Vacation Days Planning Calculator
Project how much paid time off you will have accrued by your trip, and check whether it covers the days you plan to take.
How it works
Projected = balance + accrual/month × months (capped if a cap is set) · After trip = projected − planned days
Paid time off accrues steadily, so the balance you have today is not the balance you will have on your trip — you keep earning between now and then. Projecting forward tells you whether to book the full vacation now or scale it back, and it flags the trap of an accrual cap, where PTO simply stops building once you hit a ceiling and any further accrual is lost. If a cap is in play, the smart move is often to take some days off before you hit it.
Worked example
With 6 days banked, earning 1.25 days a month, in 4 months you accrue 5 more days for 11 total. Planning to take 10 leaves 1 day in reserve — just enough.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my monthly accrual rate?
Divide your annual PTO by 12. A common 15-days-a-year policy is 1.25 days per month; 20 days a year is about 1.67 per month. Your pay stub or HR portal usually shows the exact rate.
What is an accrual cap?
Many employers stop your PTO from growing past a maximum balance. Once you hit it, you earn nothing more until you use some — so time off booked just before the cap protects days you would otherwise forfeit.
Should I count holidays and weekends?
This tracks PTO days only. You can often stretch a vacation by bridging weekends and public holidays, so a 10-day PTO block placed around two weekends can yield 16 calendar days off.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.