You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another account, but only through specific channels and with restrictions that depend on your membership tier and the recipient's status.
Marriott allows point transfers between accounts you own, to family members, or to friends — but the process differs based on who you are and who is receiving the points. Direct transfers happen through your Marriott Bonvoy account dashboard. Transfers to someone else's account require that person to have an active Marriott Bonvoy membership, and you will need their membership number. The transfer itself is when ready once submitted, but there are caps on how many points you can move in a calendar year, and some transfers incur a fee.
The most common reason to transfer is to consolidate points before a redemption, to help a family member reach a booking threshold, or to move points out of an account you are closing. Understanding which method applies to your situation — and what it costs — saves time and prevents points from getting stuck in the wrong place.
Key Takeaways
- Transfers between accounts you own are free and unlimited, but transfers to another person's account cost $10 per transfer plus 5% of the points being moved.
- The recipient must have an active Marriott Bonvoy membership and you must know their membership number to complete the transfer.
- You can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to any single recipient, though elite members may have higher limits.
- Transfers process when ready after submission, but the recipient's account must be in good standing and not flagged for fraud or policy violations.
- Points transferred as a gift cannot be transferred again by the recipient for at least 12 months.
Transferring Points Between Accounts You Own
If you hold multiple Marriott Bonvoy accounts in your own name, you can consolidate points without paying a fee. Log into your primary account on Marriott.com, go to the account settings or membership section, and look for the option labeled "Transfer Points" or "Manage Points." Select the account you want to transfer from (if you have linked multiple accounts to your profile) and enter the number of points to move.
These transfers are free and process within hours. There is no annual cap on how many points you can move between your own accounts. This is the fastest and cheapest way to gather points for a single redemption or to close an account you no longer use while preserving the points.
Transferring Points to Someone Else's Account
Transferring to a family member, friend, or anyone else requires their active Marriott Bonvoy membership number. You cannot transfer to an email address or a name alone — Marriott requires the 10-digit membership number to route the points correctly. Ask the recipient for this number before you start the transfer process.
Go to your account dashboard, select "Transfer Points," and choose the option for transferring to another member. Enter the recipient's membership number, the number of points, and confirm. Marriott will charge you $10 for the transfer plus 5% of the points being moved. For example, transferring 10,000 points costs $10 plus 500 points (5% of 10,000), so the recipient receives 9,500 points and you pay $10 out of pocket.
The transfer completes when ready, and the recipient will see the points in their account within a few hours. However, if their account is flagged for suspicious activity or policy violations, Marriott may hold the transfer pending review.
Annual Transfer Limits and Elite Member Rules
Standard members can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to any single recipient. This limit resets on January 1. If you need to move more than 100,000 points to one person, you will have to split the transfer across two calendar years or transfer to multiple recipients.
Elite members — those with Silver Elite status or higher — often have higher limits. Platinum Elite and above members may be able to transfer up to 250,000 points per year to a single recipient, though this varies by tier and Marriott updates these limits periodically. Check your account dashboard or contact Marriott customer service to confirm your specific limit based on your current elite status.
These limits explore to transfers you initiate. Points received by others do not count against your outgoing limit, so someone can send you points without affecting your ability to send points to others.
What Happens to Transferred Points After They Arrive
Once points land in the recipient's account, they are treated like any other points — they can be used for hotel stays, flights through Marriott Bonvoy Travel, or other redemptions. However, there is one important restriction: points that were transferred as a gift cannot be transferred again by the recipient for at least 12 months. This is Marriott's anti-fraud measure to prevent points from being moved repeatedly to obscure their origin.
If the recipient wants to move those points to a third person before 12 months have passed, Marriott will block the transfer. After 12 months, the restriction lifts and the points behave like any other points in their account.
Transfers That Fail or Get Held
A transfer can fail or be held if the recipient's membership number is incorrect, if their account is closed or suspended, or if Marriott's fraud detection system flags the transaction. If you receive an error message, double-check the membership number — a single digit wrong will cause the transfer to fail. Ask the recipient to verify their number directly from their Marriott account.
If the transfer is held pending review, Marriott typically resolves it within 24 to 48 hours. You will receive an email notification if there is a delay. In rare cases, Marriott may deny the transfer if it appears to violate their terms — for example, if the recipient's account has a history of receiving large point transfers from multiple sources in a short time, which can trigger fraud alerts.
If a transfer fails after you have already paid the $10 fee, contact Marriott customer service with your confirmation number. They can refund the fee if the failure was on their end, though they will not refund the 5% of points charged if the transfer eventually goes through.
Alternatives If Direct Transfer Is Not an Option
If the recipient does not have a Marriott Bonvoy membership yet, they will need to create one before you can transfer points. This takes a few minutes on Marriott.com and is free. Once their account is active and they have a membership number, you can proceed with the transfer.
If you want to help someone book a hotel without transferring points to their account, you can also book a stay directly using your own points and add them as a guest. This does not require a transfer and avoids the $10 fee, though it means you retain control of the reservation. Some people prefer this method when helping a spouse or child book a trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points to someone who doesn't have a Marriott account yet?
No. The recipient must have an active Marriott Bonvoy membership and a membership number before you can transfer. They can create a free account on Marriott.com in a few minutes, and once it is active, you can proceed with the transfer.
What if I transferred points by mistake to the wrong membership number?
Contact Marriott customer service when ready with your confirmation number and the incorrect membership number. If the transfer has not been claimed or used, Marriott may be able to reverse it and return the points to your account, though this is not may provide. The sooner you report the error, the better your chances.
Do I have to pay the $10 fee every time I transfer points?
The $10 fee applies only to transfers to another person's account. Transfers between accounts you own are free. The 5% points charge applies to all transfers to other people, regardless of how many times you transfer.
Can the person I sent points to transfer them to someone else right away?
Not for 12 months. Points received as a gift are locked from being transferred again until a year has passed. After 12 months, the recipient can transfer them freely, subject to their own annual limits.
What if Marriott says my account is flagged and won't let me transfer?
Contact Marriott customer service to ask why your account is restricted. Common reasons include unusual account activity, multiple large transfers in a short time, or a mismatch between your account information and your identity. Marriott can usually lift the restriction once you verify your identity, though it may take a few business days.