TickCalc

PTO Calculator

Calculate how much paid time off you earn each pay period and what your PTO balance is. Enter your yearly PTO days, pay schedule, hours already used and any carryover.

Formula

PTO per year (hours) = PTO days × hours in a workday. PTO per pay period = yearly hours ÷ pay periods per year. Balance = carryover + (PTO per period × periods worked) − PTO used.

Example: 15 days at 8 hours a day is 120 hours a year. Paid every two weeks (26 periods) you earn 4.62 hours per paycheck. After 13 periods you have earned 60 hours. With 8 hours carried over and 16 hours used, the balance is 52 hours, or 6.5 days.

Frequently asked questions

How is PTO accrual calculated?

Take your yearly PTO in hours and divide it by the number of pay periods in a year. You earn that many hours each pay period, and the balance grows until you use the time off.

Does federal law require paid vacation or PTO?

No. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the FLSA does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or holidays. PTO is a matter of agreement between you and your employer, though some states and cities have their own paid leave laws.

What happens to unused PTO?

It depends on your employer's policy and, in some cases, state law. Policies may let you carry hours over, cap the balance, or pay out the balance when you leave. Check your handbook.

My employer gives PTO in hours, not days. How do I use this?

Divide the yearly hours by your hours in a workday to get days. For example, 120 hours a year at 8 hours a day is 15 days.

Why does my paycheck show slightly different PTO?

Employers round accruals differently, may start accrual after a waiting period, or accrue by hours worked instead of by pay period. This calculator spreads the yearly amount evenly across pay periods.

More calculators

An estimate. Your employer's PTO policy and your state's laws decide the actual accrual, caps and payout.