PayPal transfers to your bank account take one to three business days and cost nothing if you use the standard transfer option

The most direct route is PayPal's standard transfer, which moves money to a linked bank account at no charge. The trade-off is speed: standard transfers land in your account within one to three business days, depending on your bank. If you need the money faster, PayPal offers an when ready transfer option that deposits funds in minutes, but charges a flat fee (usually $0.25 to $2.00 per transfer, depending on the amount) or a percentage of the transfer.

Before you can transfer anything, you must link a bank account to your PayPal account and verify it. PayPal will deposit two small test amounts to your bank account—usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each—and you'll need to confirm those amounts in your PayPal settings to prove you own the account. This verification step typically takes two to four business days.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard transfers from PayPal to a linked bank account are free and take one to three business days.
  • You must link and verify your bank account before any transfer can happen, which requires confirming two small test deposits PayPal sends to your bank.
  • when ready transfers cost $0.25 to $2.00 per transaction and deposit funds within minutes, but are only available if your account is in good standing.
  • PayPal holds some transfers for review if the account is new, the transfer amount is unusually large, or activity looks suspicious—this can add several days.

How to link and verify your bank account

Log into your PayPal account on a computer or the mobile app. Go to Wallet (or Account Settings on the app), then select Link a Bank Account. Enter your routing number and account number—both appear on the bottom left of a check, or you can find them by logging into your bank's website. PayPal will ask whether the account is checking or savings.

Within two to four business days, PayPal deposits two small amounts into your bank account. Log back into PayPal, go to the bank account settings, and enter both amounts exactly as they appear. Once you confirm them, the account is verified and ready to use for transfers.

If you don't see the test deposits after five business days, your bank may have filtered them as spam or your routing number may be incorrect. Contact your bank to check, or delete the account from PayPal and try linking it again with the correct information.

Transferring money using the standard option

Open PayPal and tap Wallet (mobile) or go to Account Settings (desktop). Select Transfer Money, then Transfer to Your Bank. Enter the amount you want to move and confirm the linked bank account is selected as the destination. Review the details and tap Transfer Now.

PayPal will show you a confirmation screen with the transfer amount, the receiving bank account (usually masked as the last four digits), and the expected arrival date. Standard transfers typically land within one to three business days, though some banks take longer to post deposits. The money leaves your PayPal balance when ready, even though it hasn't reached your bank yet.

You can cancel a standard transfer only if it hasn't been processed yet—usually within a few hours of initiating it. Once PayPal marks it as processed, you must wait for it to arrive at your bank, then contact your bank if there's a problem.

Using when ready transfer when you need money faster

If your account is in good standing, PayPal offers when ready transfer as an option on the same Transfer to Your Bank screen. Select when ready Transfer instead of standard. The fee varies: PayPal typically charges $0.25 for transfers under $10, $0.75 for $10 to $200, and 1.5% of the transfer amount for anything larger (capped at $2.00 for most users, though some accounts see higher caps).

The money arrives in your bank account within minutes—usually between 30 seconds and 30 minutes. when ready transfer is available seven days a week, including weekends and holidays, which makes it useful if you need cash outside normal banking hours. However, not all accounts have when ready transfer enabled from the start; PayPal may restrict it if your account is new or if you've had disputes or chargebacks.

If when ready transfer isn't showing as an option, your account may not be may be able to access yet. Wait a few weeks and check again, or contact PayPal support to ask whether your account can be upgraded.

Why PayPal might hold or delay your transfer

PayPal sometimes places transfers on hold for review, which can add several days to the process. This happens most often if your account is brand new, the transfer amount is much larger than your usual activity, or PayPal's fraud detection system flags the transaction as unusual. You'll see a message in your PayPal account explaining that the transfer is under review.

During a review, you may be asked to provide documentation—a photo of your ID, proof of address, or a bank statement showing the account you're transferring to. Respond to PayPal's request as soon as you can; reviews typically clear within 24 to 48 hours once you've provided what they ask for.

If you're transferring to a bank account that doesn't match the name on your PayPal account, PayPal will almost always hold the transfer for review. The account name must match exactly, or you'll need to update your PayPal account information or link a different bank account.

What to do if your transfer doesn't arrive

If a standard transfer doesn't show up within four business days, or an when ready transfer doesn't arrive within an hour, log into PayPal and check the transaction history. Look for the transfer in your Activity or Transaction History section and note the exact date and amount. If PayPal shows the transfer as completed, the delay is on your bank's side.

Contact your bank's customer service and provide the transfer date, amount, and PayPal's reference number (visible in the transaction details). Your bank can trace the deposit and tell you whether it's pending, rejected, or lost. Most banks can locate a missing deposit within one business day.

If PayPal shows the transfer as failed or cancelled, the money returns to your PayPal balance automatically—usually within one to three business days. Once it's back in PayPal, you can try the transfer again, but first check that your bank account information is still correct and that your bank hasn't blocked PayPal transfers.

Fees and limits on transfers

Standard transfers are free. when ready transfers cost $0.25 to $2.00 depending on the amount. PayPal doesn't charge a fee for linking or verifying a bank account.

PayPal doesn't publish a single transfer limit that applies to all accounts. Instead, limits vary based on your account age, history, and activity level. New accounts typically have lower limits—sometimes $500 to $1,000 per transfer—while established accounts may transfer $5,000 or more. If you hit your limit, you'll see a message when you try to transfer. You can request a limit increase through your account settings, though approval isn't may provide.

Your bank may also have its own limits on deposits from external sources. Check with your bank if you're transferring a large amount for the first time.

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. If you want to send money to another person, use PayPal's Send Money feature to transfer directly to their PayPal account or email address, or use a service like Venmo or Square Cash.

What if I link the wrong bank account by mistake?

Delete the incorrect account from your PayPal settings before you transfer any money. If you've already transferred to the wrong account, contact PayPal support when ready—they can sometimes reverse the transfer if it hasn't been processed yet. Once the money reaches the wrong bank account, you'll need to contact that bank to recover it.

Do I have to pay taxes on money I transfer from PayPal to my bank?

Transferring your own money from PayPal to your bank is not a taxable event. However, if the money in your PayPal account came from sales or income, that income is taxable. PayPal reports transactions to the IRS, so keep records of what the money was for.

Why is my when ready transfer option greyed out?

when ready transfer may be unavailable if your account is new, you've had disputes or chargebacks, or PayPal has flagged your account for review. Wait a few weeks and check again. If it remains unavailable, contact PayPal support to ask whether your account can be upgraded or what conditions need to be met.

Can I cancel a transfer after I've started it?

You can cancel a standard transfer only if PayPal hasn't processed it yet—usually within a few hours. Once it's marked as processed, the transfer is on its way and can't be stopped. when ready transfers can't be cancelled once initiated. If a transfer goes to the wrong account, you'll need to contact your bank or PayPal support for help recovering it.