Quick answer
How much PTO do you earn per paycheck?
10 days a year, biweekly
3.08 h
80 hours ÷ 26 paychecks
1 hour per 30 worked
69.33 h
A year at 40 hours a week
California sick leave cap
80 h
Or 10 days, if accrued (since 2024)
Divide your yearly PTO hours by your number of paychecks. With 8-hour days:
| PTO a year | Weekly | Every two weeks | Twice a month | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days (40 h) | 0.77 h | 1.54 h | 1.67 h | 3.33 h |
| 10 days (80 h) | 1.54 h | 3.08 h | 3.33 h | 6.67 h |
| 15 days (120 h) | 2.31 h | 4.62 h | 5 h | 10 h |
| 20 days (160 h) | 3.08 h | 6.15 h | 6.67 h | 13.33 h |
| 25 days (200 h) | 3.85 h | 7.69 h | 8.33 h | 16.67 h |
Your offer says 15 days of PTO. When can you use it?
Most companies don't hand you all your PTO on January 1. You earn it a little at a time, usually with every paycheck or for every hour you work. So when you're planning a trip in March, the real question is how many hours you'll have by then, and whether you'll hit your company's cap first.
This calculator shows how much PTO you earn per paycheck, how much over a year, and your balance after every paycheck. If your company has a cap, it shows when you'll reach it and how many hours you'd lose by not taking time off.
How to use the calculator
Step 1
Choose how you earn PTO
Pick A set amount a year if your policy says something like "15 days a year". Pick Per hour worked if it says "1 hour for every 30 hours worked", which is common for part-time and hourly jobs.
Step 2
Enter your pay schedule and balance
Choose how often you're paid, then enter your current balance from your pay stub and your company's cap, if it has one.
Step 3
Read your accrual
See the hours per paycheck, the yearly total, and the balance table. A highlighted row means you've hit your cap.
How PTO accrual is computed
Set amount: PTO per paycheck = PTO hours a year ÷ paychecks a year
Per hour worked: PTO per paycheck = hours worked per paycheck ÷ hours per accrual × hours earned
Balance = current balance + PTO earned, up to the cap
Let's say you get 15 days, or 120 hours, and you're paid every two weeks. That's 120 ÷ 26 = 4.62 hours per paycheck. You'd have a full 8-hour day after 2 paychecks, and a full week after about 9.
On "1 hour for every 30 hours worked", a full-time 40-hour week is 80 hours per biweekly paycheck, so 80 ÷ 30 = 2.67 hours. Over a year, that's 2,080 ÷ 30 = 69.33 hours, a little over 8½ days.
Watch your cap
Many companies cap how much PTO you can hold, often 1 to 2 times what you earn in a year. Once you reach it, you stop earning until you use some. Those hours aren't saved anywhere. They're just gone.
Let's say you have 60 hours, earn 80 a year on biweekly pay, and your cap is 80 hours. You hit the cap on your 7th paycheck. For the rest of the year, you earn nothing, which is 60 hours, or 7½ days, of PTO you never get. Taking a few days off before paycheck 7 keeps you earning.
What the law says about PTO
There's no federal law in the US that requires paid vacation. PTO is a benefit your employer chooses to give, and its policy sets the rules. But many states and cities require paid sick leave, and some require unused vacation to be paid out when you leave.
California is a common example. Under its paid sick leave law, as expanded on January 1, 2024, employees earn at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers can let them use 40 hours or 5 days a year at minimum, and can cap the balance at 80 hours or 10 days. Other states have their own rules, so check yours.
If you're in the Philippines, the rule is different: the law gives 5 days of service incentive leave after one year. See the Leave Conversion Calculator for its cash value.
Questions about PTO accrual
How do I calculate PTO accrual per pay period?
Divide your yearly PTO hours by your number of paychecks. 80 hours a year on biweekly pay is 80 ÷ 26 = 3.08 hours per paycheck. On semi-monthly pay, it is 80 ÷ 24 = 3.33 hours.
How much PTO is 1 hour for every 30 hours worked?
At 40 hours a week, that is 2,080 ÷ 30 = 69.33 hours a year, or 2.67 hours per biweekly paycheck. Part-time workers earn less, in proportion to the hours they work.
How many hours of PTO is 15 days?
120 hours with 8-hour days. On biweekly pay, you earn 4.62 hours per paycheck.
What is a PTO accrual cap?
The most PTO you can hold at once. When your balance reaches it, you stop earning until you use some. It is set by your employer’s policy, sometimes within limits set by state law.
Do I earn PTO on overtime hours?
With per-hour-worked accrual, it depends on your policy. Many policies count all hours worked, but some count only regular hours. A set yearly amount does not change with overtime.
Is PTO required by law in the US?
Paid vacation is not required by federal law. Many states and cities require paid sick leave, and some require unused vacation to be paid when you leave. Check your state’s rules.
Related calculators
- Paydays Calculator
Every payday in the year, including 27-paycheck years.
- Work Hours in a Year Calculator
Your work hours for the year, minus holidays and PTO.
- Timesheet Calculator
Add up the hours that earn your PTO.
- Salary Calculator
See what one PTO day is worth in pay.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor: the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations
- California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act, Labor Code sections 245.5–246.5, as amended by SB 616 (effective January 1, 2024)