Marriott Free Night Award Certificates Guide
If you have one of the six Marriott co-branded credit cards, chances are you're earning a free night award certificate to use during your membership year. You could also be earning a free night certificate for having high-tiered status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Each type of certificate is different, but they all basically function in the same way. Here's our Marriott free night award certificates guide, including how to earn them.
Update 3/12/2026: You can now ToP-off your certificates with up to 25,000 Bonvoy points.
The Basics
Marriott Free Night Award Certificates all can be used for a free night at a Marriott property worldwide. The properties you're ultimately able to use them at depends on the type of certificate you've earned. The values of Marriott certificates out there are:
- 35,000 points (See our favorite uses domestically and abroad)
- 40,000 points
- 50,000 points (See our favorite uses domestically and abroad)
- 85,000 points (See our favorite uses domestically and abroad)
The value of the certificate dictates the most amount of points your certificate can be redeemed for in a single night, without adding any Marriott points (more on that in a bit). Remember, these are only good for a single night, so if you find a two-night stay valued at 30,000 points, for example, you're still only able to use your certificate for one of the nights. You also won't get a “refund” for nights redeemed at a point value below the value of the certificate.
All certificates are eligible to be redeemed with additional Marriott Bonvoy points, up to 25,000 in total. That means a 35,000 point certificate can be used for nights priced up to 60,000 points per night.
Once you earn a certificate, the expire 365 days from that point. It was once possible to extend the expiration date of these as a courtesy, but that practice is largely extinct. It still doesn't hurt to ask, though.
These certificates can only be used on standard rooms. This can vary by property, though. I've been able to redeem certificates for slightly elevated rooms, so something at the hotel level must have marked these rooms as standard rooms for certificate purposes.
Finally, you can't use a certificate in conjunction with Marriott's “5th Night Free” benefit. Those reservations must be wholly booked with Bonvoy points.
How To Earn Certificates
Each certificate is earned in a specific way, usually by holding the right credit card.
The 35,000 point certificates can be earned by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express card. You'll receive a free night award after each account anniversary. The business card can earn a second 35,000 point certificate if $60,000 or more in purchases are made on the card in a calendar year.
The 40,000 point certificates can only be earned by selecting them as a Marriott Annual Choice Benefit for earning Titanium elite status. You can earn Titanium elite status by earning 75 or more elite nights in a calendar year.
If you're looking to earn the 50,000 point certificates, you're likely earning them through sign-up offers, or as an annual benefit. The Boundless card as well as the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card occasionally offer them as part of a sign-up bonus. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy cards offer these certificates each account anniversary.
Finally, the 85,000 point certificates are available after each account anniversary with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card or the Ritz Carlton credit card (not open to new applications).
How To Use Certificates
When it comes time to use your certificates, Marriott has made it incredibly easy. Once you're logged into your account, either in browser or on the app, you can find your available certificates under the “Rewards” section of your account. Clicking on the available award will show you when it expires.
When it comes time to redeem, search for award nights at your preferred destination. You'll be able to select your award at the check out screen.
Keep in mind a pesky aspect of Marriott Bonvoy's program- award fees are not waived on award nights, even with status.
Marriott Free Night Award Certificates Guide: ToP Thoughts
Marriott certificates are some of my favorite free night awards to hold. They're flexible, fairly easy to use, and don't require a phone call to redeem (looking at you, Hilton!).
I like to try and keep enough points in my account to ToP these off in case there's a hotel that requires maxing out my redemption. These certificates keep my three Marriott credit cards open each year, since the value I receive from redemptions far outweighs the annual fee.
What are some of your favorite uses for Marriott certificates? Let us know on the ToP Facebook page!
