How to send money from PayPal to your checking account
You can move money from PayPal to your checking account in three ways: a standard transfer that takes one to two business days, an when ready transfer that costs a small fee, or a withdrawal to a debit card linked to your account. The standard transfer is free and works if you have time to wait. when ready transfer is faster but charges between 25 cents and $2 depending on the amount. Both require you to have already linked a bank account or debit card to your PayPal account.
The process itself takes less than a minute once your bank details are saved. You log into PayPal, find the "Transfer Money" or "Wallet" section, choose your bank account as the destination, enter the amount, and confirm. PayPal then either sends the money when ready (if you pay the when ready fee) or schedules it for the next business day (if you use the standard option).
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to a linked checking account are free and take one to two business days to arrive.
- when ready transfers cost 25 cents to $2 depending on the amount and arrive within 30 minutes, but only work if you have linked a debit card.
- You must link your bank account or debit card to PayPal before you can transfer money out, which requires your routing number and account number.
- Transfers do not work on weekends or federal holidays, so a transfer initiated on Friday evening will not arrive until Tuesday.
- If your transfer does not arrive within the promised timeframe, PayPal's Resolution Center can help you investigate what happened.
Linking your bank account to PayPal first
Before you can move money out, PayPal needs to know where to send it. You do this by linking your checking account, which means giving PayPal your routing number and account number. Your routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank; your account number identifies your specific account within that bank. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have, or you can call your bank and ask.
To link your account, log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app, go to Settings (usually a gear icon), find "Linked Banks and Cards," and choose "Link a Bank Account." PayPal will ask for your bank's name, your account type (checking or savings), and those two numbers. Some banks let PayPal verify the account when ready; others require PayPal to deposit two small amounts (usually under a dollar each) into your account, which you then confirm in PayPal within a few days. Once verified, your account is ready to use.
Standard transfers: free but slower
A standard transfer is the cheapest option because it costs nothing. PayPal takes the money from your PayPal balance and sends it to your linked checking account. The transfer usually arrives within one to two business days, meaning if you send it on a Monday morning, it will land by Tuesday or Wednesday. If you send it on Friday after business hours, it will not arrive until Tuesday because banks do not process transfers over the weekend.
Standard transfers work best when you are not in a hurry. If you know you will need the money in a few days, this is the route to take. The money goes directly into your checking account, and there are no fees or hidden costs. You can send as much as you want in a single transfer, though PayPal may have limits based on your account history and how long you have been a customer.
when ready transfers: fast but with a fee
If you need the money within the hour, PayPal offers when ready transfers. The money arrives in your checking account within 30 minutes, but you pay a fee. The fee ranges from 25 cents for transfers under $10 to $2 for transfers of $100 or more. PayPal shows you the exact fee before you confirm, so you know what it will cost.
when ready transfers require that you have linked a debit card to your PayPal account, not just a bank account. A debit card is a card issued by your bank that draws money directly from your checking account when you use it. If you have not linked a debit card yet, you can add one in the same Settings section where you linked your bank account. Once it is linked, you can choose when ready transfer as an option when you move money out. when ready transfers work seven days a week, including weekends and holidays, which is why they are faster than standard transfers.
Withdrawing to a debit card instead
A third option is to withdraw your PayPal balance directly to a debit card rather than to a checking account. This works if your debit card is already linked to PayPal. The process is similar: you go to the transfer section, choose your debit card as the destination, enter the amount, and confirm. The money usually arrives within one to two business days, the same as a standard bank transfer, and there is no fee.
This option is useful if you want the money available on a card you already carry rather than waiting for it to settle in your checking account. The downside is that the money goes to your debit card's account, which may have different rules or limits than your main checking account. If you are not sure whether your debit card is linked, check your PayPal settings under "Linked Banks and Cards."
What to do if your transfer does not arrive on time
Most transfers arrive exactly when PayPal says they will, but occasionally something goes wrong. If your money has not shown up after the promised timeframe, log into PayPal and go to the Resolution Center, usually found under "Account" or "Help." Look for your transfer in the transaction history and select it. PayPal will show you the status: whether it is still pending, whether it has been sent to your bank, or whether there was a problem.
If PayPal says the transfer was sent but your bank has not received it, contact your bank directly. Give them the date you sent the transfer and the amount. Your bank can search their records and tell you whether the money arrived and where it went. If it truly is lost, PayPal and your bank can work together to trace it. This process usually takes a few business days. In the meantime, do not send the money again, because that can create a duplicate transfer.
Limits on how much you can transfer
PayPal does not publish a single transfer limit that applies to everyone. Instead, limits depend on your account age, how much money you have moved through PayPal before, and whether PayPal has verified your identity. A brand-new account might be limited to a few hundred dollars per transfer, while an established account with a long history might be able to transfer thousands.
If you try to transfer more than your limit allows, PayPal will tell you the maximum amount you can send. If you need to move more money, you can either split it into multiple transfers or contact PayPal's support team to ask whether your limit can be raised. Limits usually increase over time as you use your account more, so if you are new to PayPal, you may straightforward need to wait a few weeks or months before you can transfer larger amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's checking account?
No, you can only transfer PayPal money to a bank account or debit card that is linked to your own PayPal account. If you want to send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature instead, which lets you pay another person directly from your PayPal balance. They can then transfer it to their own bank account if they want.
What happens if I link the wrong bank account?
If you realize you linked the wrong account before you send any money, go to Settings and remove the incorrect account, then add the correct one. If you already sent money to the wrong account, contact your bank when ready and explain the situation. Your bank may be able to reverse the transfer or redirect it. PayPal's support team can also help investigate, but the faster route is usually your bank.
Do I have to wait for my bank account to be verified before I can transfer money?
It depends on your bank. Some banks let PayPal verify your account when ready using your online banking login, so you can transfer money right away. Others require the two-deposit method, which takes a few days. Until your account is verified, you cannot transfer money out, though you can still receive money from other people into your PayPal balance.
Why does my transfer say pending for more than two business days?
If a transfer is stuck in pending status longer than expected, it usually means PayPal is reviewing your account for security reasons or your bank is processing it slowly. Check the Resolution Center to see if PayPal has sent you a message asking for more information. If not, contact your bank to confirm they received the transfer. If both PayPal and your bank say the money is in transit, wait one more business day before escalating.
Can I cancel a transfer after I have sent it?
If the transfer is still pending (not yet sent to your bank), you can cancel it through the Resolution Center and the money will return to your PayPal balance. Once PayPal has sent it to your bank, you cannot cancel it through PayPal. You would need to contact your bank to reverse it, though banks are not always able to do so. This is why it is important to double-check the amount and destination before you confirm.