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California PTO and vacation calculator - 2026

Calculate your California PTO balance, accrual rate, and payout value. California REQUIRES vacation payout at termination. Track your vacation days and calculate what unused PTO is worth.

PTO balance calculator

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Your annual PTO allowance from employer
Days taken this year including pending
Approved future time off
PTO carried over from previous year

California PTO laws - vacation payout and accrual rights

What California law says about paid time off payout and accrual

California REQUIRES vacation payout at termination

All accrued vacation must be paid out at termination

California PTO law overview

California has the strongest PTO laws in the country. Vacation time is treated as earned wages that cannot be taken away. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are illegal. All accrued vacation must be paid out at the full final wage rate when employment ends.

California's treatment of vacation as vested wages is unique nationally. California employers cannot implement use-it-or-lose-it policies. However employers can cap accrual - once the cap is reached no more vacation accrues until some is used.

Governing law

California PTO and vacation law is governed by California Labor Code Section 227.3 (Cal. Lab. Code § 227.3). The official authority for California wage and hour enforcement including PTO disputes is the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Data source: Cal. Lab. Code § 227.3. Last verified: 2026. PTO laws can change. Consult an employment attorney for advice specific to your California situation.

Frequently asked questions - PTO

Do employers have to pay out unused PTO when you leave?
It depends on your state. California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Rhode Island require employers to pay out all accrued unused PTO upon termination. Most other states allow employers to set their own policy - if your employer's policy says PTO is paid out, they must honor it. Always check your employee handbook and state law.
How is PTO accrual calculated?
PTO accrual is typically calculated as hours earned per pay period. For example, if you earn 15 days (120 hours) per year paid bi-weekly, you accrue 120 / 26 = 4.62 hours per pay period. Some employers give a lump sum at the start of the year instead of accruing gradually. Your employee handbook should specify your accrual method.
Can employers have a use-it-or-lose-it PTO policy?
In most states yes - employers can require you to use PTO by year end or forfeit it. However, California, Colorado, and a few other states prohibit use-it-or-lose-it policies because they classify accrued PTO as earned wages. In these states, unused PTO must roll over or be paid out.
What is the difference between PTO and vacation days?
PTO (Paid Time Off) is a combined bank of paid leave that covers vacation, sick days, and personal days. Traditional vacation days are separate from sick leave. Most modern employers use a single PTO bank for simplicity. The key difference is that PTO can be used for any reason, while vacation time is typically pre-scheduled and sick days require an illness.