Quick answer
IHG One Rewards is extending its buy points at 0.5¢ each promotion through June 30, 2026. You can purchase up to 150,000 IHG points at $0.005 per point ($750 for 150k). At this price, IHG points are worth buying for specific redemptions — but only if you have a near-term stay in mind.
How the deal works
- Price: $0.005 per point (0.5 cents)
- Minimum purchase: 5,000 points ($25)
- Maximum purchase: 150,000 points ($750)
- Promotion expires: June 30, 2026
- Bonus: none on top of the base price — this is a flat rate deal
Points purchase at IHG is normally priced at 0.7–1.0¢ per point. The 0.5¢ price is available during periodic promotions and is close to the floor IHG has offered historically.
When 0.5¢ IHG points make sense
IHG points are worth ~0.6–0.8¢ each on average redemptions. At 0.5¢ cost, you're buying points that you can redeem for 20–60% more value than you paid — on the right properties.
Best redemptions at this price point
1. IHG intercontinental properties, Category 5–6 Category 5 IHG properties cost 40,000–50,000 points/night. Rack rates for InterContinental-tier hotels often run $300–500/night. That's:
- 50,000 points at 0.5¢ = $250 cost
- Room rate: $350–450 = 0.7–0.9¢ per point value
- Net gain: 40–80% above cost
2. Extended stays where cash prices are high If you're staying 3+ nights at a high-demand period, the 4th night free benefit (available to ihg-one-rewards-premier cardholders on points stays) amplifies the value further.
3. Partner hotel brands under IHG
- InterContinental
- Kimpton
- Hotel Indigo
- Crowne Plaza
- Six Senses (ultra-luxury, points + cash available)
Six Senses properties especially: some rack rates run $800–1,500/night and redemptions can be booked at 100,000 points/night, which at 0.5¢ purchase = $500 for a $1,200+ stay.
When NOT to buy
- If you don't have a specific stay in mind — IHG points have no stated expiry (account activity not required since 2022), but buying and parking points is only worth it at exceptional value properties
- For Category 1–3 properties: these often run $80–150/night; at 30,000–40,000 points, you'd pay $150–200 to acquire them — barely breakeven or negative value
- If you can transfer Chase UR or Amex MR to IHG: Chase → IHG transfers at 1:1 mean you might have better options already
IHG transfer partnerships
If you hold Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to IHG at 1:1 ratio with no bonus currently. At the standard 1:1 rate, your effective cost of IHG points via Chase transfer is whatever you value Chase UR at (typically 1.5–2¢ each for premium transfers).
This means: the 0.5¢ buy promotion beats the Chase → IHG transfer path for people who want IHG points specifically. Buying direct at 0.5¢ is cheaper than "spending" 1.5¢-worth of Chase UR to get them.
The ihg-one-rewards-premier free night benefit
IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders get one free night certificate each year (for properties up to 40,000 points). If you have a certificate expiring and need top-up points for a specific stay, buying at 0.5¢ to bridge the gap is a reasonable play.
The card also earns 26 points per $1 at IHG hotels (10x IHG base + 10x IHG Rewards + 6x Visa), which at 0.5–0.6¢/point = 13–15% back on IHG spend — strong for a hotel card.
How to buy
- Go to IHG One Rewards Buy Points
- Sign in to your IHG One Rewards account
- Select the number of points to purchase
- Complete checkout with a credit card
- Points post within 24–72 hours
Tip: Pay with a card that earns bonus on travel/hotels purchases. The Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on hotels, for example — on a $250 purchase, that's 750 Chase UR (worth ~$11 toward travel).
Bottom line
0.5¢ per IHG point is the right price for someone with a luxury IHG property booking in mind. Don't buy speculatively. Buy only the points you need for a specific stay, up to 150,000.
