How to move money from PayPal to your bank account
To transfer money from PayPal to your bank account, you link a bank account to your PayPal wallet, then initiate a transfer from the PayPal app or website. The money lands in your bank account in 1 to 3 business days for standard transfers, or the same day if you pay a fee for instant transfer. You need your bank's routing number and your account number, both printed on the bottom left of your checks or available through your bank's website or app.
PayPal does not charge a fee for standard transfers to a linked U.S. bank account. Instant transfers cost 1.5% of the amount you send, with a minimum fee of 25 cents. If your bank account is not yet linked, you will need to add it first—PayPal verifies new accounts by depositing two small amounts (usually under $1 each) that you confirm in your PayPal account within 10 days.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to a linked bank account take 1 to 3 business days and cost nothing.
- Instant transfers arrive the same day but cost 1.5% of the amount, with a 25-cent minimum fee.
- You must link your bank account first by providing your routing and account numbers, then confirming two small deposits PayPal sends.
- Money in your PayPal balance is separate from your bank account until you transfer it; PayPal holds the funds until the transfer completes.
- If a transfer fails, PayPal returns the money to your PayPal balance within 1 to 3 business days.
Linking your bank account to PayPal for the first time
Go to your PayPal account settings and select Wallet or Banks and Cards (the exact label varies by app version). Choose Link a Bank Account and enter your bank's name, your routing number, and your account number. PayPal will ask whether the account is checking or savings. Do not guess—use your bank's website or call the bank if you are unsure.
PayPal then deposits two small amounts into that account, usually within 1 to 2 business days. Check your bank statement for these deposits; they appear as small charges from PayPal with a code in the description. Return to PayPal, go to the bank account you just added, and select Confirm Deposits. Enter the two amounts exactly as they appear on your statement. Once confirmed, the account is linked and ready to receive transfers.
If you do not confirm the deposits within 10 days, PayPal removes the bank account and you must start over. If the deposits do not appear after 3 business days, check that you entered the routing and account numbers correctly. A single digit wrong will send the deposits to the wrong account.
Sending a standard transfer (1 to 3 business days)
Open your PayPal app or go to PayPal.com and log in. Select Wallet (or Money on some versions), then Transfer Money. Choose Transfer to Your Bank. PayPal shows your PayPal balance and asks how much you want to send. Enter the amount and select your linked bank account from the dropdown.
Review the details: the amount, the bank account name, and the expected arrival date (PayPal shows this before you confirm). Select Transfer Now or Continue. PayPal removes the money from your PayPal balance immediately and holds it until the transfer settles. You will see the transfer listed in your PayPal activity as Pending.
The money lands in your bank account 1 to 3 business days later. Weekends and bank holidays add time—a transfer initiated on Friday evening may not arrive until Wednesday. Once the money reaches your bank, your bank account statement shows it as a deposit from PayPal. You can then spend it like any other deposit.
Sending an instant transfer (same day, with a fee)
If you need the money today, PayPal offers instant transfers for 1.5% of the amount you send, with a minimum fee of 25 cents. This means transferring $100 costs $1.50; transferring $20 costs 25 cents. The money arrives in your linked bank account within 30 minutes on business days, or within a few hours on weekends.
To use instant transfer, follow the same steps as a standard transfer but look for an Instant Transfer option or toggle. PayPal shows the fee before you confirm. Not all bank accounts are may be able to access for instant transfer—PayPal may restrict it if your account is new or if you have had disputes. If the option does not appear, only standard transfer is available for you.
Instant transfers are not reversible once sent. If you send money to the wrong account by mistake, contact PayPal support immediately, but recovery is not may provide. For this reason, confirm the bank account name and last four digits before you authorize the transfer.
What happens if a transfer fails or is delayed
A transfer can fail if your bank account information is wrong, your bank rejects the deposit, or your PayPal account has a hold or limitation. PayPal sends you a notification if a transfer fails. The money returns to your PayPal balance within 1 to 3 business days. Check your PayPal activity to see the reason for the failure—it usually appears in the transfer details.
If the reason is a wrong account number or routing number, correct it in your PayPal wallet settings before trying again. If your bank rejected the deposit, contact your bank to ask why; common reasons include a closed account, a name mismatch, or a fraud block. Once you resolve the issue with your bank, you can retry the transfer.
Delays beyond 3 business days are rare but can happen during bank system outages or high-volume periods. If your transfer shows as completed in PayPal but has not arrived in your bank account after 5 business days, contact PayPal support with your transfer confirmation number and your bank account details. PayPal can investigate whether the money is stuck in the banking system.
Transferring money you received from others
When someone sends you money through PayPal, it lands in your PayPal balance, not your bank account. You must transfer it yourself to access it from your bank. The process is identical to transferring your own money: go to Wallet, select Transfer to Your Bank, enter the amount, and choose standard or instant transfer.
Money received from friends or family through PayPal's peer-to-peer feature (sometimes called Friends and Family or Send Money) is usually available to transfer immediately. Money received as a payment for goods or services may have a hold—PayPal holds it for 21 days on new accounts or if the transaction is unusual. You cannot transfer money that is on hold; you can only spend it within PayPal or wait for the hold to lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to someone else's bank account?
No. PayPal transfers only go to a bank account registered in your own name. To send money to someone else's bank account, they must have their own PayPal account and you send it to them through PayPal; they then transfer it to their own bank. You cannot bypass this by transferring to their account directly.
What if I enter the wrong bank account number?
If you catch the error before the transfer completes, cancel it immediately through your PayPal activity. If the transfer already went through, contact PayPal support right away with the wrong account details. PayPal can sometimes recover the money, but success depends on whether the receiving bank has already processed it. Do not rely on recovery—always double-check the account number before confirming.
Why does my transfer show as pending for more than 3 days?
Delays usually mean your bank is processing the deposit slowly, or PayPal encountered an issue with your account or bank. Check your bank account directly to see if the money arrived without showing as pending in PayPal. If it has not arrived after 5 business days, contact PayPal support with your transfer confirmation number and ask them to investigate the status with your bank.
Can I transfer money from PayPal to a savings account instead of checking?
Yes. When you link your bank account, PayPal asks whether it is checking or savings. Select the correct type. Transfers work the same way regardless of account type, and the timeline remains 1 to 3 business days for standard transfers.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer at once?
PayPal sets transfer limits based on your account age, history, and verification status. New accounts may have lower limits. Check your PayPal wallet settings under Transfer Limits to see your current maximum. If you need to transfer more than your limit allows, you can make multiple transfers on different days, or contact PayPal support to request a limit increase.