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Bi-Weekly PTO Accrual Calculator

Based on the default pattern below, a typical entitlement is 4.62 hours. Adjust the inputs for your exact figure.

15 days

Your entitlement

4.62 hours

How it's worked out

(15 PTO days × 8 hours/day) ÷ 26 pay periods = 4.62 hours/period

Audit note

Most US employers set an accrual cap or carryover limit — you stop banking PTO once you hit it. Some states restrict use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture of accrued PTO, so check your state's rules and your policy.

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How this calculation works

US PTO usually accrues each pay period rather than landing as a lump sum. Divide the annual PTO (in hours) by the number of pay periods to see how much time off you bank every cycle.

Worked example

(15 PTO days × 8 hours/day) ÷ 26 pay periods = 4.62 hours/period

Frequently asked questions

How much PTO do I accrue bi-weekly?
Divide your annual PTO hours by 26 pay periods. On 15 days (120 hours) at 8 hours a day, that's about 4.62 hours of PTO per paycheck.
Why 26 pay periods and not 24?
Bi-weekly means every two weeks, so 52 weeks ÷ 2 = 26 paychecks a year. Semi-monthly (twice a month) is different — that's 24 pay periods.
Does my employer cap how much PTO I can bank?
Many US employers set an accrual cap or a use-it-or-lose-it / carryover limit. Check your policy — once you hit the cap you stop accruing until you use some time off.