Quick answer: PTO per hour worked = yearly PTO hours / hours worked per year. 15 days (120 hours) over 2,080 hours is 0.0577 hours per hour worked, or 4.62 hours each biweekly paycheck.
How PTO accrual works
15 days of PTO at 8 hours a day is 120 hours a year. Spread over 2,080 working hours, that is 0.0577 hours of PTO for each hour worked, or 4.62 hours every biweekly paycheck (120 / 26). Many employers cap the balance; once you reach the cap you stop earning until you use some.
Sick leave and vacation days
The same arithmetic works for sick leave accrual: some state and city sick leave laws use a set number of hours earned per hours worked, such as 1 hour for every 30 worked, which is 0.0333 per hour (enter it as hours worked per year / 30 = yearly hours). To count vacation days instead of hours, divide the hours by your workday length: 120 hours at 8 hours a day is 15 days.
Taking the time? Print a time off request form. Planning longer leave? See the FMLA calculator.
Prorated PTO for a partial year
Starting or leaving partway through the year? Many employers prorate: yearly PTO x months worked / 12. 15 days a year for someone starting on July 1 is 15 x 6 / 12 = 7.5 days for that year. To convert hours to days, divide by your workday: 60 hours at 8 hours a day is 7.5 days.
Formula and examples checked . Found a problem? Tell us.
Questions
How many hours of PTO is 2 weeks?
80 hours at 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Is PTO paid out when I leave?
Federal law does not require it. Some states, such as California, treat earned vacation as wages that must be paid at separation. Check your state and employer policy.
What is use-it-or-lose-it PTO?
A policy where unused time expires at year end. Some states, including California, do not allow earned vacation to be forfeited; others allow it with notice. Check your state.