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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
July 22, 2025 • 11 min read
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Quick summary
Pairing a cash-back card with a travel rewards card from the same issuer allows you to convert cash-back rewards into transferable miles at a 1:1 ratio.
This strategy can significantly increase the value of your rewards, as miles are valued at 1.85 cents each as of July 2025 per TPG's valuations.
Combining a card with bonus earning categories and a flat-rate miles card can help you maximize rewards on specific types of purchases.
You can use this approach without paying a high annual fee, depending on the cards you select.
What to consider
You must hold both a cash-back card and a miles-earning card from the same issuer to convert rewards.
Cash-back can be turned into miles, but not vice versa at the same rate.
The ability to transfer miles to over 15 hotel and airline partners enhances redemption flexibility.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step instructions for converting cash-back rewards to miles and tips on the most effective card pairings.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
The allure of travel rewards cards makes it easy to forget that there are tons of good reasons to also hold a cash-back card in your wallet. Cash-back cards generally have a simple earning and redeeming structure, and you can't beat the flexibility of cash rewards.
If you have a card that earns Capital One miles, consider adding a Capital One cash-back card to your wallet. With the right card pairing, you can turn your Capital One cash-back rewards into transferable miles, making them even more valuable.
Here's what you need to know to fully maximize your Capital One rewards.
Which Capital One cash-back cards can convert to miles?
To convert Capital One cash back to miles, you'll need to hold both a Capital One cash-back card and a miles-earning card. That way, you can combine your rewards so your cash back becomes fully transferable Capital One miles.
To be eligible to turn your cash back into miles, you'll need one of these miles-earning cards:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus receive a $300 credit to use on hotel and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel in the first cardholder year.
Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business isn't currently available to new applicants. So, you can't apply for this card and earn a welcome bonus.
Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
$0 introductory annual fee for first year, then $95
The information for the Spark Miles for Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Then, if you have one of the cards listed above, you can turn cash-back rewards from any of the following cards into miles at a 1:1 ratio:
Earn $2,000 cash back after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
$0
With a card from each list, you can combine your rewards at a rate of 1 cent of cash back to one Capital One mile, which TPG's July 2025 valuations peg at 1.85 cents apiece. This is thanks to the ability to transfer to Capital One's full range of 15-plus hotel and airline partners.
It's important to note that while you can turn your cash-back rewards into miles, Capital One does not give you the option to transfer your miles to cash back at the same rate.
Ideally, you want to pair a fixed-rate earning card with a card that has bonus categories. Since all eligible Capital One miles-earning cards earn at a flat rate, your best option is to pair one of them with a card in the Savor family, since they earn bonus rewards on spending in specific categories.
WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS
If, for example, you have the Capital One Venture Rewards card, you earn a solid 2 miles per dollar spent on all your purchases. If you also have the Capital One Savor Cash card, you can earn an impressive 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases.
The magic of this card pairing is that it allows you to effectively earn 3 miles per dollar spent on these bonus purchases.
Additionally, if you want more premium perks like lounge access and an annual $300 Capital One Travel portal credit, consider pairing the Venture X with the Savor Cash.
One of the best aspects of this ability to turn cash back into miles is that you can do so without paying any annual fees.
With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you'll earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent on every purchase and have access to the same redemption options as the Venture Rewards and the Venture X for no annual fee.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), plus 1% cash back on all other purchases, also for no annual fee.
ZORICA NASTASIC/GETTY IMAGES
So, with this duo, you could essentially earn 3 miles per dollar spent on dining, entertainment and streaming services and at grocery stores — without paying any annual fees.
If you have a miles-earning Capital One card and a cash-back Capital One card, you can maximize the number of Capital One miles you earn. In doing so, you'll be able to combine your rewards and unlock the ability to transfer those rewards to Capital One's extensive roster of transfer partners.
If you play your cards right, your cash-back card just might become your wallet's secret rewards weapon.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
