Yes, you can transfer money from PayPal to a checking account in the US
PayPal lets you move money from your PayPal balance to a linked checking account through a feature called Transfer to Your Bank. The money lands in your account within one to three business days for most banks, though some banks take longer. You do not pay a fee for this transfer.
The process requires that your checking account is already linked to your PayPal account and verified. If it is not, you will need to add it first — PayPal will send two small deposits to confirm you own the account, and you enter those amounts to verify.
You can transfer as much as you want, as often as you want, as long as your PayPal balance covers it. There is no daily or monthly limit on the transfer itself, though PayPal may limit how much you can hold in your account depending on your account history and activity.
Key Takeaways
- Transfers from PayPal to a checking account take one to three business days and cost nothing.
- Your checking account must be linked to PayPal and verified before you can transfer money.
- You initiate the transfer from the Wallet section of your PayPal account, not from your bank.
- Weekend and holiday transfers may take longer because banks do not process them until the next business day.
- If your transfer does not arrive within three business days, contact PayPal support with your transaction ID.
How to link and verify your checking account
Open PayPal on a computer or the mobile app and go to your Wallet. Select Link a bank account and enter your routing number and account number. You can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website to locate them.
PayPal will send two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your checking account within one to two business days. Log back into PayPal, go to your linked bank account, and enter those deposit amounts to confirm you own the account. Once verified, you can transfer money immediately.
If you already have a checking account linked to PayPal but it shows as unverified, PayPal may have flagged it during a security review. Check your email for a message from PayPal asking you to re-verify. If you do not see one, contact PayPal support to ask why the account is not verified.
The step-by-step transfer process
Log into PayPal and open your Wallet. Look for the balance at the top — this is the money you can transfer. Click Transfer Money and select Transfer to Your Bank.
Enter the amount you want to send. PayPal will show you which bank account the money will go to (you can change this if you have multiple accounts linked). Review the amount and confirm the transfer. PayPal will show you a confirmation number — save this in case you need to contact support.
The money will leave your PayPal balance immediately, but it will not appear in your checking account right away. One to three business days is the standard window. If you transferred on a Friday evening or before a holiday, the money may not arrive until the following Tuesday or Wednesday.
What happens if the transfer takes longer than three days
Most transfers arrive within the stated timeframe, but delays do happen. Before you contact PayPal, check that you transferred to the correct account and that your bank account is in good standing (not frozen or flagged for fraud). Some banks hold incoming transfers for a day or two as a security measure, especially if the transfer is large or unusual for your account.
If three business days have passed and the money has not arrived, log into PayPal and find the transfer in your transaction history. Note the transaction ID and the exact amount. Contact PayPal support through the Resolution Center and provide these details. PayPal can see whether the transfer was sent to your bank and whether your bank received it.
If PayPal sent the money but your bank did not receive it, your bank may have rejected it. This can happen if your account number changed, if your account was closed, or if your bank flagged the transfer as suspicious. Your bank can tell you why the transfer was rejected, and you can ask PayPal to resend it to a corrected account number.
Limits on how much you can transfer
PayPal does not publish a single transfer limit that applies to all users. Your limit depends on your account age, how long you have used PayPal, your transaction history, and whether PayPal has flagged your account for any reason. New accounts typically have lower limits than established ones.
To find your limit, log into PayPal and try to transfer money. PayPal will tell you the maximum amount you can transfer in that session. If you need to transfer more than your limit allows, you can split the transfer into multiple transactions on different days, or contact PayPal support to ask whether your limit can be raised.
Your PayPal balance itself may also have a limit. If you receive a lot of money through PayPal (for example, if you run a business), PayPal may cap how much you can hold at once. You would need to transfer money out regularly to stay under the cap.
Transfers from PayPal Credit or a PayPal debit card do not work the same way
If your PayPal balance came from PayPal Credit (a line of credit PayPal offers), you cannot transfer it to your bank. PayPal Credit is a loan, not money you own. You can only use it to make purchases or send money to other people through PayPal.
If you have a PayPal debit card, you can withdraw cash at an ATM or use it to make purchases, but you cannot transfer the balance directly to your checking account through the transfer feature. However, you can use your PayPal debit card to transfer money by setting up a direct deposit from PayPal to your bank, though this is less common and may not be available to all users.
If you are unsure whether your PayPal balance is available to transfer, log into your account and check the balance type. It should say "PayPal Balance" or "Available Balance." If it says "PayPal Credit" or "Pending," you cannot transfer it yet.
Why a transfer might fail or be rejected
A transfer can fail if your bank account information is wrong, if your account has been closed, or if your bank rejected the transfer for fraud prevention. PayPal will notify you if a transfer fails and usually give you a reason. Check your email and the Resolution Center in PayPal for details.
If your bank rejected the transfer, contact your bank to ask why. Common reasons include a mismatch between the account number and the account holder's name, a frozen account, or a bank security hold. Once you fix the issue with your bank, you can ask PayPal to resend the transfer.
Transfers can also be delayed if PayPal is reviewing your account for security reasons. If this happens, PayPal will send you a message asking you to verify your identity or provide additional information. Complete this step before contacting support about a delayed transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it actually take for money to show up in my bank account?
One to three business days is the standard timeframe. Business days do not include weekends or federal holidays. If you initiate a transfer on Friday after 5 p.m., it will not process until Monday, so the money may not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday. Some banks process incoming transfers more slowly than others.
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's checking account?
No. The transfer feature only sends money to a checking 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 payment method like Venmo or a wire transfer.
What if I do not have a checking account, only a savings account?
You can link a savings account to PayPal and transfer money to it the same way you would with a checking account. The process is identical — PayPal will send two verification deposits, you confirm them, and then you can transfer money whenever you want.
Is there a fee for transferring money from PayPal to my bank?
No. Standard transfers are free. PayPal does offer an instant transfer option that costs $0.25 to $2.00 depending on the amount, but the regular one-to-three-day transfer has no fee.
What if PayPal says my bank account is not verified?
Check your email for a message from PayPal asking you to re-verify. If you see one, follow the link and enter the two deposit amounts again. If you do not see an email, contact PayPal support and ask why the account is flagged. PayPal may need you to provide additional information or re-link the account entirely.