Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
Every purchase you make, every swipe you take, you’ll be earning miles with your Capital One credit card. No, that’s not a new advertising slogan — it’s more of a statement on the simplicity of earning miles with Capital One credit cards.
Simplicity translates into earnings with no requirements to register for quarterly bonus categories. You won’t have to memorize long lists of which purchases earn extra miles, either. Simplified earning also provides a fast track to easily accumulating lots of Capital One miles.
When it comes time to redeem your Capital One miles, you’ll find several options, including travel statement credits or the potential for greater value when transferring miles to airline or hotel partners.
Whether you have personal spending you’d like to earn miles for or run a business with unrewarded expenses, a Capital One Miles credit card can fit your spending profile.
In this article, we’ll highlight what Capital One miles are, why you’d want to earn them, which Capital One credit cards earn miles, and how to earn lots of miles with Capital One cards (and why you’d want to!).
Although Capital One miles are not real airline miles, the most flexible and valuable redemption option of Capital One miles is that you can turn theminto real miles! This is done by transferring Capital One miles to airline or hotel partners.
This option elevates the value of earning miles on Capital One credit cards and is a major consideration for jumping on the bandwagon.
Transfer miles to other Capital One accounts for no charge
Redeem for gift cards, donate to charity, or receive a check (at a reduced value)
Hot Tip: Capital One miles are valuable because you can use them like cash-back toward travel purchases or transfer them to airline or hotel partners for potentially more value!
Ease of Earning Capital One Miles
As we mentioned, Capital One credit cards are known for their simple earning structures.
There are no fluctuating bonus categories, periodic registration requirements, or annual spending levels to meet — you simply make a purchase and earn miles. You’ll also earn miles on every purchase you make.
You may be wondering, which Capital One credit cards earn the most miles? Read on!
Bottom Line: Capital One miles are earned on every purchase, with extra earnings in bonus categories. Although Capital One miles are not airline miles and cannot be used to book award flights directly, you can use the miles as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases, transfer miles to airline or hotel partners, or book travel directly with Capital One.
Earn Lots of Miles With Personal Capital One Credit Cards
Personal Credit Cards That Earn Capital One Miles
Capital One personal and business credit cards earn miles on every purchase and have bonus spending categories to earn even more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
$250 Capital One Travel Credit + 75,000 miles
$1,600
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardis one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
Pros
5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles
$360
$0
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.
The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
150,000 miles
$2,700
$395
All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The Capital One Venture X Business card is a great all-around premium rewards card that helps you rack up miles on all of your business expenses.
From 2x miles on all purchases, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, complimentary employee cards, and more, there is plenty to love about the Capital One Venture X Business card.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. The annual fee on this card is $395
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get the best prices on thousands of options
Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. Then enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group lounges
This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Elevate your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits on every booking
Financial Snapshot
APR: All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.
*Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.
1. Earn a Welcome Offer
Welcome offers are the fastest way to accumulate Capital One miles.
Just complete the required spending in the first 90 days after you are approved for the card, and your welcome offer will be credited to your Capital One Miles account.
2. Purchase Travel
You’ll earn well when you purchase travel with certain personal Capital One credit cards.
Capital One defines travel quite generously; this category includes:
Airlines
Bus tickets
Car rental agencies
Cruise lines
Hotels
Limo and taxi services
Timeshares
Travel agencies
Although not officially listed, cardholders have also reported that Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb purchases have been reimbursable with Capital One miles.
Here’s how these Capital One credit cards reward travel purchases:
SCROLL FOR MORE
Credit Card
Earnings
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.25x miles on all other purchases
Capital One Venture X Business Card
Unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
3. Pay Household Expenses
Whether you need to fill up the car with gas, pay your heating bill, or pay your auto insurance, you can earn more Capital One miles by paying household expenses with your Capital One credit card.
The Capital One Venture X card and Capital One Venture Rewards card earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, including those everyday household expenses.
4. Buy Groceries
The Capital One Venture X card and Capital One Venture card earn 2 miles per dollar spent at the supermarket, which may mean one of them becomes your everyday spending card!
Hot Tip:
Use your Capital One Venture X card or Capital One Venture card to purchase no-fee gift cards at supermarkets for non-bonus category purchases, such as entertainment and gas. Note that not all stores allow purchasing gift cards with credit cards, but many do.
Earn Lots of Miles With Business Capital One Credit Cards
Depending on the credit card, you will earn 1.5 to 2 miles per dollar spent.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to leverage those earnings and score some upfront bonuses.
Business Credit Cards That Earn Capital One Miles
Every prudent business owner knows the importance of separating personal and business purchases.
Business credit cards facilitate that objective, but they also allow you to earn miles on all of those business purchases.
The following business credit cards earn Capital One Miles:
[table id=520 /]
1. Earn a Welcome Offer
The fastest way to build a bank of Capital One miles is with a welcome offer.
After selecting the business credit card that best fits your spending profile, just complete the required initial spending in the first 90 days to receive a generous bonus of Capital One miles.
2. Earn Bigger With Tiered Spending Bonuses
Beyond the initial welcome offer, Capital One may offer another spending tier for an additional bonus.
For example, an initial welcome offer may require you to spend $5,000 in the first 3 months after card approval to receive a 50,000-mile welcome offer.
But there may be an additional tiered spending bonus after that, too. For example, you might earn 150,000 miles if your business spends $50,000 in the first 6 months after card approval.
However, with the Capital One Spark Miles card, you’ll also earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, including travel.
*Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.
4. Pay Business Expenses
Whether you’re paying for business dinners, remodeling the office, or purchasing office supplies, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every business purchase with the Capital One Spark Miles card.
Hot Tip: You would only need to spend $4,750 annually to offset the annual fee on the Capital One Spark Miles card, which provides a greater level of earning potential than the Capital One Spark Miles Select card.
Everything Else You Need To Know
Miles that you earn on your Capital One card never expire as long as you have a Capital One account open and in good standing. If you close your account, unused miles will be forfeited.
Capital One miles can be transferred to other Capital One accounts, and Capital One credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees.
Occasionally, Capital One runs Refer-a-Friend promotions that reward you with statement credits for referring a friend who is subsequently approved for the credit card.
These promotions are usually targeted to specific cardholders who receive an invitation email with the terms of the referral program, but cardholders of the Capital One Venture X card, Capital One Venture card, or Capital One VentureOne card in good standing may qualify for the referral program.
To find your referral link, sign in to your account or look in the app for the Refer-a-Friend tile on the account details page.
While simplicity can be a positive thing when it comes to earning Capital One miles, some added analysis is worthwhile.
Undoubtedly, Capital One cards offer decent (and sometimes lucrative) welcome bonuses that deliver great value. The ongoing value will depend on whether your spending matches their few sweet spots. For example, if you’re booking a lot of hotel rooms and don’t have a loyalty preference, earning 10 miles for each dollar spent is fantastic.
But Capital One miles basically have a fixed value, so if you’re only earning 2 miles per dollar spent on most of your purchases, you might do better on those purchases with a card that earns Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards points.
The American Express® Gold Card, for instance, earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 in spending per year — and Membership Rewards can potentially deliver value far greater at 2.2 cents per point than Capital One’s value of 1.8 cent per mile (according to our valuations).
However, a big positive is that Capital One miles can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, which opens up new possibilities for receiving increased redemption value.
Look long and hard at Capital One options — but don’t fall in love unless it’s the perfect match of a generous sign-up bonus, ongoing earnings that match your spending, and redemption value that you can use.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Capital One miles work?
You earn Capital One miles on several Capital One credit cards by making purchases.
The miles are deposited into your Capital One account and are ready to redeem after your credit card statement closes.
You can transfer Capital One miles to airline partners and receive real miles that you can use to purchase an award ticket. The resulting value and transfer ratios vary.
You can also redeem the miles to redeem against travel purchases (including flight purchases) from the previous 90 days on your credit card statement. Each mile is worth 1 cent toward a travel statement credit.
In addition, you can redeem the miles toward travel purchases directly with Capital One.
How much are Capital One miles worth?
Capital One miles are generally worth 1 cent each if you redeem them for travel or gift cards.
If you choose to redeem the miles for cash and have a check sent to you, you will receive as little as half a cent per mile (which is not good value).
You can also transfer miles to airline partners, where it is possible to exceed 1 cent per mile in value.
Which is the best Capital One Miles credit card?
The best Capital One credit card for you will depend on your spending habits and whether you want to pay an annual fee.
This is because personal Capital One credit cards have bonus categories that offer higher miles for spending in those categories. For example, if you have high spending in the travel category, the Capital One Venture card or the Capital One Venture X card is the best for hotel purchases. All other spending earns between 1.5 to 2 miles per dollar, depending on the card.
You’ll also want to make sure that the redemption options on the card you choose deliver value for you or your business.
How do I earn Capital One miles?
It’s easy to earn Capital One miles. You can earn Capital One miles by getting a welcome bonus on a Capital One Miles credit card, making normal purchases on your Capital One Miles credit card, booking travel through Capital One Travel using your Capital One Miles credit card, referring a friend to a Capital One Miles credit card, and even making business purchases!
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
![8 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Capital One Miles [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Capital-One-Venture-X-Upgraded-Points-LLC-06-Large.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
![8 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Asiana Airlines Asiana Club Miles [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AdobeStock_343714198_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)
![20 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Air Canada Aeroplan Points [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/An-AIr-Canada-Boeing-777-at-Toronto-Pearson-Airport.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)
![Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Full Review [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Capital-One-Venture-Card-Image.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)