Bilt Points Calculator
Estimate your annual Bilt Rewards points earnings from rent and credit card spending.
Total Estimated Annual Bilt Points
What is the Bilt Rewards Program?
The Bilt Rewards program is a unique loyalty system primarily designed for renters. It allows members to earn valuable rewards points on their largest monthly expense—rent—without incurring transaction fees, something previously unheard of in the credit card world. The program is centered around the Bilt Mastercard, which also offers accelerated point earnings in categories like dining and travel. This bilt points calculator helps you visualize the full potential of your earnings. The points earned can be transferred to a wide array of high-value airline and hotel partners, used for travel through the Bilt portal, or even put towards a down payment on a home.
Bilt Points Formula and Explanation
Calculating your Bilt points involves summing up the points from rent and various spending categories. To earn any points in a statement period, you must make at least 5 transactions with your card. The formula is as follows:
Total Monthly Points = Points(Rent) + Points(Dining) + Points(Travel) + Points(Other)
On “Rent Day” (the first of every month), multipliers for non-rent categories are doubled for 24 hours. For example, the Dining category jumps from 3x to 6x points.
| Variable | Meaning | Standard Multiplier | Rent Day Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent Spend | Monthly rent payment via Bilt | 1x | 1x (not doubled) |
| Dining Spend | Purchases at restaurants, bars, etc. | 3x | 6x |
| Travel Spend | Direct airline, hotel, car rental bookings | 2x | 4x |
| Other Spend | All other eligible purchases | 1x |
For more information on maximizing rewards, consider reading about the Bilt status benefits.
Practical Examples
Example 1: The Everyday Renter
Someone pays $2,200 in rent, spends $500 on dining, $100 on travel (like a weekend hotel stay), and $1,200 on other expenses in a typical month.
- Inputs: Rent: $2,200, Dining: $500, Travel: $100, Other: $1,200
- Calculation:
- Rent Points: 2,200 * 1 = 2,200
- Dining Points: 500 * 3 = 1,500
- Travel Points: 100 * 2 = 200
- Other Points: 1,200 * 1 = 1,200
- Monthly Total: 5,100 points
- Annual Result: 61,200 Bilt Points
Example 2: The Frequent Traveler on Rent Day
A user maximizes Rent Day. They pay $3,000 in rent and make sure to book a $1,500 flight on the first of the month. Their dining spend is $600 and other spend is $1,000.
- Inputs: Rent: $3,000, Dining: $600, Travel: $1,500, Other: $1,000, Rent Day Bonus: Yes
- Calculation:
- Rent Points: 3,000 * 1 = 3,000
- Dining Points: 600 * 6 = 3,600
- Travel Points: 1,500 * 4 = 6,000
- Other Points: 1,000 * 2 = 2,000
- Monthly Total: 14,600 points
- Annual Result (assuming this happens once): This single month’s earning would be a huge boost to their annual total. Understanding the value of points is key, and our travel points valuation guide can help.
How to Use This Bilt Points Calculator
Using our bilt points calculator is straightforward. Follow these steps to estimate your potential earnings:
- Enter Monthly Rent: Input your total monthly rent payment in the first field.
- Input Spending Habits: Fill in your estimated average monthly spending for the categories of Dining, Travel, and all Other purchases. Be as realistic as possible.
- Consider Rent Day: If you plan to make large purchases on the first of the month, check the “Include Rent Day Bonus?” box to see the powerful effect of the doubled multipliers.
- Review Your Results: The calculator will instantly update to show your total estimated annual points, a breakdown of points from rent vs. other spending, and the potential monetary value of those points based on a conservative valuation.
- Analyze the Chart: The bar chart provides a visual breakdown of where your points are coming from each month, helping you identify opportunities to earn more.
Key Factors That Affect Bilt Points Earnings
- The 5 Transaction Rule: You must use your Bilt Mastercard for at least 5 purchases per statement period to earn points. If you make fewer than 5, you forfeit all points for that month.
- Rent Day Timing: Strategically timing large non-rent purchases (especially travel and dining) for the first of the month can dramatically increase your points total due to the 2x bonus.
- Spending Mix: Maximizing spend in the 3x (Dining) and 2x (Travel) categories is the fastest way to accumulate points outside of rent.
- Bilt Status Level: As you earn more points, you achieve higher status tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum) which can offer benefits like bonus points on new leases and better transfer partners bonuses.
- Annual Rent Cap: You can earn a maximum of 100,000 points from rent payments per calendar year. High rent payers should be aware of this limit.
- Merchant Category Codes (MCC): Bonus points for categories like dining and travel are dependent on how a merchant is classified. A purchase at a hotel bar might code as “dining” instead of “travel,” for example.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is there a fee to pay rent with Bilt?
No, when using the Bilt Mastercard through the Bilt Rewards app, there are no transaction fees for paying your rent. This is the program’s primary benefit.
2. What is the “5 transaction rule”?
To earn any points during a statement period (including points from rent), you must make at least five purchases with your Bilt Mastercard.
3. Are the Rent Day bonuses unlimited?
No, the double points bonus on Rent Day is typically capped. The cap has changed over time, but it’s important to be aware there is a limit to the bonus points you can earn.
4. How much is a Bilt point worth?
The value of a Bilt point varies depending on how you redeem it. While you can redeem for cash back at a lower value, transferring to airline and hotel partners often yields a value of 1.5 to 2.0 cents per point or even higher.
5. Do I have to live in a Bilt Alliance property to use the card?
No. While the Bilt Rewards program started with a network of partner properties, anyone can apply for the Bilt Mastercard and use it to pay rent at any rental property in the U.S.
6. Does my rent payment count towards the 5 monthly transactions?
Typically, the rent payment itself only counts as one transaction. You will need four additional purchases to meet the minimum requirement to earn points.
7. Can I earn points if I don’t have the Bilt Mastercard?
You can earn a limited number of points through partnerships (like Bilt Dining or Lyft) without the card, but to earn points on rent, the Bilt Mastercard is required. Earning significant credit card rewards is best done with the associated card.
8. What happens if my rent is less than $250?
If your rent payment is under $250, Bilt has a policy where you will still earn a minimum of 250 points for that payment, provided you meet the 5-transaction requirement.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Explore these resources to further optimize your rewards strategy and financial planning:
- Credit Card Rewards Calculator: Compare earnings across different credit cards.
- Travel Points Valuation Guide: Understand what your points are worth.
- Best Rent Rewards Programs: See how Bilt stacks up against other options.
- Bilt Transfer Partners: A detailed list of airline and hotel partners.
- Bilt Status Benefits: Learn about the perks of elite status.
- How Renting Affects Credit Score: Discover how reporting rent can impact your credit.