This guide is for players who have bought a few games on Steam, noticed a Steam Points balance on their account, and are not sure what it is for. You will learn where points come from, what kinds of items the Points Shop offers, how seasonal badges connect to your Steam level, and what to consider before you redeem anything.
The short version first: Steam Points cannot be used to pay for games and cannot be converted into cash or Steam Wallet funds. They are a reward system for cosmetic items that have no effect on gameplay. Keeping that in mind avoids a lot of disappointment. The details below are based on Steam's public information; check Steam's official support pages for the current rules.
What Steam Points Are
Valve introduced Steam Points together with the Points Shop in 2020. You earn points when you buy things on the Steam Store and spend them in the Points Shop on profile decorations, chat stickers and similar items.
Before the Points Shop existed, animated backgrounds and special emoticons mostly came from collecting trading cards, crafting badges or buying items on the Community Market. The Points Shop made this more direct: every item shows its point cost, and you choose what you want.
How Points Are Earned
Buying on the Steam Store
This is the main source. Purchases of games, DLC, software and other store products automatically earn points based on what you spend. According to Steam, you receive 100 points for every US$1 equivalent spent, with other currencies converted accordingly. Your account history is the authoritative record of what you actually received.
A few things to note:
- Refunds remove points. Points earned from a purchase are generally deducted if that purchase is refunded.
- Community Market trades do not count. Buying and selling items on the Market generally does not earn points.
- Adding wallet funds is not a purchase. Points are awarded when you buy products, not when you top up your wallet.
Receiving Community Awards
Other players can spend their points to give awards to your reviews, screenshots, guides or Workshop items. When you receive an award, you also receive points. It is a way to earn points without spending money. Points from awards may take some time to arrive.
Free items during sales
During major sales, the Points Shop sometimes offers stickers or event items you can claim at no cost. These usually have a deadline and vary from event to event.
What You Can Redeem
Items in the Points Shop fall into a few broad categories. The selection grows and rotates over time.
Profile items
- Avatars and animated avatars to replace your profile picture.
- Avatar frames that decorate the edge of your avatar.
- Profile backgrounds, static or animated, shown behind your profile page.
- Mini-profile backgrounds, shown when friends hover over your name in their friends list.
- Profile themes that change the overall color scheme of your profile.
Chat items
- Stickers for Steam Chat.
- Emoticons you can drop into text messages.
- Chat effects that play animations in a conversation.
Steam Deck and Big Picture items
Some items, such as keyboard themes and startup movies, are meant for the Steam Deck or Big Picture mode. If you do not use those, you can skip this category.
Seasonal badges
The Points Shop offers seasonal badges that you can level up with points. Badges grant Steam account XP, which raises your Steam level. Higher levels increase your friends list limit and unlock more profile showcase slots. If you care about your level, seasonal badges are one way to turn points into XP.
A Checklist Before You Redeem
Points are limited, so it is worth thinking first:
- Will I actually see this item? If you rarely visit your own profile, a background may not matter much.
- Is it tied to a game I care about? Items are organised by game, and choosing from games you love tends to age better.
- Will animations show where I use Steam? Some animated effects display in limited form on mobile or certain interfaces.
- Is it time-limited? Seasonal or event items may not return, while permanent items can wait.
- Do I want to save points for a seasonal badge? Plan ahead if your goal is a higher Steam level.
Things to Watch Out For
- Points Shop items cannot be traded or sold. They are bound to your account and cannot be listed on the Community Market.
- Points have no cash value. They cannot reduce the price of a purchase or become wallet funds.
- Redemptions are generally final. Double-check before spending a large amount.
- Be wary of "free points" messages. Any message offering free points in exchange for clicking an outside link or sharing account details should be treated as suspicious. Our guide to common Steam scams covers this in more detail (Common Steam Scams Explained).
- Rules can change. How points are awarded and what the shop offers may change over time.
Common Mistakes
- Expecting points to discount games. They only work in the Points Shop.
- Buying things to earn points. Points are a side benefit, not a reason to spend. Waiting for sales, comparing prices and claiming free-to-keep games (Free Games) save far more.
- Forgetting that refunds take points back.
- Spending everything on one animated background when you also wanted a badge or other items.
FAQ
Q: Do Steam Points expire?
Steam has not publicly stated an expiration date for points, but policies can change, so check Steam's official support pages.
Q: Do keys bought from other stores earn Steam Points?
No. Points are awarded for purchases made on the Steam Store. A key bought elsewhere was not paid for on Steam, so it does not earn points.
Q: Can I give a redeemed item to a friend?
Items already redeemed to your account cannot be transferred, and points themselves cannot be moved between accounts. The simplest approach is for your friend to redeem the item with their own points. If the shop offers any other gifting option, follow what the shop page actually shows.
Q: Can I use points to buy games?
No. Points can only be redeemed for cosmetic items, badges and similar content in the Points Shop.
Q: Are seasonal badges worth it?
If you care about your Steam level, friends list size or profile showcases, they are a straightforward way to earn XP. If not, spending points on items you will actually see may be more satisfying.