PayPal transfers to your bank account take 1 to 3 business days and cost nothing if you use the standard transfer option
You can move money from your PayPal balance to a linked bank account through the PayPal app or website. The process takes a few minutes to set up, but the actual transfer sits in a queue — your bank receives the funds 1 to 3 business days later. PayPal offers two speeds: standard transfer (free, slower) and when ready transfer (costs 1.5% of the amount, arrives within 30 minutes). Weekends and bank holidays add time to standard transfers.
Before you can transfer anything, you need to link a bank account to your PayPal account and confirm that account is real. This confirmation step is one-time only — after that, transfers are straightforward. If you have never linked a bank account before, the confirmation process itself can take a few days.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to your bank account are free and take 1 to 3 business days; when ready transfers cost 1.5% of the amount and arrive within 30 minutes.
- You must link your bank account to PayPal and confirm it is real before you can transfer money, which happens once and then is done.
- The transfer appears in your PayPal account as pending when ready, but your bank does not receive the money until the stated number of days have passed.
- If a transfer fails, PayPal returns the money to your PayPal balance within 1 to 3 business days; check your bank account details for typos before trying again.
How to link your bank account to PayPal for the first time
Open the PayPal app or go to PayPal.com and sign in. On the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Wallet. On the website, click Wallet in the top menu. Look for the option to add a bank account — the exact wording varies, but it will say something like "Link a bank" or "Add bank account".
Enter your bank's name, your account type (checking or savings), your account number, and your routing number. Your routing number is a nine-digit code specific to your bank; you can find it on a check, call your bank, or search your bank's website. PayPal will ask for your full name as it appears on the account and your address. After you submit this information, PayPal tells you confirmation is pending.
Within 1 to 2 business days, your bank will show two small deposits (usually under $1 each) in your account. PayPal sends these as proof that the account is real and that you control it. Go back to PayPal, find the pending bank account in your wallet, and enter the exact amounts of those two deposits. Once you confirm the amounts, the account is linked and ready to use.
Transferring money using the standard free option
Open PayPal and go to your Wallet. Look for a button or link that says Transfer Money or Move Money. Select the option to transfer to your bank account. PayPal will show you a list of linked bank accounts; choose the one you want the money to go to.
Enter the amount you want to transfer. PayPal will show you the transfer speed options: standard (free, 1 to 3 business days) and when ready (1.5% fee, within 30 minutes). Select Standard Transfer. Review the details — the amount, the destination account, and the estimated arrival date — then confirm. PayPal shows the transfer as pending in your account when ready, but the money does not leave your PayPal balance until the transfer actually processes.
The transfer will arrive in your bank account by the date PayPal stated. If today is Friday, a standard transfer usually arrives by Monday or Tuesday, depending on your bank's processing schedule. If today is a holiday, add an extra day. You can check the status of any transfer in your PayPal transaction history.
When to use when ready transfer instead of standard
when ready transfer costs 1.5% of the amount you send. On a $100 transfer, that is $1.50. On a $1,000 transfer, that is $15. The money arrives in your bank account within 30 minutes, even on weekends and holidays. Use when ready transfer when you need the money urgently — for example, to cover an overdraft or pay a bill that is due today.
Not all bank accounts may have access to for when ready transfer. PayPal shows you whether your linked account supports it when you start a transfer. If it does not, you can only use standard transfer. Some banks take longer to process when ready transfers than others; PayPal's 30-minute window is when the money leaves PayPal, not when your bank makes it available to you.
What to do if a transfer fails or takes longer than expected
If a transfer fails, PayPal sends you a notification explaining why. The most common reasons are a typo in your account number or routing number, a closed account, or a mismatch between the name on your PayPal account and the name on your bank account. The money returns to your PayPal balance within 1 to 3 business days.
Before you try again, check your bank account details in PayPal. Go to your Wallet, find the linked account, and look for an option to view or edit the details. Verify the account number and routing number against a recent check or your bank's website. If you find an error, delete the account from PayPal and link it again with the correct information.
If a transfer is taking longer than PayPal said it would, check your bank account to see if it has arrived. Banks sometimes process deposits overnight or on the next business day, even if PayPal's timeline has passed. If more than 3 business days have gone by and the money has not arrived, contact PayPal support through the app or website and provide your transaction ID (a number PayPal assigns to every transfer).
Fees, limits, and what happens to your PayPal balance
Standard transfers are free. when ready transfers cost 1.5% of the amount. PayPal does not charge a fee to link a bank account or to check your balance. Some banks may charge you a fee for receiving a transfer, but this is rare and would be your bank's fee, not PayPal's.
PayPal does not publish a maximum transfer amount, but your bank may have limits on how much money it will accept in a single deposit. If you are transferring a large amount, contact your bank first to make sure it will not be flagged or rejected. PayPal also monitors for unusual activity; if you suddenly transfer much more than you normally do, PayPal may hold the transfer for review.
When you transfer money out of PayPal, it leaves your PayPal balance when ready (it shows as pending). You cannot spend that money from PayPal while the transfer is in progress. If you cancel a transfer before it processes, the money returns to your PayPal balance right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No. PayPal transfers only go to a bank account linked to your own PayPal account. To send money to someone else, use PayPal's send money feature (which transfers from your PayPal balance to their PayPal account or email address) or a separate service like Venmo or a wire transfer through your bank.
What if I link the wrong bank account by mistake?
You can delete a linked bank account from your PayPal wallet at any time. Go to Wallet, find the account, and look for a delete or remove option. Once deleted, you cannot transfer to that account. If you already sent money to the wrong account, contact PayPal support when ready — they may be able to stop the transfer if it has not processed yet.
Do I need to confirm my bank account every time I transfer?
No. You confirm the account once by entering the two deposit amounts PayPal sends. After that, you can transfer to that account as many times as you want without re-confirming. If you delete the account and link it again later, you will need to confirm it again.
Why is my transfer still pending after 3 business days?
Check your bank account first — the money may have arrived even if PayPal still shows it as pending. If it has not arrived, contact your bank and give them the transfer date and amount. Your bank can tell you whether the transfer was received and why it might be delayed. If your bank has no record of it, contact PayPal support with your transaction ID.
Can I transfer money back from my bank account to PayPal?
Yes, but it works differently. You would need to add funds to PayPal using your bank account, which is a separate process. You cannot reverse a transfer once it has been sent. If you need to move money back to PayPal, you would add it as a new transaction.