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PTO Accrual Calculator

Calculate PTO Accrual & Balance

Track your paid time off accrual rate and available balance based on your company policy.

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This is an estimate. Actual PTO may vary based on your employer's specific accrual policy, caps, and rollover rules.

What is PTO Accrual?

PTO accrual is the process by which employees earn paid time off over time, rather than receiving their full annual allotment upfront. Common accrual methods include:

  • Per pay period: PTO earned each paycheck (most common)
  • Monthly: PTO earned at the start or end of each month
  • Quarterly: PTO earned every 3 months
  • Annual lump sum: Full PTO granted at the start of the year

Average PTO in the US

The US has no federal law mandating paid time off. However, most employers offer PTO as a benefit:

  • 1 year tenure: ~10 days average
  • 5 years tenure: ~15 days average
  • 10+ years tenure: ~20 days average
  • Unlimited PTO policies are growing in tech companies
Accrual Rate = Annual PTO Days / Number of Periods Per Year
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PTO accrual and policies

How does PTO accrual work? −

PTO accrual means you earn a small amount of paid time off with each pay period rather than getting all your days at once. For example, if you have 15 PTO days per year and are paid biweekly (26 periods), you accrue about 0.577 days per pay period. Your available PTO balance grows with each paycheck until you use or reach a cap.

What is a use-it-or-lose-it PTO policy? +

Do I get paid for unused PTO when I leave a job? +

What is the average PTO in the US? +

Have more questions? Check our knowledge base or contact us.

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