Paid Time Off Calculator

Free Paid Time Off Calculator

Remaining PTO: 88.0 hours (11.0 days)

Used: 27% of allowance

Projected year end balance: 88.0 hours

Do you actually know how much paid time off you have left? Most people guess, and most guesses are wrong. Our free paid time off calculator gives you the real number in seconds.

Enter your yearly allowance, what you have used, and your accrual details. You will see your remaining balance in hours and days, plus what you will have left at year end.

How to use the paid time off calculator

  1. Enter your yearly PTO allowance in hours. Check your HR portal if you are not sure.
  2. Enter the PTO hours you have already used this year.
  3. If your PTO accrues per paycheck, add the per period amount and how many pay periods are left. Leave both at 0 if yours is front loaded.
  4. Click Calculate PTO to see your remaining balance, days equivalent, and year end projection.

What is paid time off (PTO)?

Paid time off is the umbrella term for paid leave: vacation days, personal days, and sometimes sick days, all drawn from one bank. Instead of separate buckets, you get a single balance to spend as you like.

PTO is the most common setup in the US. The average full time employee gets around 10 to 20 days per year, rising with tenure. Knowing your exact balance is the difference between a relaxed December and a frantic one.

How PTO accrues

Many employers add PTO hours to your balance every pay period instead of granting the full year at once. This is called accrual.

The math is simple: hours per pay period x pay periods elapsed. If you want the per paycheck detail, our PTO accrual calculator breaks it down. The calculator on this page rolls the accrual into your year end projection automatically.

A worked example

James gets 120 hours of PTO per year. He has used 32 hours on two long weekends. His remaining balance is 88 hours, which equals 11 full days off.

He is eyeing a 10 day trip in November. The calculator shows he has 11 days available, so the trip fits with one day to spare. He books with confidence instead of hoping HR approves a negative balance.

PTO vs vacation time vs sick leave

These terms overlap, and every company defines them slightly differently.

  • PTO is the all in one bank. Vacation, personal days, and sometimes sick days come out of it.
  • Vacation time is often a separate bank for planned trips. If yours is separate, our vacation time calculator tracks it.
  • Sick leave is for illness and medical needs. Some states require it as a separate bank by law.

If your employer keeps every leave type in separate banks, our leave calculator tracks them all side by side.

Common PTO mistakes

  • Counting in days when your balance is in hours. An 8 hour day is the standard conversion, but 10 hour shifts change the math.
  • Forgetting already approved future time off. Subtract trips you have booked but not taken yet.
  • Ignoring the rollover cap. Many plans cap how much PTO carries into January. Anything above it vanishes.
  • Saving everything for December. Everyone wants the holidays off. Spread your days across the year.
  • Confusing PTO payout with PTO balance. Your balance is time off; payout is its cash value if you leave. Our PTO payout calculator covers the cash side.

What to do with your result

If your year end projection is high, start planning trips now so days do not expire. If it is low, protect what is left for the holidays.

Want to stretch what you have? Our maximize PTO calculator shows how to turn 14 days into 40+ using weekends and holidays. Planning around public holidays? Our holiday leave calculator maps the best bridges.

Related calculators

Frequently asked questions

  1. How do I calculate my remaining PTO?
    Subtract used hours from your yearly allowance, then add any accrued hours. The calculator above does it instantly.
  2. How many PTO days is 120 hours?
    15 days, based on an 8 hour workday. Convert any amount with our PTO hours to days calculator.
  3. What is the average PTO in the US?
    Around 10 to 20 days per year for full time employees, often increasing with years of service.
  4. Does PTO include sick days?
    Sometimes. In a true PTO bank, sick days come out of the same balance. Some states require separate sick leave by law.
  5. What happens to unused PTO at year end?
    It depends on your policy. Some employers let it roll over up to a cap, some pay it out, and some have use it or lose it rules.
  6. Can my employer deny my PTO request?
    Usually yes, if the timing hurts operations. Requesting early and avoiding blackout periods helps.
  7. Is PTO paid out when I quit?
    In many states, yes: accrued unused PTO must be paid on your final paycheck. Rules vary by state and policy. Our PTO payout calculator estimates the cash value.
  8. How much notice should I give for PTO?
    Two weeks is the common courtesy for planned time off. For long trips, a month or more is better.