The basic way to move money out of PayPal

To get money out of PayPal, you transfer it from your PayPal balance to a bank account you own. PayPal calls this a withdrawal. The money lands in your bank account in one to three business days, depending on your bank. You do this through the PayPal website or app — there is no form to mail or office to visit.

Before you can withdraw, you need two things: a PayPal account with money in it, and a bank account linked to that PayPal account. If you have not linked a bank account yet, PayPal will ask you to do that the first time you try to withdraw. You will need your bank's routing number and your account number, both of which appear on the bottom left of your checks.

PayPal does not charge you to withdraw to your bank account. Some banks may charge a fee on their end, but that is rare — most do not.

Key Takeaways

  • Withdrawals from PayPal to your bank account take one to three business days and do not cost you anything.
  • You must link a bank account to your PayPal account before you can withdraw, using your routing number and account number.
  • The withdrawal process happens entirely online through the PayPal website or mobile app.
  • PayPal holds some withdrawals for review if the transaction looks unusual, which can add a few extra days.
  • If you do not have a bank account, PayPal offers a debit card that lets you spend your balance directly.

Step-by-step: withdrawing to your bank account

Log into PayPal on a computer or open the PayPal app on your phone. Look for a menu option called "Wallet" or "Balance" — the exact name depends on which version you are using. Tap or click on it.

You should see your current PayPal balance displayed. Look for a button that says "Transfer Money" or "Withdraw." Click that button. PayPal will show you a list of bank accounts you have already linked. If you see the account you want, select it. If you do not see any accounts, you will need to add one first — PayPal will walk you through entering your routing number and account number.

Enter the amount you want to withdraw. You can withdraw all of it or just part of it. PayPal will show you the date the money should arrive. Review the information, then click "Transfer" or "Confirm." That is it — the withdrawal is submitted.

What happens after you request a withdrawal

Most withdrawals go through without any hold. The money leaves your PayPal balance right away, but it takes one to three business days to show up in your bank account. This delay is normal — it is the time it takes for PayPal and your bank to process the transfer.

Sometimes PayPal holds a withdrawal for review. This happens when the transaction looks unusual to their fraud detection system — for example, if you are withdrawing a much larger amount than you normally do, or if you just linked a new bank account. When this happens, PayPal will send you a message explaining the hold. The review usually takes a few extra days, but you will not lose the money. Once PayPal clears it, the transfer continues to your bank.

If your withdrawal fails — which is rare — PayPal will tell you why. Common reasons include a typo in your bank account number, a closed account, or a bank that does not accept transfers from PayPal. If this happens, the money goes back to your PayPal balance and you can try again with a different account or contact your bank to troubleshoot.

Withdrawing to a PayPal debit card instead

If you do not have a bank account, or if you want to spend your PayPal money without waiting for a bank transfer, you can use a PayPal debit card. This is a physical card that PayPal issues to you. Money in your PayPal balance loads onto the card, and you can use it to buy things in stores or online, or to withdraw cash from ATMs.

You do not need to "transfer" money to the card the way you do with a bank account — the card pulls directly from your PayPal balance whenever you use it. There is no waiting period. PayPal charges a small fee to issue the card and may charge fees for certain uses, like ATM withdrawals or international transactions, so read the fee schedule before you order one.

To order a PayPal debit card, go to the Wallet section of your account, look for "Cards," and follow the prompts. The card arrives by mail in about one to two weeks.

Withdrawals that take longer than expected

If your withdrawal has not shown up in your bank account after three business days, first check your PayPal transaction history to confirm the withdrawal was actually sent. Log into PayPal, go to your activity or transaction history, and look for the withdrawal. If it shows a status of "Completed," the money is on its way and your bank may just be slow to post it — contact your bank to ask if they have received it.

If the status shows "Pending" or "On Hold," PayPal is still reviewing it. Wait a few more days. If it stays in that state for more than a week, contact PayPal directly through the Help Center in your account.

If the withdrawal shows "Failed" or "Cancelled," the money is back in your PayPal balance. Check the reason PayPal gave you — it is usually a problem with the bank account number or the account itself. You can try withdrawing to a different account, or contact your bank to confirm the account is active and can receive transfers.

Limits on how much you can withdraw

PayPal does not publish a single withdrawal limit that applies to everyone. The amount you can withdraw depends on your account history, how long you have had the account, and whether PayPal has flagged anything as suspicious. New accounts usually have lower limits than established ones.

You can see your withdrawal limit by going to your account settings and looking for "Limits" or "Account Limits." If you hit your limit and need to withdraw more, you can request an increase through that same section. PayPal will review your request, which usually takes a few days.

If you are withdrawing a very large amount all at once, PayPal may require you to split it into multiple withdrawals over several days. This is a fraud prevention measure and is normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I withdraw money that someone sent me as a gift?

Yes. Once money is in your PayPal balance, it does not matter how it got there — you can withdraw it the same way you would withdraw any other money. The only exception is if PayPal has flagged the transaction as suspicious and is holding it for review. In that case, you have to wait for the review to finish before you can move the money.

What if I withdraw money and then change my mind?

If the withdrawal has not completed yet — meaning it still shows "Pending" in your transaction history — you can cancel it. Go to your activity, find the withdrawal, and look for a "Cancel" button. Once the withdrawal shows "Completed," it is too late to cancel, but you can ask your bank to reverse it if there is a problem. After the money lands in your account, it is your bank's decision whether to reverse it, not PayPal's.

Do I have to withdraw all my money at once?

No. You can withdraw as much or as little as you want, as many times as you want. There is no penalty for making multiple small withdrawals instead of one large one. Keep in mind that each withdrawal takes one to three days, so if you need the money quickly, plan ahead.

What if my bank account is closed?

If you try to withdraw to a closed account, the transfer will fail and the money will go back to your PayPal balance. PayPal will tell you the withdrawal failed. You can then link a different bank account and try again. If you do not have another account, you can use the PayPal debit card instead.

Can someone else withdraw money from my PayPal account?

Only if they have your login information. Keep your password strong and do not share it. If you think someone has accessed your account, change your password right away and contact PayPal through the Help Center. PayPal can review your recent withdrawals and reverse any that were not yours.