# PTO calculator

https://salesbond.app/tools/pto-calculator/
Updated: 2026-11-06

# PTO Calculator: Accrual per Pay Period

PTO accrual per pay period is the yearly allowance in hours divided by pay periods in a year. 120 hours (15 days) paid every two weeks is 120 ÷ 26 = 4.62 hours a period. Accruing per hour worked, such as 1 hour for every 30, 80 hours worked earns 2.67 hours.

Choose how PTO is earned and how often you are paid. Add the current balance, PTO you plan to use and the number of pay periods ahead to see the future balance, with an optional cap. Enter the hourly pay to see what the balance is worth.

## PTO accrual rates by pay frequency

| PTO a year | Weekly | Every 2 weeks | Twice a month | Monthly |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 80 h (10 days) | 1.54 | 3.08 | 3.33 | 6.67 |
| 120 h (15 days) | 2.31 | 4.62 | 5.00 | 10.00 |
| 160 h (20 days) | 3.08 | 6.15 | 6.67 | 13.33 |
| 200 h (25 days) | 3.85 | 7.69 | 8.33 | 16.67 |

Hours of PTO earned each pay period, with 8-hour days.

## Example

An employee gets 120 hours of PTO a year and is paid every two weeks, so they earn 120 ÷ 26 = 4.62 hours each payday. They have 40 hours today and plan a 16-hour long weekend. Over the next 10 pay periods they earn 46.15 hours, so their balance will be 40 − 16 + 46.15 = 70.15 hours, or 8.77 days. At $30 an hour, that balance is worth $2,104.50.

## Setting up a PTO policy

Write down how PTO is earned, when new employees can start using it, whether unused hours carry over to next year, the cap, and what happens to the balance when someone leaves. Check state and city rules on paid sick leave and final pay, and count PTO in the full cost of a hire with the [employee cost calculator](https://salesbond.app/tools/employee-cost-calculator/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do you calculate PTO accrual per pay period?

Divide the yearly PTO allowance in hours by the number of pay periods in a year. 120 hours a year (15 days of 8 hours) paid every two weeks is 120 ÷ 26 = 4.62 hours a pay period; paid twice a month it is 120 ÷ 24 = 5 hours.

### How is PTO accrued per hour worked?

Divide the hours earned by the hours worked that earn them, then multiply by hours worked. California paid sick leave accrues 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, so 80 hours every two weeks earns 2.67 hours, or about 69 hours a year.

### How many hours is 15 days of PTO?

With 8-hour days, 15 days is 120 hours. If your workday is 7.5 hours, it is 112.5 hours. The calculator lets you enter the allowance in days and the length of a workday, and shows every result in both hours and days.

### What is a PTO cap?

A cap, or accrual limit, is the most PTO an employee can hold. Once the balance reaches it, no more PTO accrues until some is used. For example, with a cap of 15 days and 5 hours earned each pay period, a balance of 100 hours is full after four pay periods.

### Is PTO required by law?

Not in every country or state. In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require paid vacation or sick leave; they are a matter of agreement between employer and employee. Some states and cities do require paid sick leave, such as California’s 40 hours or five days a year.

### How do I calculate a PTO payout?

Multiply the unused PTO hours by the employee’s hourly pay. 70.15 hours at $30 an hour is $2,104.50. Whether unused PTO must be paid out when someone leaves depends on your state law and your written policy.

Related tools: [payroll calculator](https://salesbond.app/tools/payroll-calculator/), [employee cost calculator](https://salesbond.app/tools/employee-cost-calculator/), [time zone meeting planner](https://salesbond.app/tools/time-zone-meeting-planner/). More on sales and running a sales team on the [SalesBond blog](https://salesbond.app/blog/) and the [home page](https://salesbond.app/).

## Official sources

- [U.S. Department of Labor: vacation leave](https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/vacation_leave) — the FLSA does not require paid vacation or sick leave.
- [California Department of Industrial Relations: paid sick leave](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/paid_sick_leave.htm) — 1 hour for every 30 hours worked; 40 hours or five days a year.

**Updated on Nov 6, 2026.** This calculator is for information only and is not tax, legal or payroll advice. Results follow your PTO policy as you enter it; check carryover, caps and payout rules against your written policy and local law.