Big Boost: Marriott Bonvoy Raises Free Night Award Top-Up to 25,000 Points

Marriott Bonvoy has just made its Free Night Awards a whole lot more useful. As of March 12, 2026, the top-up limit has been raised from 15,000 to 25,000 points, a 67% increase that meaningfully expands the range of hotels you can book with a certificate.

For holders of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, this is a big deal. Your 35,000-point Free Night Award can now be used at properties costing up to 60,000 Bonvoy points, up from the previous ceiling of 50,000.

What’s Changed

When Marriott first introduced the top-up feature in 2022, you could add up to 15,000 Bonvoy points to any Free Night Award to bridge the gap between the certificate’s face value and a higher-priced property. That limit has now been bumped to 25,000 points.

The change applies to all Free Night Awards, including those issued through co-brand credit cards, promotions, and program benefits such as Choice Benefits.

Here’s how the new math works out for the most common certificate values:

• 35,000-point certificate (Canadian Amex cards): now covers properties up to 60,000 points (previously 50,000)
• 50,000-point certificate (US Bonvoy Boundless): now covers up to 75,000 points (previously 65,000)
• 85,000-point certificate (US Bonvoy Brilliant): now covers up to 110,000 points (previously 100,000)

It’s worth noting that nightly upgrade awards can still be applied to reservations made with topped-up Free Night Awards, though modifying a reservation may affect the points required.

Why This Is a Game-Changer for Canadian Cardholders

Let’s be honest: the 35,000-point Free Night Award was starting to feel less and less compelling.

With Marriott’s dynamic pricing continuing to push rates upward, the pool of desirable properties that fit within the old 50,000-point ceiling had been steadily shrinking. In major Canadian cities, it felt like every property worth booking was priced at 52,000 or 57,000 points – just out of reach.

That frustration has been a recurring theme. We’ve previously noted that “too many hotels price at just over 50,000 points, leaving certificates frustratingly out of reach when they otherwise feel like a natural fit.”

With the new 60,000-point effective ceiling, a much wider range of Canadian properties suddenly comes into play.

Think properties like the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, the Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection, and various Toronto hotels that frequently price in the 50,000–60,000 range. These were previously just out of reach, even with a topped-up certificate.

Personally, my Bonvoy card was starting to feel like it had run its course. The 35,000-point certificate just wasn’t cutting it anymore, and even with the old 15,000-point top-up, too many properties were landing at 52,000 or 57,000 points. This update extends the card’s life expectancy in my wallet.

How It Works in Practice

The top-up works exactly as it did before – just with a higher limit. When you search for a hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app, the system will automatically detect if you have a Free Night Award within 25,000 points of the nightly rate.

If it does, you’ll see the option to apply your certificate and pay the difference in points. The process is seamless, and you can even top up multiple Free Night Awards on a multi-night stay.

Keep in mind that you won’t be able to apply a Free Night Award to a “Redemption with Points Upgrade” rate, even if the cost falls within the top-up range. The certificate can only be used on standard award bookings.

The Bigger Picture

It’s worth acknowledging that this improvement doesn’t fully offset the steady creep of dynamic pricing across the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Some top-tier properties now price at 80,000 points or more per night, well beyond the reach of even a topped-up 35,000-point certificate.

Still, for the vast majority of stays that Canadian cardholders are likely to book – whether it’s a weekend in Calgary, a quick trip to Montreal, or a summer night on the Halifax waterfront – the 60,000-point ceiling covers a significantly larger share of the market than 50,000 did.

It’s a practical, tangible improvement that directly addresses the pain point most Canadian cardholders have been feeling. If you’ve been questioning whether Marriott Bonvoy is still worth it, this change helps make the case.

Conclusion

Marriott Bonvoy has increased the Free Night Award top-up limit from 15,000 to 25,000 points, effective immediately.

For holders of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card ($120 annual fee) and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card ($150 annual fee), this means your anniversary Free Night Award now unlocks properties costing up to 60,000 Bonvoy points – a meaningful jump from the previous 50,000.

This is one of the more impactful changes Marriott has made in a while, and it extends the life expectancy of the Canadian Bonvoy cards in your wallet. If you’ve been on the fence about renewing, this should help tip the scales.