The fastest way to get money from PayPal to your bank account
PayPal lets you transfer money to a linked bank account in one of two ways: a standard transfer that takes one to two business days, or an instant transfer that arrives within 30 minutes. Standard transfers are free. Instant transfers cost a flat fee (usually $0.25 to $2.00, depending on the amount) and require you to have already linked a debit card or bank account to your PayPal wallet.
Before you can move money either way, you must add your bank account to PayPal and confirm it. PayPal will deposit two small amounts (usually under $1 each) into your account, and you'll need to log into PayPal and enter those amounts to prove you own the account. This takes two to three business days the first time.
Once your bank account is confirmed, you can transfer money whenever you want. There's no daily or monthly limit on standard transfers, but instant transfers have a per-transaction cap (usually $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your account history).
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to your bank account are free and take one to two business days; instant transfers cost $0.25 to $2.00 and arrive within 30 minutes.
- You must link and confirm your bank account in PayPal first, which requires you to verify two small deposits PayPal sends to your account.
- Instant transfers require a linked debit card or bank account and have a per-transaction limit that varies based on your account history.
- You can transfer money from your PayPal balance, but not directly from a credit card or PayPal Credit line.
How to link your bank account to PayPal
Go to your PayPal account settings and select "Wallet" or "Banks and Cards." Click "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 view them. PayPal will ask whether the account is checking or savings; choose the correct type.
PayPal will then send two small deposits to your bank account within two to three business days. Once they arrive, go back to PayPal, select the bank account, and click "Confirm." Enter the two amounts PayPal deposited. After you confirm, the account is linked and ready to use for transfers.
If you want to use instant transfers, you'll also need to link a debit card. Add it the same way: go to "Banks and Cards," select "Link a Debit Card," and enter your card number, expiration date, and CVV. Instant transfers pull the fee from your debit card, not your PayPal balance.
Standard transfers: free but slower
A standard transfer moves money from your PayPal balance to your linked bank account at no cost. The money arrives in one to two business days. Weekends and bank holidays don't count as business days, so a transfer you start on Friday afternoon won't arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday.
To start a standard transfer, log into PayPal, go to "Wallet," and select your bank account. Click "Transfer Money" and enter the amount you want to move. PayPal will show you the expected arrival date before you confirm. Once you confirm, the transfer is locked in—you can't cancel it after that point, though you can contact PayPal Support if something goes wrong.
Standard transfers work for any amount in your PayPal balance. There's no minimum, and no daily or monthly cap. If you have $0.50 in PayPal, you can transfer it; if you have $10,000, you can transfer all of it in one go.
Instant transfers: fast but with a fee and a cap
An instant transfer moves money from your PayPal balance to your linked bank account within 30 minutes, but PayPal charges a fee. The fee is usually $0.25 for transfers under $100, $1.50 for transfers between $100 and $1,000, and $2.00 for transfers over $1,000. The exact fee structure varies by region and account type, so check PayPal's fee page before you transfer.
Instant transfers also have a per-transaction limit. For most accounts, the limit is $5,000 to $25,000 per transfer, depending on how long you've had your PayPal account and your transaction history. If you try to transfer more than your limit, PayPal will tell you the maximum you can move and offer to do a standard transfer for the rest.
To use instant transfer, you must have a linked debit card on file. The fee comes out of your debit card, not your PayPal balance, so make sure your debit card has enough available credit. Go to "Wallet," select your bank account, and look for an "Instant Transfer" option. If you don't see it, your account may not be may be able to access yet—PayPal rolls out instant transfer access gradually.
What money you can and cannot transfer
You can only transfer money that sits in your PayPal balance. If you received a payment, sold something, or got a refund, that money goes into your balance and is available to transfer. If you received money as a gift or from a family transfer, it also goes into your balance.
You cannot transfer money that's tied up in a hold or reserve. PayPal sometimes holds funds for 24 hours after a transaction, or longer if you're a new seller or the transaction looks unusual. You also cannot transfer money from a credit card you linked to PayPal, or from a PayPal Credit line. Those are payment methods, not sources of funds. If you want to move money from a credit card to your bank account, you'll need to use a cash advance or a different service.
If your PayPal balance is negative (you owe PayPal money), you can't transfer anything until you pay off the debt. PayPal will apply any incoming payments to the negative balance first.
Troubleshooting transfers that don't arrive on time
If a standard transfer doesn't show up after two business days, or an instant transfer doesn't arrive within 30 minutes, log into PayPal and check the transfer status. Go to "Activity" or "Transactions," find the transfer, and click it to see details. PayPal will tell you whether the transfer is pending, processing, or complete.
If PayPal says the transfer is complete but your bank hasn't received it, contact your bank. Give them the transfer date and amount, and ask them to search for a pending deposit. Sometimes banks take an extra day to post transfers, or the transfer may be stuck in their system. Your bank can trace it and push it through if needed.
If PayPal says the transfer failed, the most common reason is a mismatch between your PayPal account and your bank account—for example, the name on your PayPal account doesn't match the name on your bank account, or you entered the wrong routing number. PayPal will usually tell you why it failed. You can try the transfer again with corrected information, or contact PayPal Support to ask them to investigate.
Fees and limits across different transfer types
| Transfer Type | Speed | Fee | Per-Transaction Limit | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1–2 business days | Free | None | Linked bank account |
| Instant | Within 30 minutes | $0.25–$2.00 | $5,000–$25,000 | Linked bank account + debit card |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No, PayPal transfers only go to a bank account linked to your own PayPal account. If you want to send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send Money" feature to transfer to their PayPal account or email address, or use a different service like Venmo or a wire transfer through your bank.
What if my bank account is in a different name than my PayPal account?
PayPal requires the name on your bank account to match the name on your PayPal account. If they don't match, transfers will fail. You'll need to update your PayPal account name or link a different bank account that matches your PayPal name. Contact PayPal Support if you need to change your account name.
How long does it take to confirm my bank account the first time?
PayPal deposits two small amounts into your bank account, which takes two to three business days. Once they arrive, you enter the amounts into PayPal to confirm ownership. After confirmation, your account is ready to use immediately. The whole process usually takes three to five business days from start to finish.
Can I transfer money on weekends or holidays?
You can start a transfer on a weekend or holiday, but it won't arrive until the next business day. If you start a standard transfer on Saturday, it will arrive on Monday or Tuesday. Instant transfers may also be delayed if the receiving bank is closed, though PayPal usually processes them within 30 minutes regardless.
What happens if I transfer money by mistake?
Once a transfer is confirmed, you can't cancel it through PayPal. If you transferred the wrong amount or to the wrong account, contact PayPal Support immediately. They can sometimes reverse a transfer if it hasn't been processed yet, but if your bank has already received it, you'll need to ask your bank to reverse it or contact the account holder to ask for a refund.