PayPal transfers to your bank account take one to three business days, depending on your bank and whether you pay a fee
When you transfer money from PayPal to a linked bank account, PayPal sends the funds through the ACH network — the same system that powers direct deposit and bill payments. The transfer itself is free if you choose the standard option, which takes one to three business days. If you need the money faster, PayPal offers an instant transfer option for a flat fee (currently $0.25 per transfer), which lands in your account within 30 minutes on weekdays and within an hour on weekends.
Before you can transfer anything, you must link a bank account to your PayPal account and verify it. Verification usually means PayPal deposits two small amounts (typically under $1 each) into your account, and you confirm the exact amounts back to PayPal. This step protects both you and PayPal from fraud and takes two to three business days to complete.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to your bank account are free and take one to three business days using the ACH network.
- Instant transfers cost $0.25 per transfer and arrive within 30 minutes on weekdays or one hour on weekends.
- You must link and verify your bank account before any transfer can happen, which requires confirming two small deposits PayPal sends to your account.
- Your PayPal balance must be in the same currency as your bank account; if it is not, PayPal converts it at their current rate and deducts a conversion fee.
- Transfers can fail if your bank account information is wrong, your account is closed, or PayPal flags the transaction as suspicious.
How to link and verify your bank account
Go to your PayPal account settings and select "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards" (the exact label varies by device and region). Choose "Link a Bank Account" and enter your routing number and account number. You can find both on a check, or call your bank's customer service line and ask for them.
PayPal will then send two small deposits to your account — usually within one to two business days. Once they appear, log back into PayPal, go to the same section, and select the account you just linked. PayPal will ask you to enter the exact amounts of those two deposits. Once you confirm them correctly, your account is verified and ready to use.
If you do not see the deposits after three business days, check that you entered your account number correctly. If the number is wrong, delete the account from PayPal and start over with the correct information. PayPal will not attempt to verify an account with incorrect details.
Transferring money using the standard free option
Open PayPal and go to your wallet or account balance. Look for a button labeled "Transfer Money" or "Withdraw." Select "Transfer to Your Bank" and choose the verified bank account you want the money to go to. Enter the amount you want to transfer — you can transfer any amount up to your full PayPal balance, but some accounts have daily or monthly limits that PayPal will show you before you confirm.
Review the details one more time: the amount, the receiving bank account, and the expected arrival date. PayPal will show you "1-3 business days" for standard transfers. Click "Transfer Now" or "Confirm," and PayPal will process the request immediately. You will receive an email confirmation with a reference number.
The money leaves your PayPal account right away, but it does not arrive at your bank until one to three business days later. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you initiate a transfer on Friday afternoon, it may not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Using instant transfer when you need the money faster
If you need the money within minutes instead of days, PayPal offers instant transfer for $0.25 per transaction. The process is the same as a standard transfer, except you select "Instant Transfer" instead of the standard option. PayPal will show you the fee before you confirm, so you know exactly what it will cost.
Instant transfers arrive within 30 minutes on weekdays (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time) and within one hour on weekends and holidays. If you initiate an instant transfer outside those windows — for example, at 11 p.m. on a Thursday — it will process at the next available time window and may take longer.
Not all banks accept instant transfers. If your bank is not supported, PayPal will tell you when you try to set up the transfer, and you will have to use the standard option instead. PayPal's list of supported banks is available on their website, though the easiest way to find out is simply to try.
What happens if your transfer fails or is delayed
A transfer can fail for several reasons: your bank account number is incorrect, your account has been closed, you do not have enough balance in PayPal, or PayPal has flagged the transaction as potentially fraudulent. If a transfer fails, PayPal will send you an email explaining why and the money will return to your PayPal account within one to three business days.
If the reason is a wrong account number, correct it in your PayPal wallet settings and try again. If your bank account was closed, link a different account. If PayPal flagged it as suspicious, you may need to contact PayPal's resolution center to confirm the transfer is legitimate — this usually means answering questions about the transaction or providing proof of identity.
Delays sometimes happen because of issues on your bank's end, not PayPal's. If a transfer shows as sent but has not arrived after three business days, contact your bank first and ask them to search for the incoming ACH transfer using the reference number from your PayPal confirmation email. Your bank can tell you whether they received it and why it has not posted to your account.
Currency conversion and fees for international transfers
If your PayPal balance is in a different currency than your bank account — for example, you have euros in PayPal but your bank account is in US dollars — PayPal will convert the money at their current exchange rate before sending it. PayPal charges a conversion fee on top of the exchange rate, which is typically 2 to 3 percent of the amount being converted, though the exact percentage varies.
You can see the conversion rate and fee before you confirm the transfer. PayPal will show you how much will arrive in your bank account after the conversion. If the fee seems high, you have the option to wait and convert the money manually through your bank or another currency exchange service, though this usually takes longer.
Some banks also charge a fee for receiving international ACH transfers. Check with your bank before transferring to see whether they charge an incoming wire or ACH fee, so you know the total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No, you can only transfer PayPal funds to a bank account that is linked to your own PayPal account. If you want to send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature to transfer directly to their PayPal account or email address, or use a different service like Venmo or a wire transfer through your bank.
What if I do not have a bank account yet?
You cannot transfer from PayPal without a linked bank account. You can keep the money in PayPal and use it to make purchases online, or you can withdraw it using a PayPal debit card if you have one. Some banks offer accounts with no minimum balance or monthly fees if you want to open one specifically for PayPal transfers.
Why is my transfer taking longer than three business days?
Check your PayPal confirmation email for the reference number and contact your bank with that number. Your bank can search their system to see if the ACH transfer arrived. If it did not arrive after five business days, contact PayPal's resolution center with the reference number and your bank's name, and they can investigate on their end.
Can I cancel a transfer after I have started it?
For standard transfers, you can usually cancel within a few minutes of initiating it, before PayPal has sent the ACH request to your bank. Once it has been sent, you cannot cancel it through PayPal. If you need to stop it, contact your bank immediately and ask them to reject the incoming ACH transfer. For instant transfers, cancellation is not possible once initiated.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer at once?
PayPal sets daily and monthly transfer limits that vary by account age, verification status, and history. You can see your limit in your account settings under "Wallet" or "Transfer Limits." If you hit your limit, you can transfer again the next day or next month, depending on which limit you reached.