PTO Payout Calculator
Leaving a job with unused vacation time on the books? This free PTO payout calculator tells you what your unused PTO hours are worth: enter your hourly rate and PTO balance, plus any employer payout cap, and see your estimated payout, the equivalent in workdays, and any hours that get forfeited under a cap.
Enter your numbers
Your results
| Hourly rate | $30.00 |
|---|---|
| Unused PTO hours | 80 hrs |
| Payable hours | 80 hrs |
| Forfeited hours | 0 hrs |
Estimate before taxes and deductions. PTO payout rules vary by state and employer — some states require payout of unused vacation, others don't. Check your company policy.
How to use this calculator
Start by entering your hourly pay rate and your unused PTO balance in hours. If your employer limits how many hours they'll pay out when you leave, enter that limit as the payout cap — otherwise leave it blank for no cap. Results update instantly as you type.
If your employer doesn't pay out unused PTO at all — a "use it or lose it" policy — uncheck "My employer pays out unused PTO". The payout will show $0 and your hours will show as forfeited, which is exactly why it's worth scheduling that vacation time before it expires.
How it works
The math is straightforward. First, the calculator figures your payable hours: if you enter a cap, payable hours = the smaller of your unused hours and the cap; with no cap, all of your unused hours are payable. Then:
Payout = payable hours × hourly rate. For example, 80 unused hours at $30/hour with no cap is worth $30 × 80 = $2,400. Any hours above the cap are counted as forfeited (unused − payable).
Equivalent workdays are payable hours ÷ 8. A few assumptions: the calculator values PTO at your regular hourly rate (some employers pay it differently), treats the cap as applying only to payout at separation, and ignores taxes — a PTO payout is taxed as ordinary wages, so your take-home will be less. This is an estimate, not legal or payroll advice: payout rules vary by state and employer, so confirm how your company handles unused PTO.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 80 hours of PTO worth?
At $30 per hour, 80 hours of unused PTO is worth $2,400 before taxes ($30 × 80), or about 10 workdays. Your actual payout depends on your hourly rate and whether your employer applies a payout cap or forfeits time above a limit.
Do all employers pay out unused PTO?
No. Many employers use a "use it or lose it" policy where unused PTO simply expires. Whether unused vacation time is paid out depends on your employer's policy and the laws of the state you work in — always check your employee handbook.
Which states require PTO payout?
Several states — including California, Colorado, Illinois, and Montana — generally require employers to pay out accrued, unused vacation at separation, treating it as earned wages. Many other states have no such requirement and leave it to employer policy. Laws change, so verify your state's current rules.
Is PTO payout taxed?
Yes. A PTO payout is treated as ordinary wages, so it's subject to federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withholding — just like a regular paycheck. Some employers withhold it at a flat supplemental wage rate.
What does a payout cap mean?
A payout cap is the maximum number of PTO hours your employer will pay out when you leave. For example, with a 40-hour cap and an 80-hour balance, you receive pay for 40 hours and forfeit the other 40. Enter the cap above to see both your payout and the hours you lose.