back is the better deal.