Yes, you can transfer funds from PayPal to a bank account linked to your PayPal account
PayPal lets you move money to any U.S. bank account, savings account, or money market account you've added to your PayPal profile. The transfer is straightforward: you initiate it from PayPal, the money leaves your PayPal balance, and it arrives in your bank account after a set number of days. The speed and any fees depend on which transfer method you choose.
You cannot transfer to a bank account that isn't already linked to your PayPal account. You also cannot transfer money that's on hold, pending, or subject to a dispute — PayPal will show you which funds are available to move before you start the transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers take one to three business days and cost nothing; next-business-day transfers cost $0.25 and arrive the next day.
- You must link your bank account to PayPal first by providing your routing number and account number, which PayPal verifies with two small deposits.
- Money on hold, pending, or under dispute cannot be transferred until PayPal releases it.
- If a transfer fails, PayPal will return the money to your PayPal balance within one to three business days.
How to link a bank account to PayPal before you transfer
Go to your PayPal account settings and select "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards" (the exact label varies by account type). Click "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 to ask.
PayPal will then send two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your bank account. This takes one to two business days. Once they arrive, go back to PayPal, confirm the exact amounts of those deposits, and your bank account will be verified. Only then can you transfer money to it.
If you've already linked a bank account to PayPal in the past, you don't need to do this again — you can transfer to any account you've previously verified.
Standard transfer versus next-business-day transfer
Standard transfer is free and takes one to three business days. PayPal processes the transfer immediately, but your bank takes one to three days to receive and post it to your account. This is the default option and the one most people use.
Next-business-day transfer costs $0.25 and arrives the next business day. You pay the fee upfront when you initiate the transfer. If you initiate it on a Friday, it will arrive on Monday (assuming Monday is a business day). This option is useful if you need the money quickly but not urgently enough to justify a wire transfer or other faster method.
Both options deduct the money from your PayPal balance immediately. The fee for next-business-day transfer comes out of your PayPal balance as well.
What happens if your transfer fails
A transfer can fail if your bank account information is incorrect, your bank rejects the deposit, or your account is closed. PayPal will notify you by email if a transfer fails. The money returns to your PayPal balance within one to three business days — you don't have to do anything.
If you initiated a next-business-day transfer and it fails, PayPal will refund the $0.25 fee along with the transfer amount. Check your PayPal transaction history to confirm the refund has posted.
If a transfer fails repeatedly, contact your bank to confirm your account is active and your routing and account numbers are correct. Your bank may also be blocking transfers from PayPal for fraud prevention reasons — they can whitelist PayPal if that's the case.
Transfers from a PayPal debit card or credit card balance
If you have a PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account, you can transfer money to your bank account from your PayPal balance. If you have a standard PayPal account and only use it to send money or pay for purchases, you may not have a balance to transfer — money goes directly from your linked bank account or card when you make a payment.
Money you received as a payment, refund, or transfer from another PayPal user sits in your PayPal balance and can be transferred to your bank account. Money you loaded onto a PayPal debit card can also be transferred back to your bank account through your PayPal settings.
Holds, pending transfers, and disputes
PayPal sometimes places a hold on money for 24 hours to 21 days. This happens most often when you receive a large payment, receive money from a new sender, or haven't used your account in a while. While money is on hold, you cannot transfer it — PayPal will show you the hold status in your balance breakdown.
If you have a pending transfer (one you initiated but hasn't arrived yet), that money is no longer in your available balance. You can cancel a pending transfer from your transaction history if you change your mind, and the money will return to your PayPal balance immediately.
If money is involved in a dispute or chargeback, PayPal will freeze it until the dispute is resolved. You cannot transfer frozen money. Once PayPal rules in your favor, the money becomes available again.
International transfers and currency conversion
If your PayPal account is based in the U.S. but you want to transfer to a bank account outside the U.S., PayPal offers international transfers through its partner banks. These transfers are slower (typically five to seven business days) and carry a fee that varies by destination country — usually between $3.99 and $7.99.
If your PayPal balance is in a currency other than U.S. dollars, PayPal will convert it at its current exchange rate before transferring. The conversion fee is built into the exchange rate PayPal shows you before you confirm the transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it really take for money to show up in my bank account?
Standard transfers take one to three business days after PayPal processes them. Next-business-day transfers arrive the next business day. Weekends and bank holidays don't count as business days, so a transfer initiated on Friday may not arrive until Tuesday. Your bank's processing speed also matters — some banks post transfers faster than others.
Can I transfer money to someone else's bank account through PayPal?
No. Transfers go only to a bank account linked to your own PayPal account. To send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature, which lets you transfer to their PayPal account or email address. They then decide whether to keep it in PayPal or transfer it to their own bank account.
What if I don't have a bank account linked yet?
You must link a bank account before you can transfer. Go to your PayPal settings, select "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards," and follow the verification process. It takes one to two business days for PayPal's test deposits to arrive, then a few minutes to confirm them. After that, you can transfer immediately.
Can I transfer money that's on hold?
No. PayPal will show you which funds are available and which are on hold in your balance breakdown. You can only transfer money that's marked as available. Once the hold expires, the money becomes available and you can transfer it.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer?
PayPal doesn't publish a single transfer limit — it varies based on your account history, verification status, and activity. Your account will show you the maximum you can transfer in a single transaction. If you need to transfer a large amount, you may need to split it into multiple transfers or contact PayPal to request a higher limit.