PayPal gives you three ways to get your money into a bank account: instant transfer, standard transfer, and withdrawal to a debit card

Instant transfer moves money to your linked bank account in minutes, but costs $0.25 per transfer. Standard transfer takes one to three business days and is free. Debit card withdrawal puts money on a PayPal Debit Mastercard if you have one, usually within 30 minutes and at no cost. Which one you use depends on how fast you need the money and whether the small fee matters to you.

Before you can move money out, your PayPal account must be verified — PayPal will ask for your Social Security number and confirm your identity. Your bank account must also be linked to your PayPal account and confirmed. If you have not done this yet, PayPal will walk you through it the first time you try to transfer.

Key Takeaways

  • Instant transfer costs $0.25 and arrives in minutes; standard transfer is free but takes one to three business days.
  • Your PayPal account must be verified with your Social Security number, and your bank account must be linked and confirmed before you can transfer.
  • You can transfer from your PayPal balance, or directly from a linked bank account or card if you do not have a balance.
  • Transfers to a linked debit card are usually free and arrive within 30 minutes if you have a PayPal Debit Mastercard.
  • If a transfer fails, check that your bank account is still linked, that you have not hit PayPal's transfer limits, and that your bank has not blocked the transaction.

How to set up your bank account link in PayPal

Log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app. Go to Wallet (or Account on older versions), then select Link a bank account. Enter your routing number and account number — you can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website to see them. PayPal will ask for your account type (checking or savings) and the account holder's name.

PayPal will then make two small deposits into your bank account, usually within one to two business days. You will need to confirm the exact amounts of these deposits back in PayPal to prove you own the account. Once confirmed, your bank account is linked and ready to use. If you skip this step, PayPal will ask you to complete it the first time you try to transfer money out.

Instant transfer: the fastest option

Instant transfer moves money to your bank account in minutes, but PayPal charges $0.25 per transfer. To use it, open PayPal, go to Wallet, and select Transfer money. Choose Transfer to your bank, enter the amount, and select Instant transfer from the dropdown. PayPal will show you the fee and the arrival time before you confirm.

Instant transfer works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. The money usually lands in your account within minutes, though in rare cases it can take up to one hour. Your bank may take additional time to post the deposit to your available balance — some banks show it right away, others wait until the next business day.

You can make multiple instant transfers in one day, but PayPal has a weekly limit on how much you can transfer out. The limit varies based on your account history and verification status, but typically starts at $5,000 per week for newer accounts. If you hit the limit, you will have to wait until the next week or use standard transfer instead.

Standard transfer: the free option

Standard transfer is free and takes one to three business days. Go to Wallet, select Transfer money, choose Transfer to your bank, enter the amount, and select Standard transfer from the dropdown. PayPal will show you the expected arrival date before you confirm.

Standard transfer only works on business days. If you initiate a transfer on a Friday evening, it will not begin processing until Monday morning, and the money will arrive Tuesday through Thursday depending on your bank's processing speed. Weekends and federal holidays do not count toward the one- to three-day window.

Standard transfer has no weekly limit, so you can move as much money as you want out of your PayPal balance. If you are moving a large amount, standard transfer is the cheapest way to do it.

Transferring to a PayPal Debit Mastercard

If you have a PayPal Debit Mastercard, you can move money to it for free, and it usually arrives within 30 minutes. Open PayPal, go to Wallet, select Transfer money, and choose Transfer to your card. Enter the amount and confirm. The money will be available to spend or withdraw at an ATM.

This option is useful if you need cash quickly but do not want to pay the $0.25 instant transfer fee. You can withdraw the money from any Mastercard-compatible ATM, though some ATMs charge a fee depending on your bank and the network. You can also use the card to make purchases directly.

If you do not have a PayPal Debit Mastercard, you can order one through PayPal. It usually arrives within seven to ten business days. There is no annual fee, but PayPal charges for certain services like ATM withdrawals outside the US or expedited shipping.

What to do if your transfer fails or gets stuck

If a transfer does not go through, PayPal will usually tell you why. The most common reasons are: your bank account is no longer linked, you have hit your weekly transfer limit, your bank rejected the deposit, or there is a temporary issue with PayPal's system.

First, check that your bank account is still linked. Go to Wallet, select Linked bank accounts, and confirm it is there. If it is not, you will need to link it again and wait for the verification deposits. If it is linked, try the transfer again — sometimes a temporary glitch will resolve itself.

If the transfer fails a second time, contact your bank directly. Tell them you are trying to receive a transfer from PayPal and ask if they have blocked it. Some banks flag transfers from payment platforms as suspicious and reject them automatically. Your bank can whitelist PayPal to prevent this in the future.

If your bank says the transfer went through but the money never arrived in your account, contact PayPal support. Provide them with the transfer confirmation number (PayPal will have sent you an email with this) and the date and amount. PayPal can trace the transfer and work with your bank to locate the money.

Transferring money you do not have in your PayPal balance

If your PayPal balance is zero but you want to transfer money to your bank account, you can do so directly from a linked bank account or credit card. Go to Wallet, select Transfer money, and choose Transfer to your bank. PayPal will ask which funding source you want to use — select your bank account.

This is useful if you sold something on eBay or received a payment through PayPal but have not yet transferred it to your balance, or if you want to move money from your bank account to another bank account using PayPal as the intermediary. The transfer will still follow the same timeline: instant (with a fee) or standard (free).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it really take for money to show up in my bank account?

Instant transfer usually arrives in minutes, but can take up to one hour. Standard transfer takes one to three business days from the time PayPal processes it — if you transfer on a Friday, processing does not start until Monday. Your bank may also take an extra day to post the deposit to your available balance, even after it arrives.

Can I transfer money to someone else's bank account through PayPal?

No. PayPal transfers only go to the bank account linked to your own PayPal account. If you want to send money to someone else, use PayPal's Send money feature instead, which lets you send to their email address or phone number. They will receive it in their PayPal account or linked bank account depending on their settings.

What if my bank account information changes?

If you close your bank account or switch banks, you need to unlink the old account and link the new one. Go to Wallet, select Linked bank accounts, and remove the old account. Then add your new bank account and wait for the verification deposits. Any transfers you initiated before unlinking will still go to the old account, so contact your old bank to retrieve them.

Is there a limit to how much I can transfer?

Instant transfer has a weekly limit that varies by account, usually starting at $5,000 per week. Standard transfer has no weekly limit. Your bank may also have its own limits on how much money can be deposited in one day, so check with them if you are moving a very large amount.

Do I pay taxes on money I transfer from PayPal to my bank account?

Transferring your own money from PayPal to your bank account is not a taxable event. However, if the money in your PayPal account came from selling goods or services, that income is taxable. PayPal will send you a tax form if you meet certain thresholds. Keep records of what the money was for in case you need to report it to the IRS.