PTO / Vacation Days Calculator

Paid time off is easiest to manage when you can see accrual, usage, and remaining balance in one place across the year. Getting that picture right supports both work-life balance and financial planning, and it matters more in 2026, when the federal holiday schedule shapes which long weekends are within reach. The tool also looks ahead, projecting your year-end balance and flagging any time that might be at risk of being lost.

The calculation starts from your annual accrual rate, expressed as hours per pay period or days per year, along with your pay frequency and whatever balance you already hold. PTO you have taken is subtracted to give your current balance. To project forward, the tool extends your accrual rate across the pay periods left in 2026 and applies your employer's carry-over policy to estimate both your year-end total and any amount that would roll over.

Accrual rates and carry-over rules differ widely from one employer to the next, so verifying yours against company policy is worth the few minutes it takes. Unpaid leave and other special circumstances can change how time accumulates and are simple to overlook. Use-it-or-lose-it provisions deserve particular attention, since they are how earned time most often slips away.