Career · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-10
Most people guess their PTO balance wrong because they forget to subtract used days and waiting periods.
Estimate earned PTO hours by a target date based on your accrual rate and used time.
Employees planning vacation using accrued paid time off.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Check your pay stub or employee handbook for PTO hours earned per pay period.
Use your most recent pay stub balance.
Subtract hours you already scheduled before your trip.
Count pay periods between now and your target date.
You earn 6.67 hours per pay period, have 12 hours already, use 8 before your trip in 6 pay periods, ending with 44.02 hours.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: Paid vacation is generally a matter of agreement between employer and employee; the DOL describes common arrangements.
Source limit: Your employer's specific accrual rules control. Check your employee handbook and pay stub.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This App computes an estimate from your employer's published accrual rate. It does not verify your balance.
Your employer's specific accrual rules control. Check your employee handbook and pay stub.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Estimate your PTO balance by a target date from your accrual rate and planned use.
This computes from numbers you enter. It does not access your employer's records.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Estimate your PTO balance by a target date from your accrual rate and planned use.
Free · no account · no upload
Open PTO Accrual CalculatorThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: PTO Accrual Calculator. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.