PTO Calculator: Convert Hours to Days & Track Accrual

Last updated: January 2026

Use this free PTO calculator to convert hours to days and estimate your paid time off accrual. Common conversions: 96 hours = 12 days, 104 hours = 13 days, 120 hours = 15 days, 160 hours = 20 days. Enter your accrual rate and pay frequency to see how much PTO you'll earn per month and per year.

Convert PTO Hours to Days

Enter any number of PTO hours to instantly see how many days and weeks that equals.

PTO Hours to Days Conversion Chart

How many days is your PTO? Find your hours below for an instant answer. All conversions based on a standard 8-hour workday.

PTO HoursDays OffWork WeeksTypical Tenure
Part-Time / Short-Term
16 hours2 days0.4 weeksPart-Time / Short-Term
24 hours3 days0.6 weeksPart-Time / Short-Term
40 hours5 days1 weeksPart-Time / Short-Term
Entry Level (0–1 years)
56 hours7 days1.4 weeksEntry Level (0–1 years)
60 hours7.5 days1.5 weeksEntry Level (0–1 years)
72 hours9 days1.8 weeksEntry Level (0–1 years)
Standard (1–3 years)
80 hours10 days2 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
88 hours11 days2.2 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
92 hours11.5 days2.3 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
96 hours12 days2.4 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
100 hours12.5 days2.5 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
104 hours13 days2.6 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
112 hours14 days2.8 weeksStandard (1–3 years)
Mid-Career (3–5 years)
120 hours15 days3 weeksMid-Career (3–5 years)
128 hours16 days3.2 weeksMid-Career (3–5 years)
136 hours17 days3.4 weeksMid-Career (3–5 years)
144 hours18 days3.6 weeksMid-Career (3–5 years)
Senior (5–10 years)
160 hours20 days4 weeksSenior (5–10 years)
176 hours22 days4.4 weeksSenior (5–10 years)
200 hours25 days5 weeksSenior (5–10 years)
Executive / 10+ years
208 hours26 days5.2 weeksExecutive / 10+ years
224 hours28 days5.6 weeksExecutive / 10+ years
240 hours30 days6 weeksExecutive / 10+ years
280 hours35 days7 weeksExecutive / 10+ years
300 hours37.5 days7.5 weeksExecutive / 10+ years

Formula: PTO Hours ÷ Hours per Workday = Days Off. For a standard 8-hour day: 104 hours ÷ 8 = 13 days. For a 10-hour day (4-day work week): 104 hours ÷ 10 = 10.4 days. Use the converter above for custom workday lengths.

How to Calculate Your PTO Accrual Rate

Not sure how much PTO you're earning? Here's how to calculate it yourself, step by step, depending on the information your employer gives you.

Example 1You know your hours per pay period

Your offer letter says you earn 4 hours of PTO per bi-weekly pay period.

Step 1: Find your pay periods per year. Bi-weekly = 26 pay periods

Step 2: Multiply: 4 hours × 26 periods = 104 hours per year

Step 3: Convert to days: 104 hours ÷ 8 hours/day = 13 days off per year

Step 4: Convert to weeks: 13 days ÷ 5 days/week = 2.6 weeks off per year

Pay period reference: Weekly = 52, Bi-weekly = 26, Semi-monthly = 24, Monthly = 12

Example 2You know your total days per year

Your handbook says you get 15 PTO days per year and you want to know the per-period accrual.

Step 1: Convert to hours: 15 days × 8 hours/day = 120 hours per year

Step 2: Divide by pay periods: 120 hours ÷ 26 (bi-weekly) = 4.62 hours per pay period

Step 3: Monthly accrual: 120 hours ÷ 12 months = 10 hours per month (1.25 days)

Example 3You started mid-year and need prorated PTO

You started a new job in April with 15 days/year PTO that accrues monthly. How much will you earn by December?

Step 1: Monthly accrual: 15 days ÷ 12 months = 1.25 days per month

Step 2: Remaining months: April through December = 9 months

Step 3: Prorated PTO: 1.25 × 9 = 11.25 days (90 hours)

Example 4Calculating when you'll have enough PTO for a trip

You have 24 hours banked, earn 4 hours bi-weekly, and need 80 hours (2 weeks) for a vacation.

Step 1: Hours needed: 80 − 24 = 56 more hours

Step 2: Pay periods needed: 56 ÷ 4 = 14 pay periods

Step 3: Time: 14 bi-weekly periods = 28 weeks (about 7 months)

Use the accrual calculator below with a current balance to see projections at 3, 6, and 12 months automatically.

PTO Accrual Formulas at a Glance

Annual hours: Hours per period × Pay periods per year
Hours to days: Total hours ÷ Hours per workday
Monthly accrual: Annual hours ÷ 12
Prorated PTO: Monthly accrual × Months remaining

PTO Accrual Calculator

Your Information

Your PTO Accrual

Annual PTO

13.0 days

(104.0 hours per year)

Per Month

8.7 hrs

(1.08 days)

Per Pay Period

4.00 hrs

(bi-weekly)

This calculator provides estimates. Check your employer's policy for exact accrual rates and rules.

Common PTO Accrual Rates

TenureDays/YearHours/YearHrs/Bi-weekly
0-1 years10 days80 hours3.08 hrs
1-3 years12 days96 hours3.69 hrs
3-5 years15 days120 hours4.62 hrs
5-10 years18 days144 hours5.54 hrs
10+ years20-25 days160-200 hours6.15-7.69 hrs

* Based on 8-hour workdays. Actual rates vary by employer.

How PTO Accrual Works

Accrual-Based PTO

Most employers use accrual-based PTO where you earn time off gradually each pay period. The longer you work, the more PTO you accumulate.

Lump-Sum PTO

Some employers give you all your PTO at once at the start of the year. This is simpler but may require proration if you leave mid-year.

Rollover Policies

Employers may let you carry unused PTO to the next year (often with caps), or have a "use it or lose it" policy where unused time expires.

PTO Caps

Many employers cap how much PTO you can bank (e.g., 240 hours). Once you hit the cap, you stop accruing until you use some time.

Minnesota PTO Laws

  • Minnesota does not require employers to provide PTO, vacation, or sick leave (except under ESST for some employers)
  • If an employer offers PTO, they must follow their stated policy
  • Minnesota does not require payout of unused PTO upon termination unless the employer's policy says so
  • Minnesota PFML is separate from PTO - it provides paid leave for family and medical reasons

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days is 104 hours of PTO?

104 hours of PTO equals 13 days off, based on a standard 8-hour workday (104 ÷ 8 = 13). This is a common PTO amount for employees with 2-3 years of tenure.

How many days is 96 hours of PTO?

96 hours of PTO equals 12 days off, based on a standard 8-hour workday (96 ÷ 8 = 12). This typically represents about 2.4 weeks of vacation time.

How many days is 160 hours of PTO?

160 hours of PTO equals 20 days off (4 full work weeks), based on a standard 8-hour workday. This is a common PTO amount for senior employees with 5+ years of tenure.

How many days is 120 hours of PTO?

120 hours of PTO equals 15 days off (3 work weeks), based on a standard 8-hour workday. This is typical for mid-career employees with 3-5 years of tenure.

How do I calculate my PTO accrual?

To calculate PTO accrual, multiply your accrual rate by the number of pay periods. For example, if you earn 4 hours of PTO per bi-weekly pay period, you'd earn 4 × 26 = 104 hours (13 days) per year.

What is a typical PTO accrual rate?

Typical PTO accrual rates vary by tenure. New employees often start with 10-15 days per year (3.08-4.62 hours per bi-weekly pay period). After 5+ years, many employees earn 15-20 days per year.

How many hours is a day of PTO?

For full-time employees, one day of PTO typically equals 8 hours. So 10 days of PTO = 80 hours, 15 days = 120 hours, and 20 days = 160 hours per year.

Does PTO accrue while on leave?

It depends on your employer's policy and the type of leave. Many employers continue PTO accrual during paid leave but pause it during unpaid leave. Check your employee handbook or HR department.

What happens to unused PTO?

This varies by employer and state law. Some employers have 'use it or lose it' policies, others allow rollover (often with a cap), and some pay out unused PTO. Minnesota does not require PTO payout, but employers must follow their stated policy.

Is PTO the same as vacation time?

PTO (Paid Time Off) is often a combined bank that includes vacation, sick days, and personal days. Some employers separate these into distinct categories. This calculator works for any type of accrued time off.

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