Holiday Accrual Calculator (US PTO)
Find out how much paid time off you earn per pay period, per year, in days — and what those hours are actually worth in dollars.
PTO accrual calculator
Annual PTO accrual
104.0 hours/year
13.0 days (2.60 weeks)
Quick answer: if you accrue 4 hours per bi-weekly pay period, that is 104 hours (13 days / 2.6 weeks) a year. The common US formula is hours per pay period × pay periods per year; hourly-workers' PTO is often 1 hour per 30 hours worked (3.33%).
Three ways US employers give PTO
- Per pay period (accrual): a fixed number of hours each payday, e.g. 4 hours × 26 = 104 hours a year.
- Annual allowance (lump sum): a block of hours or days given up front, sometimes "use it or lose it".
- Percentage of hours worked: 1 hour per 30 hours worked = 3.33%, which is roughly 69 hours a year at 40 h/week.
Common accrual chart
| Accrual per pay period | Bi-weekly (26) | Days | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | 52 h | 6.5 | 1.3 |
| 3.08 hours (1 per 26 worked) | 80 h | 10 | 2.0 |
| 4 hours | 104 h | 13 | 2.6 |
| 5 hours | 130 h | 16.25 | 3.25 |
| 6.15 hours (1 per 13 worked) | 160 h | 20 | 4.0 |
Accrual vs unlimited PTO
Accrued PTO is a liability: in many states (California, Colorado, Illinois) earned hours must be paid out on termination and cannot be forfeited. Unlimited PTO plans usually mean no payout at all when you leave — worth knowing before you switch.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate PTO accrual?
Hours accrued per pay period × number of pay periods in the year. Bi-weekly = 26 periods; semi-monthly = 24; monthly = 12.
How many days is 120 hours of PTO?
15 eight-hour days, or 3 working weeks.
What is a normal PTO accrual rate in the US?
Private-sector averages are around 10–15 days for new employees, rising to 15–20 after five years. Many employers use 1 hour per 30 hours worked as a starting rate.
Can my employer take back used PTO if I leave?
Only where the contract expressly allows a deduction and state law permits it — California and several other states forbid it.