Transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton: Is It Worth It?

The short answer? No, transferring Amex points to Hilton is rarely worth it.

However, “rarely” does not mean “never.” There are specific, high-value scenarios—specifically involving luxury resorts like the Waldorf Astoria Maldives or timed transfer bonuses—where this move can yield incredible returns. But for the average traveler booking a Hampton Inn or a standard Hilton, you are essentially setting fire to the value of your Amex points.

This guide analyzes the exact math behind the transfer, the “Anchor Price” problem that kills the value proposition, and the three specific exceptions where I would actually recommend hitting the transfer button in 2026.

The Transfer Mechanics: How It Works

Before we dive into the valuation analysis, you need to understand the baseline mechanics. American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Hilton Honors at a standard ratio of 1:2. This means for every 1,000 Amex points you transfer, you receive 2,000 Hilton points.

Transfers are typically instant. In my experience, once you link your accounts and confirm the transaction, the points appear in your Hilton account within seconds, allowing you to book that reward night immediately. This speed is a crucial feature for the “Top-Up” strategy we will discuss later.

The “Anchor Price” Problem

To understand why this transfer is usually a bad deal, you have to look at the “Anchor Price” of Hilton points. In 2026, Hilton frequently runs promotions where they sell points with a 100% bonus. During these sales, you can buy Hilton points directly for 0.5 cents per point.

This creates a hard ceiling on their value. If you can buy a Hilton point for half a cent, you should never “pay” more than that using your Amex points.

The Valuation Destruction Calculation

Let’s do the math on a standard transfer:

• 1,000 Amex Points are worth roughly $20 (based on a 2.0 cents/point valuation when transferred to airline partners like First Class sweet spots).
• 2,000 Hilton Points (received from the 1:2 transfer) are worth roughly $10 (based on 0.5 cents/point).

The Result: You instantly lose 50% of your equity. It is mathematically equivalent to walking into a currency exchange and trading a $20 bill for two $5 bills. You feel like you have more bills (points), but you have half the buying power.

For a deeper dive on buying points versus earning them, check my analysis on Buying Hilton Honors Points: Promotions and Break-Even Analysis.

The Exceptions: When Transferring IS Worth It

Despite the grim baseline math, there are scenarios where I have personally transferred Amex points to Hilton. Efficiency isn’t just about averages; it’s about arbitrage. Here are the three times you should ignore the “No” rule.

1. The Aspirational Redemption (The “Waldorf Math”)

Hilton’s dynamic pricing usually correlates to the cash price, but it caps out at high-end properties. For 2026, the standard reward rate for the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi has hit 250,000 Hilton points per night.

Let’s run the numbers on a 5-night stay (using the “5th Night Free” benefit you get with Hilton Gold/Diamond status):

• Cash Price (5 Nights): $12,500 ($2,500/night).
• Points Cost: 250,000 x 4 = 1,000,000 Hilton Points (5th night is free).
• Amex Points Needed: 500,000 Amex Points (at 1:2 ratio).
• Value Per Amex Point: $12,500 / 500,000 = 2.5 cents per point.

Verdict: Even with the inflation to 250k/night, you are earning 2.5 cents per point. This is superior to the 2.0 cent baseline, making it one of the few times a hotel transfer makes mathematical sense.

2. The Transfer Bonus

American Express occasionally offers transfer bonuses to Hilton, typically ranging from 25% to 40%. For instance, in late 2025, we saw a 25% bonus that pushed the ratio to 1:2.5.

If you catch a 40% bonus (ratio 1:2.8), the math changes significantly. 1,000 Amex points become 2,800 Hilton points. If you redeem those Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, you are getting roughly 1.68 cents of value per Amex point. This is still lower than a great business class flight redemption, but it becomes “acceptable” if you need a hotel stay more than a flight.

3. The “Top-Up” Strategy

Sometimes you are sitting on 76,000 Hilton points and you need 80,000 for a specific redemption. You are 4,000 points short. In this case, transferring 2,000 Amex points (to get 4,000 Hilton) is a brilliant move. The “value” here isn’t just the cent-per-point on the transfer; it’s the fact that it unlocks the redemption of the other 76,000 points. Never let a small deficit stop a big redemption.

Opportunity Cost: The “Business Class” Factor

To truly understand the cost of transferring to Hilton, you must look at what you are giving up. 80,000 Amex points is a significant amount of currency. Let’s compare two ways to spend that same 80,000-point block.

As you can see, transferring to an airline partner generally yields 3x to 5x more value than transferring to Hilton. Unless you have a specific reason (like the Waldorf example above), the airline transfer is almost always the mathematically superior choice. For more on maximizing flight value, read my guide on Amex Membership Rewards Sweetspots in First Class.

Better Ways to Earn Hilton Points

If you need Hilton points, don’t raid your Amex piggy bank. Use these methods instead:

• Hilton Credit Cards: Amex issues specific Hilton cards (Surpass, Aspire) that earn massive multipliers on Hilton spend (up to 14x). This is the intended way to amass Hilton points.
• Buy Points on Sale: As mentioned, wait for a 100% bonus promotion and buy them for 0.5 cents each. Save your Amex points for flights.
• Free Night Certificates: The Hilton Aspire card comes with a Free Night Reward that can be used at almost any property. This is far more valuable than points for top-tier stays. Learn how to maximize Hilton Free Night Certificates here.

Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Amex to Hilton

If you’ve done the math and decided the transfer makes sense for your specific situation, here is how to execute it quickly:

1. Log in to Amex: Go to the official Amex Transfer Partners page.
2. Link Accounts: If you haven’t done this before, you will need your Hilton Honors account number. The name on both accounts must match exactly.
3. Verify Status: Ensure your Hilton account is active. If you have the Amex Platinum, ensure you have enrolled in the complimentary Hilton Gold status (read Is Hilton Honors Gold Worth It? to see why this matters).
4. Initiate Transfer: Select Hilton Honors and enter the number of Amex points to transfer. Remember, 1,000 Amex = 2,000 Hilton.
5. Confirm: Transfers are irreversible. Once you click submit, those Amex points are gone forever.

Conclusion

Is transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton worth it? In 90% of cases, the answer is a resounding no. The math simply doesn’t support trading a currency worth 2 cents for one worth 0.5 cents.

However, for the advanced travel hacker, the 1:2 ratio is a useful tool to have in the arsenal. Whether it’s topping off an account for a dream redemption or capitalizing on a lucrative transfer bonus, there are moments where this transfer shines. Just make sure you’ve done the math before you click “Transfer.”