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Nerdy takeaways
- Delta SkyMiles are worth about 1.2 cents each for economy tickets.
- This is the fourth highest among domestic airlines.
- The value is consistent across dates and routes (it's hard to find sweet spots).
With no award chart and no set value, it can be hard to figure out (without a tarot deck) how much Delta SkyMiles are actually worth.
But we did the digging and calculating for you.
Based on our analysis, the Delta miles value is about 1.2 cents each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.2 cents or more in value from your Delta miles.
» Learn more: The complete guide to SkyMiles
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What does this value mean?
Our data-driven value of 1.2 cents per Delta SkyMile is a baseline value. This is effectively the value you could expect to get from your Delta miles if you chose to book a random main cabin ticket with miles rather than cash.
To squeeze more value from Delta miles, check out our complete guide to redeeming them, as well as some easy tips for extracting the most value.
Keep in mind that the Delta SkyMiles program offers fewer "sweet spots" compared with other programs because of its dynamic awards. So, while researching can help boost the value of your miles, you’re unlikely to score redemptions worth multiple times our estimate, for example.
» Learn more: Credit cards that earn SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles calculator
With our SkyMiles-to-dollars calculator below, you can quickly figure out how much your Delta miles are worth based on our estimated value.
The calculator offers a handy way to let you know what your miles are actually worth. So, if you have a certain number of Delta miles, punch that number into the calculator to see what their value is.
How do Delta miles compare with other airlines?
Delta offers slightly above-average value for its SkyMiles compared with other programs. However, the range of values is generally much lower, as the cost in miles is tightly connected to the cash cost. So you’re less likely to get outsized value from a particular redemption, even if the baseline value is high.
How flexible are Delta miles?
In one sense, Delta SkyMiles are very flexible, as they can be used to book flights on both Delta and its 20-plus airline partners. They can also be used to upgrade existing bookings.
On the other hand, SkyMiles cannot be transferred to other programs or used in other more elaborate redemptions.
» Learn more: What you need to know about SkyTeam
Credit cards that earn SkyMiles
Annual fee
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$350.
$650.
Earning rates
• 2 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta.
• 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
• 2 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta.
• 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
• 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
• 3 miles per dollar on eligible hotel purchases.
• 2 miles per dollar at restaurants plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets.
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
• 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Other benefits
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Companion certificate (main cabin).
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Airport lounge access.
• Companion certificate (first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).
• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
Learn more
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
How has this value changed over time?
How did we determine what Delta miles are worth?
We collected hundreds of data points comparing the cash value to award (mile) value for the same routes and dates. That is, we compared the cost of a given ticket in either cash or miles, across many tickets.
This method differs from many others in that it looks at real-world redemptions rather than hypothetical, maximized redemptions. The advantage of this approach is that it provides an actual, real-world indication of how much these miles are worth on average. That said, it doesn’t take into account the high-value redemptions that some points enthusiasts seek.
» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth?
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
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