Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Hours accrued per pay period
6.15
Projected balance (hours)
79.5
Projected balance in days
9.9
Annual PTO hours
160
PTO hours earned per hour worked
0.0769
Pay periods until you hit the cap
32.2
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How to use this
- 1Enter annual pto (days).
- 2Enter hours per day.
- 3Enter pay frequency.
- 4Enter current balance (hours).
- 5Enter pay periods from now.
- 6Enter hours you plan to use.
- 7Enter accrual cap (hours).
- 8Read your hours accrued per pay period on the right — it updates as you type.
- 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Accrual policies convert an annual PTO allowance into hours earned each pay period. Caps and rollover limits are where employees most often lose time they earned.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Annual PTO: 20 days
- Hours per day: 8
- Pay frequency: Biweekly (26)
- Current balance: 42 hours
- Pay periods from now: 10
- Hours you plan to use: 24
- Accrual cap: 240 hours
Results
- Hours accrued per pay period: 6.15
- Projected balance (hours): 79.5
- Projected balance in days: 9.9
- Annual PTO hours: 160
- PTO hours earned per hour worked: 0.0769
- Pay periods until you hit the cap: 32.2
What each field means
Inputs
- Annual PTO (days)
- The annual pto used in the calculation, measured in days. Starts at 20 days so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–60 days.
- Hours per day
- The hours per day used in the calculation. Starts at 8 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–12.
- Pay frequency
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Weekly (52), Biweekly (26), Semi-monthly (24), Monthly (12).
- Current balance (hours)
- The current balance used in the calculation, measured in hours. Starts at 42 hours so you have a working example on load.
- Pay periods from now
- The pay periods from now used in the calculation. Starts at 10 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–60.
- Hours you plan to use
- The hours you plan to use used in the calculation. Starts at 24 so you have a working example on load.
- Accrual cap (hours)
- The accrual cap used in the calculation, measured in hours. Starts at 240 hours so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Hours accrued per pay period
- Returned as a decimal number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Projected balance (hours)
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Projected balance in days
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Annual PTO hours
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- PTO hours earned per hour worked
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Pay periods until you hit the cap
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How does the pto accrual calculator work?
Accrual policies convert an annual PTO allowance into hours earned each pay period. Caps and rollover limits are where employees most often lose time they earned. The underlying maths is: Accrual per period = Annual hours ÷ pay periods per year.
What do I need to enter?
7 values: annual pto, hours per day, pay frequency, current balance, pay periods from now, hours you plan to use, and accrual cap. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move.
What does the hours accrued per pay period result mean?
It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds.
Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser.
How accurate is the result?
It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
Who is this tool for?
It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). PTO Accrual Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pto-accrual
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pto-accrual" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PTO Accrual Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [PTO Accrual Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pto-accrual) (2026).