Find out how fast paid time off builds up. Enter your policy — hours per year, hours per pay period, or hours earned for every so many hours worked — and see the accrual per paycheck, per year and your balance over time, including time taken and a maximum balance.
3.08 hours per biweekly pay period
- PTO per year
- 80 h (10 days)
- Per hour worked
- 0.0385
- Balance after 26 periods
- 80 h
Balance by pay period
| Pay period | Accrued (h) | Taken (h) | Balance (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.08 | 0 | 3.08 |
| 2 | 3.08 | 0 | 6.15 |
| 3 | 3.08 | 0 | 9.23 |
| 4 | 3.08 | 0 | 12.31 |
| 5 | 3.08 | 0 | 15.38 |
| 6 | 3.08 | 0 | 18.46 |
| 7 | 3.08 | 0 | 21.54 |
| 8 | 3.08 | 0 | 24.62 |
| 9 | 3.08 | 0 | 27.69 |
| 10 | 3.08 | 0 | 30.77 |
| 11 | 3.08 | 0 | 33.85 |
| 12 | 3.08 | 0 | 36.92 |
| 13 | 3.08 | 0 | 40 |
| 14 | 3.08 | 0 | 43.08 |
| 15 | 3.08 | 0 | 46.15 |
| 16 | 3.08 | 0 | 49.23 |
| 17 | 3.08 | 0 | 52.31 |
| 18 | 3.08 | 0 | 55.38 |
| 19 | 3.08 | 0 | 58.46 |
| 20 | 3.08 | 0 | 61.54 |
| 21 | 3.08 | 0 | 64.62 |
| 22 | 3.08 | 0 | 67.69 |
| 23 | 3.08 | 0 | 70.77 |
| 24 | 3.08 | 0 | 73.85 |
| 25 | 3.08 | 0 | 76.92 |
| 26 | 3.08 | 0 | 80 |
How it’s calculated
Per hour worked: hours earned ÷ hours worked per accrual × hours worked in the pay period. 1 hour per 30 worked at 40 hours a week, biweekly = 80 ÷ 30 = 2.67 hours per paycheck.
Annual allowance: hours per year ÷ pay periods per year. 80 hours a year, biweekly = 80 ÷ 26 = 3.08 hours per paycheck.
Worked example with your numbers
- PTO per pay period: 80 hours ÷ 26 pay periods = 3.08 hours.
- PTO per year: 3.08 × 26 = 80 hours (10 eight-hour days).
- Balance after 26 pay periods: 0 start + accruals − 0 used per period = 80 hours.
Federal law (the FLSA) does not require paid vacation or sick leave; PTO follows your employer’s policy. Some states and cities require paid sick leave — check your state’s rules.
Common PTO accrual rates
| PTO per year | Weekly | Biweekly | Semi-monthly | Monthly | Per hour worked (2,080 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h (5 days) | 0.77 h | 1.54 h | 1.67 h | 3.33 h | 0.0192 |
| 80 h (10 days) | 1.54 h | 3.08 h | 3.33 h | 6.67 h | 0.0385 |
| 120 h (15 days) | 2.31 h | 4.62 h | 5 h | 10 h | 0.0577 |
| 160 h (20 days) | 3.08 h | 6.15 h | 6.67 h | 13.33 h | 0.0769 |
Frequently asked questions
How is PTO accrual calculated?
Divide the yearly PTO hours by the number of pay periods: 80 hours a year paid biweekly is 80 ÷ 26 = 3.08 hours per paycheck. For per-hour accrual, divide the hours earned by the hours worked (1 ÷ 30 = 0.0333 hours per hour worked).
Is PTO required by law?
Federal law does not require paid vacation or sick leave. Some states and cities require paid sick leave; vacation and PTO otherwise follow your employer’s policy.
What is a PTO cap?
A maximum balance. Once you reach it, you stop earning PTO until you use some. The schedule shows when the cap is reached.