How to transfer IHG points to another member: Fees, limits and how it works

IHG One Rewards members with established accounts can transfer points to other members, but there's usually a $5 transfer fee per 1,000 points. However, in December 2023, IHG One Rewards began allowing Diamond Elite and IHG Business Rewards members to transfer points to other members without paying transfer fees.

Since then, IHG One Rewards has lowered the cap on transfers per calendar year and added some additional requirements as to which members enjoy free transfers. Even so, free IHG point transfers remain a nice perk for active loyalty program members like me who love redeeming IHG points. So, here's what you need to know about this perk.

Transfer IHG points to other members

IHG One Rewards members can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year between accounts in increments of 1,000 points. However, while you can only transfer at most 100,000 points per calendar year and are capped at six transfers per calendar year, you can receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year. Additionally, you must enroll in IHG One Rewards at least 30 days before transferring or receiving points.

Most members who initiate a transfer must pay a $5 fee per 1,000 points transferred. However, Diamond Elite members and IHG Business Rewards program members who initiate transfers won't need to pay this fee. Keep in mind that IHG Business Rewards program members will only enjoy waived transfer fees when initiating a transfer if they've "consumed a Business Rewards event in the current or previous calendar year."

To transfer IHG One Rewards points to another member, head here, provide the requested details about your IHG account to log in and then fill out the points transfer form.

You'll need to confirm the recipient's details on the next page.

Then, you'll get to a confirmation page that states, "Thank you for your purchase! Your order has been received and will be processed in the next 72 hours. You will receive a confirmation email once your transaction completes."

I got an email from IHG One Rewards with my transfer receipt almost instantaneously. The points weren't removed from my account and transferred to my recipient's account immediately, though. In my experience, this usually happens within 24 hours of initiating the transfer, although it can take up to 72 hours.

Once the points transfer completes, no cancellations or refunds are permitted, and the member who initiated the transfer has no right to the transferred points. The points transfer page says that the "offer does not have an expiration date and will continue at IHG's discretion."

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Related: How to maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

When and why to transfer IHG points to another member

Frequent readers know that I'm a big fan of buying IHG points, especially when you can do so with a 100% bonus. After all, a 100% bonus brings the effective purchase rate down to just 0.5 cents per point. This rate matches TPG's March 2026 valuation of IHG points but is lower than I typically get when redeeming IHG points.

However, you're limited to purchasing 200,000 points per year (though the cap is sometimes raised during specific buy points promotions). So, if you need more points than the maximum amount you can purchase in a year, you could have another member buy points and then transfer them to you.

You may also want to transfer IHG points to a travel companion who will have a higher IHG elite status than you next year. My husband and I both currently have Diamond Elite status, but I expect only one of us will be able to requalify this year. So, before the end of the calendar year, we'll transfer up to 100,000 points from the account that doesn't requalify this year to the account that does. Then, we can use that account in 2027 as we attempt to requalify one of our accounts for Diamond Elite status once again.

Finally, you may also want to transfer IHG points if you're sharing a room with a friend. Instead of attempting to determine a reimbursement rate or simply agreeing on another way to informally align your expenses, you could transfer half of the points required for the stay to your friend.

Related: How to get your fourth reward night free when redeeming IHG points

How to become eligible for free IHG point transfers

Only IHG Diamond Elite and Business Rewards program members are eligible to have fees waived when transferring points to other members. So, you might be wondering how to earn IHG elite status or become a Business Rewards program member.

IHG Diamond Elite status requires 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points per calendar year. Alternatively, you can earn Diamond Elite status through Dec. 31 of the following year if you make purchases totaling $40,000 or more during a calendar year on your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees).

You can also activate IHG Diamond Elite status for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualify and the following calendar year after spending at least $75,000 on purchases on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) during a calendar year. And after spending $120,000 on purchases on the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) during a calendar year, you can activate Diamond Elite status for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualify and the following calendar year.

It's relatively easy to become a Business Rewards member, although you must have "consumed a Business Rewards event in the current or previous calendar year" to unlock free IHG point transfers.

IHG's terms and conditions state that "membership in IHG Business Rewards is available to individuals who are either corporate bookers, business travel/meetings agents or individual bookers." The terms and conditions define an individual booker as "a person who books qualifying spend at participating hotels on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else." Head to the Business Rewards page to join the program.

Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card

Bottom line

It's usually not worth paying the $5 per 1,000 points transfer fee to transfer points to another member. After all, you can buy IHG points during some promotions at this rate. However, if you have Diamond Elite status or are an active IHG Business Rewards member, being able to transfer up to 100,000 points per year to other members with no fee is a nice perk.

Related reading:

• The 19 best IHG hotels in the world
• How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG One Rewards
• How much value does the IHG One Rewards program provide when you book directly?
• IHG Milestone Rewards: Earn confirmable suite upgrades, points and more