PTO Accrual Calculator

Work out how much paid time off you have earned and your current balance — in hours and days — from your accrual rate, periods worked, and PTO used.

WH By WageHour Tools Editorial Team Verified against official sources June 14, 2026 How we research
PTO earned
Current balance

How PTO accrual is calculated

Accrual-based PTO grows a little each pay period. Your current balance is simply: starting balance + (accrual rate × periods worked) − PTO used. Converting to days just divides the hours by the length of your workday.

To find a per-period rate from an annual policy, divide the yearly hours by the number of pay periods. For example, 80 hours a year on a bi-weekly schedule is 80 ÷ 26 ≈ 3.08 hours per period.

Frequently asked questions

How does PTO accrual work?

With accrual, you earn a set amount of paid time off each pay period (or per hour worked) instead of getting it all at once. For example, earning 4 hours of PTO each bi-weekly pay period adds up to about 104 hours (13 days) over a full year.

How do I calculate my PTO balance?

Take your starting balance, add what you have accrued (accrual rate × pay periods worked), and subtract the PTO you have used. This calculator does that and also converts the result into days.

How do I convert PTO hours into days?

Divide the hours by the length of your workday. At 8 hours per day, 32 PTO hours equals 4 days. Change the “hours per day” field if your standard day is different.

What is a common PTO accrual rate?

It depends on the employer. A common setup is 80 hours (10 days) per year, which is about 3.08 hours per bi-weekly period (80 ÷ 26). Two or three weeks of annual PTO are also typical. Enter your own rate to match your policy.

Does this account for accrual caps or carryover limits?

No. Many employers cap how much PTO you can bank or limit year-end carryover. This tool shows the raw running balance — set your starting balance to reflect any carryover, and check your policy for caps.

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