Yes, you can send money from PayPal to your bank account
PayPal lets you move money from your PayPal balance to a linked bank account through a process called a transfer. The money lands in your account as a regular bank deposit, and you can use it like any other funds there. The transfer itself is free, but the speed depends on which transfer method you choose and which bank you use.
Before you can transfer, you must link a bank account to your PayPal account and verify it. PayPal will send two small deposits to that account — usually within one to two business days — and you'll need to confirm the amounts in your PayPal settings to prove you own the account. Once verified, you can transfer money whenever you have a PayPal balance to move.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers to a linked bank account are free and take one to three business days; Express transfers cost a small fee and arrive within one hour.
- You must verify your bank account by confirming two small test deposits PayPal sends to it before any transfer can happen.
- The money you transfer must come from your PayPal balance, not from a credit card or PayPal Credit line linked to your account.
- If your transfer doesn't arrive on time, check your bank's spam folder for the confirmation email and contact PayPal support with your transaction ID.
How to link and verify your bank account
Go to your PayPal account settings and select "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards," depending on your PayPal version. Choose "Link a Bank Account" and enter your routing number and account number — you can find both on a check or by logging into your bank's website. PayPal will ask whether the account is a checking or savings account.
Within one to two business days, PayPal deposits two amounts under $1 each into your bank account. Log back into PayPal, go to the bank account section, and enter those two amounts exactly as they appear. Once confirmed, your account is verified and ready for transfers. If you don't see the deposits after two business days, check your bank's pending transactions or contact your bank to make sure the account number was entered correctly.
Standard transfer versus Express transfer
A standard transfer is free and takes one to three business days. PayPal processes it the same day you request it, but your bank may take an extra day or two to post the money to your account. This is the slowest option but costs nothing.
An Express transfer costs a fee (usually between $0.25 and $2, depending on the amount) and arrives within one hour on business days. If you request it after business hours or on a weekend, it will process the next business day. Express is useful when you need cash quickly, but the fee comes out of the amount you're transferring, so you'll receive slightly less than you requested.
Some PayPal accounts don't have Express transfer available, particularly if your account is new or if you've had disputes or chargebacks. If you don't see the option, standard transfer is your only choice.
What money can and cannot be transferred
You can only transfer money that sits in your PayPal balance — the account balance shown on your PayPal homepage. This includes money from sales, refunds, transfers you received from other people, or money you added by linking a bank account or debit card.
You cannot transfer money that comes from a credit card, PayPal Credit line, or a line of credit linked to your account. If you received money through PayPal and it's on hold (PayPal sometimes holds new seller funds for 21 days), you cannot transfer it until the hold lifts. If you try to transfer money you don't have, PayPal will reject the request and show an error message.
Timing: when the money actually arrives
For a standard transfer, PayPal processes your request the same business day if you submit it before their cutoff time (usually around 5 p.m. Eastern). Your bank then takes one to two additional business days to post it. So a transfer you request on a Monday morning might not appear in your account until Wednesday or Thursday.
Weekends and bank holidays add extra days. If you request a transfer on Friday evening, PayPal won't process it until Monday, and your bank won't post it until Tuesday or Wednesday. For Express transfers, the one-hour window starts only during business hours on business days; a request made at 6 p.m. Friday won't process until Monday morning.
Check your PayPal transaction history to see when PayPal actually sent the transfer. If your bank hasn't posted it within the timeframe PayPal promised, contact your bank with the transfer amount and the date PayPal processed it — they can trace it on their end.
What to do if your transfer doesn't arrive
First, log into your PayPal account and check your transaction history. Find the transfer and note its status — it should say "completed" or "processed." If it says "pending," wait the full timeframe before worrying. If it says "failed" or "cancelled," PayPal will have returned the money to your PayPal balance, and you'll need to try again.
Check your bank account's pending transactions tab — some banks show incoming transfers there before they post. Look in your email spam folder for a confirmation message from PayPal; sometimes banks filter these as suspicious. If the transfer shows as completed in PayPal but hasn't appeared in your bank account after the promised timeframe, contact your bank's customer service with the transfer date and amount. Give them PayPal's reference number (found in your PayPal transaction details) so they can search their system.
If your bank says they never received it, contact PayPal support through the Resolution Center. Have your transaction ID, the transfer amount, the date you requested it, and your bank account number ready. PayPal can investigate whether the transfer was sent to the correct account or if there was an error on their end.
Fees and limits on transfers
Standard transfers are always free. Express transfers charge a fee that varies by transfer amount — PayPal shows you the exact fee before you confirm the transfer, so you know what you'll pay. Some PayPal accounts have daily or monthly transfer limits, particularly new accounts or accounts with limited transaction history. If you hit a limit, you'll see a message when you try to transfer, and you can try again the next day or contact PayPal to request a higher limit.
There is no limit on how many transfers you can make, only on how much you can transfer at once. If you need to move a large balance, you can make multiple transfers on different days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No. Transfers from PayPal go only to a bank account registered in your own name. To send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature to transfer it to their PayPal account or email address instead.
What if I don't have a bank account to link?
You'll need a bank account to transfer PayPal funds. If you don't have one, you can request a PayPal Cash Card (a debit card linked to your PayPal balance) or withdraw cash at certain retailers, but these options have their own fees and limits.
Can I transfer money back to PayPal if I accidentally transferred too much?
Once money leaves PayPal and lands in your bank account, it's no longer in PayPal's system. You would need to transfer it back from your bank to PayPal using your bank's bill pay or transfer feature, which may take several days and may incur a fee depending on your bank.
Why is my transfer taking longer than PayPal said?
Banks sometimes delay posting transfers, especially if they're flagged as unusual activity or if your account is new. Contact your bank to confirm they received it. If PayPal's system shows the transfer was sent but your bank has no record of it after five business days, contact PayPal support with your transaction ID.
Do I pay taxes on money I transfer to my bank account?
Transferring your own money from PayPal to your bank is not a taxable event. However, the money itself may be taxable depending on how you earned it — for example, income from sales or services is taxable, but a refund or money a friend sent you is not. Keep records of where the money came from.