PTO Accrual Calculator
Paid time off usually does not arrive all at once; it accrues a little with each paycheck. This calculator shows how much PTO you earn per pay period by dividing your total annual PTO allowance by the number of pay periods in your year. Enter the annual hours you are granted, such as 80 hours for two weeks, and your number of pay periods, commonly 26 for biweekly pay, 24 for semimonthly, or 12 for monthly, and the tool returns the hours accrued each period. Seeing the per-period figure helps you understand a pay-stub balance, plan when you will have earned enough for a trip, or check that your accrual matches your policy. The number of pay periods is editable so you can match any schedule, and the annual-hours input lets you model different allowances or convert days to hours. This tool measures accrual only; carryover caps, waiting periods and accrual limits are set by your employer's policy and applied separately. PTO practices are governed by employer policy and state law, not a single federal formula. Every figure here is computed deterministically from the formula shown in full below, with a worked example that reconciles exactly to the calculator so you can follow each step.
PTO accrues each pay period: hours per period = annual PTO hours / pay periods. An 80-hour annual allowance over 26 biweekly periods accrues 3.08 hours each pay period.
PTO Accrual formula
Accrual per period = Annual PTO hours / pay periods per year
Annual PTO hours = total time off granted in a year
pay periods per year = number of paychecks (26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly, 12 monthly)
Days = Annual PTO hours / 8
Dividing the annual allowance by the number of pay periods spreads PTO evenly across the year, which is how most accrual-based policies work.
Worked example
Find the PTO accrued per pay period for an 80-hour annual allowance paid biweekly (26 periods).
- Divide annual hours by periods: 80 / 26 = 3.0769
- Accrual per pay period = 3.08 hours (rounded)
- Annual PTO in days: 80 / 8 = 10.00 days
These are the calculator's default inputs, so the result above matches the widget exactly.
PTO Accrual Calculator: frequently asked questions
What is PTO accrual?
PTO accrual is the practice of earning paid time off gradually, usually a fixed number of hours with each pay period, rather than receiving the full annual allowance up front. Your accrued balance grows each paycheck until you use or reach a cap on it.
How many pay periods are in a year?
It depends on the schedule: 52 for weekly, 26 for biweekly, 24 for semimonthly, and 12 for monthly pay. Enter the number that matches your employer so the per-period accrual is accurate.
How do I convert PTO days to hours?
Multiply the number of days by the hours in your standard workday, usually 8. Ten days at 8 hours equals 80 hours, which is the default annual allowance in this calculator.
Are employers required to provide PTO?
There is no federal law requiring private employers to offer paid vacation. PTO is set by employer policy, though some states and localities mandate paid sick leave with their own accrual rules.
What is the PTO accrual formula?
Accrual per period equals annual PTO hours divided by pay periods per year. An 80-hour allowance over 26 periods accrues about 3.08 hours per period.
Official sources
- US federal payroll, withholding and reimbursement guidance: US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.