How do I calculate my PTO balance?

Add your starting balance to the hours you have earned, then subtract the hours you have used. To find hours earned, divide your annual PTO hours by your pay periods per year and multiply by the periods completed.

How much PTO do I earn per pay period?

Divide your annual PTO hours by your number of pay periods. Eighty hours a year on a biweekly schedule gives 3.08 hours per period. The same 80 hours paid monthly gives 6.67 hours.

How many days is 80 hours of PTO?

Eighty hours is 10 days on a standard 8 hour schedule. On a 7.5 hour schedule it is 10.67 days. Divide your hours by your normal workday length.

What does PTO stand for?

PTO stands for paid time off. It is leave you take while still being paid, and it may cover vacation, sick days, and personal days in one combined bank.

What is an accrual cap?

An accrual cap is the maximum PTO you can hold at once. When you reach it, you stop earning more until you use some time off. Caps are often set at 1.5 or 2 times your annual allowance.

Why is my PTO balance different from my payslip?

Payroll systems round differently, may accrue at the start or end of a pay period, and may already deduct approved future time off. Waiting periods for new hires also affect the figure.

Do unused PTO hours carry over to next year?

It depends on your employer. Some carry the full balance, some cap what carries over, and some reset it to zero. A few states restrict resetting earned vacation, so check your state rules and your handbook.

How many PTO hours is two weeks?

Two weeks is 80 hours for someone working 40 hour weeks. On a 37.5 hour week it is 75 hours.

How do I calculate PTO payout?

Multiply your unused PTO hours by your hourly rate. If you have 80 hours and earn $25 an hour, your gross payout is $2,000. Subtract tax withholding to get your take home amount.

How much tax comes out of a PTO payout?

Most employers withhold 22 percent for federal income tax, which is the IRS supplemental wage rate for payouts under $1 million. Social Security and Medicare add 7.65 percent. State tax depends where you work, so total withholding often lands between 25 and 40 percent.

Does my employer have to pay out my unused PTO?

It depends on your state and your company policy. States including California, Colorado, Montana, and Nebraska treat earned vacation as wages that must be paid out. Most other states leave it to the employer's written policy.

Is PTO paid out at my full hourly rate?

Usually yes, but not always. Some employers pay a reduced rate on unused time, and some cap how many hours they will pay. Your employee handbook sets the rate.

Can I convert PTO days into hours?

Multiply your days by the hours in your normal workday. Ten days on an 8 hour schedule equals 80 hours. Use your actual shift length rather than a standard 8 hour day.

Do I get paid for unused sick leave?

Usually not. Most states that require paid sick leave do not require a payout when employment ends. Some employers pay it voluntarily, so check your handbook.

How is PTO payout calculated for salaried employees?

Convert your salary to an hourly rate first. Divide your annual salary by your weekly hours multiplied by 52. Then multiply that hourly rate by your unused PTO hours.

When will I receive my PTO payout?

It normally arrives in your final paycheck. Each state sets its own deadline for final pay, ranging from your last day of work to the next scheduled payday.

Disclaimer

Last updated: 01-Sep-2026

Read this before you rely on any number from this site.

Our calculators give estimates

Every tool on PTO Calcs produces an estimate based on the figures you enter. The result is a guide, not an official statement of what you are owed or what you have accrued.

Your actual balance and your actual payout come from your employer’s payroll system. If our number and their number disagree, theirs is the one that counts.

This is not legal or professional advice

PTO Calcs is not a law firm, an accountancy practice, a payroll provider, or an HR consultancy. Nothing on this site is legal advice, tax advice, financial advice, or HR advice.

Reading this site does not create any professional relationship between you and us.

Paid time off rules vary

There is no single national rule for paid time off in the United States.

Federal law does not require employers to offer paid vacation at all. What you get, how it builds up, whether it carries over, and whether unused days get paid out when you leave are all decided by a mix of your state law, your employer’s written policy, and your employment contract.

Some states treat accrued vacation as earned wages that must be paid out. Others leave it entirely to the employer. Some cities have their own sick leave ordinances on top of state law.

Our calculators cannot know which rules apply to you.

Taxes are not included

Unless a calculator says otherwise, our payout figures are gross amounts before tax.

PTO payouts are treated as wages and are subject to income tax and payroll tax. Some employers withhold at the supplemental wage rate, which can be higher than your normal withholding. Your take home amount will be lower than the figure we show.

Speak to a tax professional if the amount matters to you.

Check your company policy first

Your employee handbook is the document that governs your time off.

It sets your accrual rate, your accrual cap, your carryover rules, your waiting period for new hires, and whether unused time is paid out. Read it before you rely on any calculation, ours included.

If the handbook is unclear, ask HR to confirm in writing.

Accuracy

We work hard to keep our formulas correct and our information current. We cannot promise the site is free of errors, or that our content reflects the latest rule in every state.

We are not liable for any loss, dispute, or decision that results from using this site. You use these calculators at your own risk.

When to get real advice

Talk to a professional if:

Your employer refuses to pay out leave you believe you earned
A large sum is involved
You are negotiating a severance or exit agreement
Your state or city has rules you do not understand
You think your rights have been breached

Start with your HR department. If that does not resolve things, contact your state labor department or an employment lawyer. Many offer a free first consultation.

Third party links and ads

We may link to other websites or display advertising. We do not control those sites and we are not responsible for their content, their products, or their accuracy.

Popular Post