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One of the big advantages of holding multiple Capital One cards is the ability to convert your cash-back rewards into Capital One miles that can be transferred to Capital One airline and hotel partners. While not a new feature, it's an often-overlooked benefit that can add a ton of value to the rewards you earn using cash-back cards.
For example, the Capital One Spark Cash is offering a solid $1,000 sign-up bonus. While that's is a valuable bonus on its own, it's even more valuable if you convert that into 100,000 transferable Capital One miles — which AwardWallet users redeem for an average of 2.04¢ each.
- Earn $1,000 Cash Back once you spend $10,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase
- 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
In this post, we look at how to convert cash back to miles with Capital One, why the Capital One rewards conversion is such a great deal, and which cards gain value thanks to this functionality.
Page Contents
Why Convert Cash Back to Capital One Miles
While cash back cards are great and have their place in your points and miles strategy, transferable currencies are still the most valuable to travel on points and miles. Luckily, no matter what type of Capital One credit card you have, even if you hold a cash-back Capital One credit card, you can take advantage of the Capital One rewards conversion to turn your cash-back rewards into Capital One miles.
How you earn miles and how much will depend on which Capital One card you hold. But when converting cash back to miles, you're not beholden to the maximum earning category on your travel-rewards card.
A two-card example
For example, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
In this case, you use your Capital One Savor Cash at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment, and streaming services and your Capital One Venture X for all other purchases. Then, you can combine rewards from both cards to effectively earn 3x on bonus categories and 2x on all other purchases.
Small business owners can also take advantage of offers on premium Capital One business cards like the Spark Cash cards, and then combine rewards to use those miles via transfer partners.
Related: Best Capital One Transfer Partners
At what rate does Capital One cash back convert to miles?
Capital One cash back converts to Capital One miles at 1 cent = 1 mile. That means, $5 in cash back would convert to 500 Capital One miles (5 ÷ .01 = 500)
Can You Convert Capital One Cash Back to Miles?
Cash back earned from any Savor, Spark Cash, or Quicksilver card can be converted to miles when you also carry a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X, or Capital One Spark Miles for Business. Your cards must be linked under one login.
You can also share Capital One miles between linked miles-earning cards. However, you cannot convert miles to cash back.
Related: All of the Cards That Earn Capital One Miles
How To Convert Capital One Cash Back to Miles
Here's how to convert your Capital One cash-back rewards to Capital One miles:
1. Log in to your Capital One account (using the website, not the mobile app) and scroll down to see your rewards. You'll be asked which account you want to view. Select the account that earns cash back.
2. Choose “Move Rewards” at the bottom of this screen. Another pop-up will appear asking you which linked account you'd like to share these rewards with. Choose the account you want to send your rewards to and click Next.
3. The next pop-up, shown below, will ask you how much of your cash back you want to move. Choose any amount up to the total amount of cash back you have available. It will show you how much you'll have remaining and how many miles you'll get from the conversion. Click Share.
Your conversion should be instant, and you'll see the transaction on your rewards summary shortly.
Related: How to Transfer Capital One Miles to Airline and Hotel Partners: A Step-By-Step Guide
Final Thoughts
Need a TL;DR (too long; didn't read)? Here it is in one sentence:
You can convert Capital One cash-back earnings to Capital One miles, opening the ability to earn at higher rates while still having access to transfer partners.
By using this Capital One rewards conversion method, you can take advantage of cash-back welcome offers in the same way you can of offers from rewards-earning credit cards. Plus, you have the potential to earn more than the standard 2x earning ratio found on Capital One's miles-based personal and business cards. By maximizing which card you use and then combining your earnings later on, your points balances grow faster. In the end, you have even more redemption options available.
Before you apply for a cash-back-earning card from Capital One, make sure to consult our guide to bank application rules and brush up on Capital One's application restrictions.
- Earn $1,000 Cash Back once you spend $10,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase
- 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
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