PTO accrual calculator: hours per pay period and your balance
This PTO accrual calculator turns a yearly paid-time-off allowance into the hours you earn each pay period, or for each hour you work. Enter your PTO in days or hours, the length of your work day and how often you are paid, and it shows the accrual rate, the balance you should have after the pay periods completed, the year-end projection and what carries over.
It answers the common questions behind the searches: how many hours is 15 days of PTO, how much PTO do I earn every two weeks, and how much will I have by December. It is a calculator for the numbers you enter, not legal or HR advice, and your employer’s written policy always decides.
How to use the PTO Accrual Calculator
- Enter your yearly PTO and choose days or hours; set the hours in a work day (8 by default).
- Choose how often you are paid, then pick Per pay period or Per hour worked.
- Add the balance you started the year with, the pay periods completed and the PTO hours used.
- Optionally enter your policy’s balance cap and carryover limit, both in hours.
- Read the accrual rate, the current balance and the year-end projection, then press Copy summary.
PTO Accrual Calculator features
Days to hours
Yearly PTO in days is multiplied by your hours per day; every result is shown in hours and in days.
Four pay frequencies
Weekly (52), every two weeks (26), twice a month (24) or monthly (12) pay periods.
Hours-worked accrual
The rate per hour worked for policies that credit PTO in proportion to hours, such as part-time schedules.
Cap and carryover
Enter your own limits; the table stops growing at the cap and the tool shows hours that would not carry over.
Period-by-period table
See the accrued balance after every pay period of the year.
How PTO accrual is calculated
There are two common methods. A fixed accrual credits the same hours each pay period: hours per period = yearly PTO hours ÷ pay periods per year. A per-hour accrual credits time as you work: hours earned per hour worked = yearly PTO hours ÷ (hours per week × 52).
Example: 15 days at 8 hours is 120 hours a year. Paid every two weeks, 120 ÷ 26 = 4.62 hours per pay period. After 10 periods you have accrued 46.15 hours; if you have used 16 hours, your balance is 30.15 hours (3.77 days). On a 40-hour week the per-hour rate is 120 ÷ 2,080 = 0.0577 hours, or about one hour of PTO for every 17.3 hours worked.
| Yearly PTO (8 h days) | Hours a year | Weekly | Every two weeks | Twice a month | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 days | 80 | 1.54 h | 3.08 h | 3.33 h | 6.67 h |
| 15 days | 120 | 2.31 h | 4.62 h | 5 h | 10 h |
| 20 days | 160 | 3.08 h | 6.15 h | 6.67 h | 13.33 h |
| 25 days | 200 | 3.85 h | 7.69 h | 8.33 h | 16.67 h |
Caps, carryover and use-it-or-lose-it
- Balance cap: some employers stop accrual once your balance reaches a maximum, often expressed in hours. Enter it and the tool shows which pay period you would hit it in.
- Carryover limit: the most hours that roll into the next year. Anything above it at year end may lapse or be paid out, depending on your policy.
- Waiting periods and tenure tiers: many policies start accrual after a probation period or increase the rate with years of service. Run the calculator once for each tier with that tier’s yearly PTO.
What the law says, and what it does not
The US Department of Labor notes that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to pay for time not worked, such as vacation, so PTO is generally a matter of agreement between employer and employee (dol.gov, “Vacation Leave”, read October 2026). Some states have their own rules on payout at separation or on forfeiture, and those differ; this tool does not apply them, so check your state labour department or your handbook.
Outside the US the picture differs. For statutory holiday see the UK holiday entitlement calculator, the Canada vacation pay calculator or the leave calculator for India.
PTO Accrual Calculator FAQ
How many hours is 15 days of PTO?
At 8 hours a day, 15 days is 120 hours. If your work day is 10 hours, it is 150 hours. Set the hours in a work day to match your schedule.
How much PTO do I accrue per pay period?
Divide your yearly PTO hours by the number of pay periods. 120 hours paid every two weeks gives 4.62 hours a period; paid twice a month it is 5 hours.
How is PTO accrued based on hours worked?
Divide yearly PTO hours by the hours you work in a year, for example 120 ÷ 2,080 = 0.0577 hours for each hour worked. Part-timers therefore earn proportionally less.
Does my PTO balance stop growing at a cap?
Only if your policy says so. Enter the cap in hours and the tool holds the balance at that figure and shows the pay period you reach it.
Is accrued PTO paid out when I leave?
It depends on your employer policy and, in some places, state law. This calculator does not decide that; check your handbook or state labour department.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is uploaded.