How to earn points and miles at Starbucks (2026 Guide)
In the United States, particularly in cities and surrounding suburbs, Starbucks stores are ubiquitous. It seems like you can’t go more than a few blocks without running into another one. And while Starbucks isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to deny the convenience when you need a shot of caffeine.
And while Starbucks isn’t exactly cheap anymore, it is one of the easiest places to stack rewards if you know how to structure your purchases. Instead of earning just 1x from coffee, here’s how to turn Starbucks into a big points-and-miles generator.
Starbucks Rewards: Start Here
Before thinking about how to maximize earning points and miles, make sure you’re enrolled in Starbucks Rewards.
Starbucks Rewards lets you earn Stars on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for free drinks and food. While the program has changed over time, the basic idea hasn’t changed: earn Stars on what you’re already buying.
Even if your main goal is airline miles or credit card points, Starbucks Stars are an easy extra layer of value and can earn you free food and drinks.
Use the Right Credit Card
The simplest way to accelerate your points and miles earning is by always using a credit card that rewards dining when you go to Starbucks.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining and remains one of the best travel hacking starter cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Also earns 3x points on dining, but it comes with a higher annual fee than the CSP.
American Express Gold Card
Earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, making it one of the strongest everyday spending cards for food and coffee in terms of pure points.
Chase Freedom Flex
Earns 3x on dining, and, when restaurants appear as a rotating quarterly 5x category, Starbucks becomes one of the best places to use it (earning you 7x Ultimate Rewards points). For the last few years, dining has showed up as a 5x, so you can load your account in advance to capitalize on this strategy.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
My every day credit card also happens to earn 3x on dining.
Beyond Starbucks Stars and Credit Card Points
Starbucks Rewards and credit card points are the obvious starting point, but they’re not the only way to earn points and miles for future travel.
A handful of travel partners have built additional ways to reward Starbucks spending or Starbucks-related transactions. These aren’t always widely advertised, and in many cases they require linking accounts or using a specific method, but they can add another layer of value on top of your normal coffee routine. Here’s how several travel partners fit into the mix.
Earn United Miles with MileagePlus X
MileagePlus X is probably one of the easiest ways to stack airline miles onto everyday spending. Instead of paying Starbucks directly, you purchase a Starbucks gift card through the MileagePlus X app.
Then you load the gift card into your Starbucks account and spend as usual.
By doing this, you earn:
- Credit card points on the purchase (use a Chase card to earn 3x dining. American Express does not code as the category of purchase through MPX, I learned this the hard way)
- United MileagePlus miles through MPX (historically 2x on Starbucks, plus an extra 25% mileage kicker if you hold a United credit card, regardless of the card you pay with)
- Starbucks Stars when you spend the balance loaded onto your account
Example:
A $100 Starbucks gift card purchased through MileagePlus X can generate 300 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (if you use, say, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Freedom Unlimited, or the Chase Freedom Flex), plus 200 United miles for the gift card. And, if you have a United card like I do, it’s an additional 50 miles, so 250 United miles total.
This is a super simple way that can really add up if you go to Starbucks somewhat frequently. Go with friends? Pick up drinks for your coworkers? Offer to pay and get reimbursed so you can earn the most.
Earn Delta SkyMiles with Starbucks Rewards
You can also link your Starbucks Rewards account with Delta SkyMiles.
When you link your accounts, Starbucks and Delta allow you to earn 1 Delta SkyMile per $1 spent at Starbucks. Plus, you can earn double stars on Delta travel days.
It is important to note that in order to earn Delta miles on your Starbucks purchases, you must have flown a qualifying Delta flight within the previous 12 months (newly linked members get a 12-month introductory period, and an exception grace period runs through October 5, 2026).
Once set up, this strategy runs without any additional effort, or as we like to call it, set it and forget it.
Now I can’t remember the last time I flew Delta, so this isn’t a big earner for me given that I don’t have a qualifying Delta flight (although I did get a linking bonus in August when they re-introduced the 1:1) earning. But you lose nothing by linking your accounts, and if you fly Delta even one and go to Starbucks, why not add more miles to your account?
Can You Earn United Miles and Delta Miles on the Same Reload?
Yes, but this wasn’t always the case.
In early August 2026, Starbucks and Delta went back to the original terms they started with Delta in 2022. One Delta mile for 1 dollar spent at Starbucks, and spending money from a gift card on your Starbucks account (like from MPX) allows you to earn Delta miles.
Marriott Bonvoy + Starbucks Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy also partners with Starbucks. You can earn Marriott points on any type of reload, making it an easy way to combine airline plus hotel earning.
Depending on current offers, you can earn:
- Double Starbucks Stars during eligible Marriott stays
- Marriott Bonvoy points when completing qualifying Starbucks transactions in specific weeks. These typically earn you 100 Bonvoy points, but I’ve had offers of 300 and 500 points from time to time.
Link your accounts and watch the points come in periodically. It doesn’t earn you tons of points, but it’s an easy “set it and forget it” way to get more points for travel.
We’ve typically seen Marriott weeks requiring 3 purchases at Starbucks to get the points offered that week, but we have seen some with one purchase earning you 100 points. Points are points though, so we aren’t picky.
Which Starbucks Strategy Do We Use?
I pretty much always use MileagePlus X when I’m reloading my Starbucks account. United is our preferred airline because we fly out of a United hub (O’Hare), and MPX is consistently the simplest way to add miles to everyday spending.
That said, Delta strategy can be quite lucrative if you’re building SkyMiles or flying Delta frequently. It’s also slightly easier than MPX because once you link, you don’t need to do anything further. There’s no single “best” strategy because it all depends on your travel goals.
So, how many ways can you earn points and miles at Starbucks?
We count four ways at select times of year if you opt to take advantage of all the options we’ve highlighted):
- Credit card points (a minimum of 3x depending on your preferred points currency)
- United MileagePlus X (usually 2 miles per dollar + extra 25% if you hold a United card)
- Delta miles (1 mile for 1 dollar spent if you have taken a qualifying flight)
- Marriott (applicable only during Bonvoy weeks and typically require a few purchases for the points, but we have seen some where you earn Bonvoy points on every Starbucks purchase during Marriott week)
Plus you can always earn stars on your account. While those aren’t points or miles for travel, they can be redeemed for food or drink and save you money on future purchases at Starbucks. And that means more money can be put aside for travel, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for Starbucks purchases?
Cards that earn elevated rewards on dining are best, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Gold, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex & original Freedom during the quarters where dining is a 5x bonus category.
Can you earn airline miles at Starbucks?
Yes. United MileagePlus X and the Starbucks x Delta partnership both offer ways to earn miles on Starbucks spending. Plus, you can earn both ways at the same time.
Can you earn Starbucks Stars and credit card points at the same time?
Yes. Starbucks Stars stack with credit card rewards and airline partnerships.
Can you earn Marriott Bonvoy points at Starbucks?
Yes. Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks run promotions that allow members to earn bonus Stars and Bonvoy points during eligible stays or weeks.
Final Thoughts
If you’re already stopping at Starbucks, there’s no reason to leave points and miles on the table.
With the right combination of credit cards, airline partnerships, hotel promotions, and occasional limited-time offers like Chase offers, Starbucks can become a surprisingly strong everyday earning opportunity.
You’re still buying coffee, but you’re doing it in a way that helps fund your next trip.