Colorado PTO and vacation calculator - 2026

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

PTO balance calculator

Choose your calculation type below

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

Colorado PTO laws - vacation payout and accrual rights

What Colorado law says about paid time off payout and accrual

Colorado REQUIRES vacation payout at termination

Earned vacation must be paid out at termination under COMPS Order

Colorado PTO law overview

Colorado requires payout of earned but unused vacation at termination under the Colorado Wage Claim Act. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are not permitted for vacation that has already been earned.

Colorado's vacation payout requirement was clarified in 2022. Employers can set reasonable accrual caps but cannot take away vacation that has already been earned and vested under the company's own policy.

Governing law

Colorado PTO and vacation law is governed by Colorado Wage Claim Act CRS 8-4-101 and COMPS Order 38 (C.R.S. § 8-4-101). The official authority for Colorado wage and hour enforcement including PTO disputes is the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.

Official sources for Colorado PTO law:

Data: C.R.S. § 8-4-101. Last verified: 2026. PTO laws change. Consult an employment attorney for advice specific to your Colorado 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.