How to transfer your PayPal balance to your bank account

You can move money from PayPal to your bank account in a few minutes using PayPal's transfer tool. The money does not arrive when ready — it takes one to three business days for most transfers, though PayPal offers a faster option that costs a small fee. You will need your bank account number and routing number, which you can find on a check or by logging into your bank's website.

The basic process is the same whether you use the PayPal app or website: go to your wallet, select the transfer option, choose your bank account, enter the amount, and confirm. PayPal will show you the expected arrival date before you complete the transfer, so you know exactly when to expect the money.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard transfers take one to three business days and cost nothing.
  • You need your bank's routing number and your account number to set up the transfer.
  • PayPal offers an when ready transfer option for a fee of around 1.5 percent of the amount you send.
  • You can transfer as much as you want, but PayPal may limit first-time transfers to smaller amounts until your account has been active for a while.
  • Once you add a bank account to PayPal, you can use it for future transfers without re-entering the details.

Finding your bank account and routing number

Your bank account number is the long number printed on the bottom left of your checks. Your routing number is the nine-digit code printed on the bottom left, just before your account number. If you do not have checks, log into your bank's website or app and look for account details, account information, or routing number — most banks display both numbers in one place.

You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number. Have your account number ready when you call. Some banks print the routing number on statements or deposit slips as well.

Setting up your first transfer on the PayPal app

Open the PayPal app and tap the wallet icon at the bottom. You will see your PayPal balance at the top. Tap "Transfer money" or "Move money" — the exact wording depends on your app version. Select "Transfer to your bank" from the menu.

PayPal will ask whether you want to add a new bank account or use one you have already added. If this is your first transfer, select "Add a bank account." Enter your routing number, account number, and the name of your bank. PayPal will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually less than one dollar each) into your bank account within one to two business days. Once those deposits arrive, you will need to confirm the amounts in PayPal to complete verification.

After verification, you can enter the amount you want to transfer and choose your delivery speed. Standard transfers arrive in one to three business days at no cost. when ready transfers arrive within 30 minutes but cost around 1.5 percent of the amount you send. Review the details and tap confirm.

Transferring on the PayPal website

Log into PayPal.com and click the wallet icon in the top left. Click "Transfer money" and then "Transfer to your bank." The steps are the same as the app: add your bank account if you have not already, verify it with the two small deposits, then enter your transfer amount and choose your speed.

The website shows the same fees and timing as the app. You can see a history of all your past transfers by clicking "See all transfers" on the wallet page, which is useful if you need to track when money arrived or confirm a transfer went through.

Understanding transfer timing and fees

Standard transfers are free and take one to three business days. This means if you transfer money on a Friday, it may not arrive until the following Tuesday or Wednesday because weekends do not count as business days. PayPal will tell you the exact expected arrival date before you confirm the transfer.

when ready transfers cost around 1.5 percent of the amount you send and arrive within 30 minutes on business days. If you transfer $100 when ready, you will pay roughly $1.50 in fees. The exact percentage varies slightly and PayPal shows the exact fee before you confirm. when ready transfers are useful when you need money quickly, but the fee makes them more expensive than waiting for a standard transfer.

What to do if your transfer is delayed

If your transfer does not arrive by the date PayPal promised, check your PayPal transaction history first. Click the activity or recent transactions section and find the transfer. The status will show whether PayPal has sent it to your bank yet or whether there is a problem.

If PayPal shows the transfer as complete but your bank has not received it, contact your bank's customer service. Give them the date you sent the transfer and the amount. Banks can sometimes delay deposits if they flag them as unusual activity, especially if you are transferring a large amount for the first time. Your bank may ask you to confirm the transfer is legitimate before releasing the funds.

If PayPal shows the transfer as pending or failed, open the PayPal app or website and look for an error message. Common problems include a bank account that was entered incorrectly, a bank that does not accept transfers from PayPal, or a temporary issue with PayPal's system. PayPal's help center can walk you through troubleshooting based on the error message you see.

Limits on how much you can transfer

PayPal does not publish a single maximum transfer amount that applies to everyone. New accounts or accounts that have not transferred money before may have lower limits — sometimes as low as $500 or $1,000 for the first transfer. As your account ages and you complete more transfers, PayPal usually raises these limits.

If you try to transfer more than your limit allows, PayPal will show an error message telling you the maximum amount you can send. You can either transfer a smaller amount now and do another transfer later, or contact PayPal support to ask whether your limit can be raised. Limits also reset on a rolling basis, so if you transfer $1,000 today, you may be able to transfer another $1,000 in a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money to someone else's bank account?

No. PayPal transfers go only to the bank account registered to your PayPal account. If you want to send money to another person, use PayPal's "Send money" feature instead, which lets you send to their email address or phone number. They will receive the money in their PayPal account, and they can then transfer it to their own bank.

What happens if I enter the wrong bank account number?

PayPal will try to verify the account with two small test deposits. If the account number is wrong, those deposits will fail and PayPal will ask you to re-enter it. If you have already completed a transfer to the wrong account, contact your bank when ready and ask them to reverse it. You will also need to contact PayPal support to report the error.

Do I have to verify my bank account every time I transfer?

No. Once you verify a bank account with the two test deposits, you can use it for unlimited future transfers without re-verifying. If you add a second bank account later, you will need to verify that one too.

Why is my transfer taking longer than PayPal said it would?

Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a transfer promised in "one to three business days" may take longer if it crosses a weekend. Your bank may also delay deposits if they flag the transfer as unusual. Contact your bank if the transfer is more than one day late.

Can I cancel a transfer after I have sent it?

If the transfer is still pending in PayPal (before it has been sent to your bank), you can usually cancel it. Once PayPal has sent it to your bank, you cannot cancel it through PayPal — you will need to contact your bank and ask them to reverse the deposit.