Unused vacation (PTO) value calculator

What this calculator does

Many employers give paid vacation or paid time off (PTO), and many limit how many unused days move into the next year. This calculator puts a dollar value on your unused days before December 31: the value of one day off, how many days carry over under your employer's limit, and the value of the days you could lose.

What the law says

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations; these benefits are a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (U.S. Department of Labor). Whether unused days carry over, are paid out when you leave a job or can be lost depends on your employer's written policy and on your state's law. Your HR team or employee handbook can tell you your balance and the rules, and your state labor office can answer questions about state rules.

How the numbers work

• One day = yearly salary ÷ paid workdays a year, or hourly pay × hours in a workday.
• Days left = unused days − days you will still take before the year ends.
• Carried over = the smaller of days left and your employer's carryover limit.
• Days you could lose = days left − carried over; their value = those days × one day.

An example

With a $60,000 salary and 260 paid workdays, one day is worth about $230.77. You have 8 unused days and plan to take 3 more. Of the 5 left, your employer lets you carry over 2, so 3 days, about $692.31 of pay, could be lost. All 8 unused days together are worth about $1,846.15.

Tips

• Ask for time off early: December is busy, and many coworkers want the same days.
• Check whether your employer pays out unused days at the end of the year or only when you leave.
• Plan a short trip with the travel budget calculator, or see your take-home pay with the paycheck calculator.

Frequently asked questions