PTO accrual calculator
Type how many hours of paid time off you earn each pay period. The tool shows your balance after every pay period for the year.
Not legal, tax or payroll advice. General information only; results are estimates. Read the full notice.
Example: earning 3.08 hours a pay period on a pay schedule of 26 paychecks a year builds up 80.08 h in a year. The estimated balance after the last pay period is 80.08 h.
Estimate based on what you entered. Not legal or payroll advice; check it against your employer's records.
How to use it
- Choose how often you are paid.
- Type the hours earned each pay period from your employer's policy.
- Add the hours you have now, any hours you plan to use each period, and a cap if your policy has one.
- Read the table: earned, used and balance after each pay period.
What the Department of Labor says about paid vacation
- The U.S. Department of Labor says the FLSA does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations and sick leave.
Questions
Where do I find my accrual rate?
In your employer's time off policy or on your pay stub. The tool does not know your policy, so it uses the number you type.
What does the cap box do?
If you type a cap, earning stops when the balance reaches it. Leave it blank for no limit.
Why might my employer's balance differ?
Employers can round hours, start accrual on different dates or post it at different times. The table is an estimate from the numbers you enter.
Official sources
-
Vacation Leave (U.S. Department of Labor) (opens in new tab), U.S. Department of Labor.
“The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
These are summaries of what the official sources say, not legal advice. Laws change and exceptions apply. Check with your employer or your state labor department about your own job.