The simplest way to request money on PayPal
To request money on PayPal, you log into your account, click the "Request" button, enter the amount and the person's email address or phone number, add a note about what the money is for, and send it. The other person gets a notification and can pay you directly from that request, or ignore it. PayPal holds the money in your account once they pay, and you can transfer it to your bank account whenever you want.
You do not need the other person to have a PayPal account before you send the request — if they do not have one, they can create it for free when they see your request, or PayPal can walk them through paying without an account. Either way, the request sits in their inbox until they act on it or delete it.
Key Takeaways
- You can request money from anyone with an email address or phone number, whether or not they use PayPal.
- The request appears in their PayPal inbox or email, and they can pay it in seconds if they already have an account.
- Money you receive stays in your PayPal balance until you move it to your bank account — PayPal does not automatically deposit it.
- You can request money for any reason, but be clear in the note about what the payment covers so the other person knows what they are paying for.
Step-by-step: sending a payment request
Open PayPal on your phone or computer and log in. On the home screen, look for a button or menu option that says "Request" — on the mobile app it is usually at the bottom of the screen, and on the website it is in the top menu bar next to "Send".
Click or tap "Request". A form will open asking for three things: the amount in dollars (or your local currency), the email address or phone number of the person you want money from, and a note explaining why you are requesting it. Fill in all three fields. The note is optional but helpful — write something like "Dinner last night" or "Half the gas" so the person remembers what they owe you.
Review the information one more time, then click "Request" or "Send Request". PayPal will show you a confirmation that the request was sent. The other person will see it in their PayPal inbox if they have an account, or in an email if they do not.
What happens after you send the request
The person you requested money from will get a notification — either in their PayPal account or in their email inbox, depending on whether they have a PayPal account. They can click on the request and pay it when ready if they have a PayPal balance or a linked bank account or card. If they do not have a PayPal account, they can create one for free and then pay, or they can pay as a guest without creating an account.
Once they pay, the money appears in your PayPal balance right away. You do not have to do anything else — the request is marked as paid, and you own the money. However, PayPal does not automatically send it to your bank account. You have to transfer it yourself when you want to use it outside PayPal.
If the person does not pay within a few days, you can send them a reminder by clicking on the request in your PayPal history and selecting "Send Reminder". You can also cancel the request if you change your mind, though this does not delete it from their inbox — they will just see that you cancelled it.
Requesting money from multiple people at once
If several people owe you money for the same thing — like splitting a group dinner or a shared hotel room — you can send individual requests to each person. PayPal does not have a built-in way to split a bill and send requests to everyone at once, so you will need to create a separate request for each person.
Write the same note for each request so everyone knows what they are paying for. If you want to track who has paid and who has not, keep a straightforward list on your phone or paper as payments come in. Once everyone pays, you will see all the money in your PayPal balance, and you can transfer the total to your bank account in one go.
Fees and limits on payment requests
PayPal does not charge you a fee to send a payment request. The person paying might see a small fee if they choose to pay with a credit card instead of their PayPal balance or bank account, but that is their choice and their cost, not yours.
There is no limit to how much money you can request in a single request, and no limit to how many requests you can send. However, if you receive a very large amount of money in a short time, PayPal may temporarily hold it while they verify the transaction is legitimate. This is a security measure and usually clears within a few business days.
When a payment request does not work
If the person says they never got your request, ask them to check their email spam folder — sometimes PayPal notifications end up there. You can also resend the request by going to your PayPal history, finding the original request, and clicking "Send Reminder".
If the person has an old email address in your request, the notification will bounce back to PayPal and they will not see it. You can cancel that request and send a new one with the correct email address. If you are not sure which email address they use for PayPal, ask them directly before sending the request.
If someone tells you they paid but you do not see the money in your account, ask them to show you the confirmation email from PayPal. Sometimes people think they have paid when they have only opened the request but not completed the payment. Once you see the confirmation, the money should appear in your balance within minutes.
Requesting money versus sending money
"Request" and "Send" are opposite actions on PayPal. When you request money, you are asking someone to pay you — they get a notification and choose whether to pay. When you send money, you are paying someone directly from your own balance — they get the money whether they asked for it or not.
Use "Request" when someone owes you money and you want them to initiate the payment. Use "Send" when you are paying a bill, buying something, or giving money as a gift. Requests are better for splitting costs because they remind the other person and give them time to pay. Sending is faster if you already know the person wants the money and you just want to get it to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request money from someone who does not have PayPal?
Yes. They will get an email with your request, and they can pay by creating a free PayPal account or by paying as a guest without an account. Either way, the money goes into your PayPal balance once they complete the payment.
What if someone requests money from me and I do not want to pay?
You can ignore the request and it will stay in your inbox, or you can delete it. Deleting it does not notify the person — it just removes it from your view. If they ask you about it later, you can explain that you did not see it or that you cannot pay right now.
Does the person I request money from see my PayPal balance or other account details?
No. They only see the amount you requested, the note you wrote, and your name or email address. They cannot see your balance, transaction history, or any other information about your account.
How long does it take for money from a payment request to show up in my bank account?
The money appears in your PayPal balance when ready once the person pays. To move it to your bank account, you have to transfer it yourself, which usually takes one to three business days depending on your bank.
Can I change the amount or note after I send a payment request?
No. Once you send a request, you cannot edit it. If you need to change the amount or note, cancel the original request and send a new one with the correct information.