Yes, you can move money from PayPal to your bank account in most cases
PayPal lets you transfer money to a linked bank account, and the process is straightforward once your account is set up. You initiate the transfer through PayPal's website or app, choose the bank account you want the money to go to, and PayPal sends it. The money arrives in your bank account after a delay that depends on which transfer method you choose — usually one to three business days, though faster options exist if you pay a fee.
The catch is that your bank account must be linked to PayPal first, and PayPal needs to verify it. This verification step takes a few days and involves PayPal depositing two small amounts into your account; you then confirm the exact amounts in PayPal to prove you own the account. Until that's done, you cannot move money out.
Not all PayPal account types work the same way. A personal account can transfer to a bank account. A business account can do the same. But if your money is in PayPal Credit (a line of credit PayPal offers), you cannot transfer that to a bank — you can only use it to make purchases.
Key Takeaways
- You must link and verify a bank account in PayPal before you can transfer money to it, which takes a few days the first time.
- Standard transfers take one to three business days and cost nothing; faster transfers (same-day or next-day) charge a fee of around 1.5% of the amount.
- The money you transfer must be in your PayPal balance — money held in PayPal Credit or pending holds cannot be moved.
- PayPal verifies your bank account by depositing two small amounts and asking you to confirm the exact numbers, which proves you own the account.
How to link your bank account to PayPal
Go to your PayPal account settings and find the "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards" section (the exact name varies depending on whether you are on the website or app). Select "Link a Bank Account" and enter your routing number and account number. You can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website and look for account details.
After you enter the numbers, PayPal will tell you that verification is pending. Within one to two business days, PayPal deposits two amounts — usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each — into your bank account. Check your bank statement for these deposits, then return to PayPal and enter the exact amounts. Once PayPal confirms the numbers match, your account is verified and ready to use.
If you enter the wrong routing or account number, the verification deposits will go to the wrong account and you will not see them. You can delete the unverified account from PayPal and start over with the correct numbers.
The timing and cost of different transfer methods
PayPal offers three ways to move money to your bank, and each has different timing and cost. Standard transfer takes one to three business days and is free. Next-day transfer arrives the next business day and costs around 1.5% of the amount you are sending (PayPal's exact percentage varies). when ready transfer arrives within minutes and also costs around 1.5%.
The timing starts when you initiate the transfer. If you request a transfer on a Friday evening, a standard transfer will not arrive until the following Tuesday or Wednesday, because weekends do not count as business days. Banks process transfers during business hours, so a transfer requested at 11 p.m. on a Thursday may not leave PayPal until Friday morning.
when ready transfer is the fastest option but only works if you have a debit card linked to your PayPal account and your bank supports it. Not all banks do. If your bank does not support when ready transfer, PayPal will show you that option is unavailable when you try to use it.
What money can and cannot be transferred
Only money in your PayPal balance can be transferred to a bank account. This is money you have received from sales, refunds, or transfers from other people. If you have money in PayPal Credit (a line of credit), you cannot move it to your bank — you can only use it to pay for things on PayPal or at stores that accept PayPal.
Money that is on hold cannot be transferred either. PayPal places holds on money from sales, especially if you are a new seller or if the sale looks unusual. The hold lasts until the buyer confirms they received the item or until a set number of days pass (usually 21 days). You can see which money is on hold by looking at your balance breakdown in PayPal — it will show "available" and "pending" separately.
If you have a dispute or chargeback filed against you, PayPal may freeze your account and prevent all transfers until the dispute is resolved. This is PayPal's protection against fraud, and it means you cannot move money out while the case is open.
What happens if the transfer fails or takes longer than expected
A transfer can fail if the bank account information is wrong, if your bank rejects the deposit for some reason, or if PayPal flags the transfer as suspicious. When this happens, PayPal will send you a notification and the money returns to your PayPal balance within a few business days. You can then try again with the correct information or contact PayPal support to ask why the transfer was rejected.
If a transfer is taking longer than the stated timeframe, check your email for messages from PayPal — they may be asking you to confirm something or warning you of a problem. You can also log into PayPal and look at your transaction history to see the status. If the transfer shows as "completed" in PayPal but has not arrived in your bank account after the expected time, contact your bank to ask if they have received it; sometimes a transfer arrives at the bank but takes an extra day to show up in your account.
PayPal's customer service can investigate a transfer that has been pending for more than the stated number of days. Have your transaction ID ready when you contact them — you can find it in your PayPal transaction history.
Transferring money from PayPal to a different bank account
You can link more than one bank account to PayPal and choose which one receives a transfer each time you move money. To add another account, go to your wallet settings and select "Link a Bank Account" again, then follow the same verification process. Once it is verified, you will see both accounts as options when you initiate a transfer.
If you want to change which account is your default (the one PayPal suggests first), you can set that in your wallet settings. But you do not have to use the default — every time you transfer, PayPal asks you to confirm which account the money should go to.
If you no longer want a bank account linked to PayPal, you can remove it from your wallet settings. This does not affect any transfers that have already been sent to that account; it only stops PayPal from offering it as an option for future transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transfer money from PayPal to my bank account?
Standard transfer takes one to three business days and is free. Next-day transfer arrives the next business day for a fee of around 1.5%. when ready transfer arrives within minutes for the same fee. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days, so a Friday transfer may not arrive until Tuesday.
Why is my PayPal balance showing money I cannot transfer?
Money on hold from recent sales cannot be transferred until the hold expires, usually after 21 days. Money in PayPal Credit also cannot be transferred to a bank account. Check your balance breakdown in PayPal to see which money is available and which is pending.
What do I do if my bank account verification is not working?
Make sure you entered the correct routing number and account number — both are on a check or in your bank's website. If you entered them wrong, delete the account from PayPal and add it again with the correct numbers. The verification deposits usually arrive within one to two business days.
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No. You can only transfer money from your PayPal account to a bank account that is linked to your PayPal account. To send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature, which transfers directly to their PayPal account or, in some cases, to their bank account if they have set that up in their PayPal profile.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer from PayPal to my bank?
PayPal does not publish a single transfer limit that applies to all accounts. Limits depend on your account history, how long you have had the account, and whether you are a buyer or seller. If you try to transfer more than your limit allows, PayPal will tell you the maximum amount you can send.