The fastest way is a standard transfer, which takes one to three business days and costs nothing
Open PayPal on your phone or computer, go to your Wallet, and select the bank account you want to send money to. Choose the amount, confirm it, and the transfer starts immediately—but the money won't land in your bank for one to three business days. PayPal doesn't charge you for this. The delay happens because your bank and PayPal have to exchange information through the banking system, not because PayPal is holding the money.
If you haven't linked a bank account yet, you'll need to add one first. PayPal will ask for your routing number and account number (both on the bottom left of a check, or available through your bank's app or website). PayPal verifies the account by depositing two small amounts—usually under a dollar each—into your bank within a few days. You'll see those deposits in your bank statement and have to confirm the amounts back in PayPal to complete the link. This verification step takes two to four business days total.
Once your bank account is linked and verified, you can transfer money whenever you want. There's no daily limit on how much you can move, though PayPal may flag unusually large transfers for review.
Key Takeaways
- Standard transfers from PayPal to a linked bank account are free and take one to three business days.
- You must link and verify your bank account first, which requires PayPal to deposit two small test amounts that you confirm back in the app.
- Instant transfers to a debit card cost 1.5% of the amount and land within 30 minutes, but only work with certain debit cards.
- Weekends and bank holidays add time to all transfers because the banking system doesn't process payments outside business hours.
- If a transfer fails, PayPal will return the money to your PayPal balance within one to three business days.
How to link your bank account for the first time
Go to Settings (the gear icon) in PayPal, then select Wallet or Bank Accounts depending on your app version. Tap Add Bank Account and enter your routing number and account number. You can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website or app and look for account details or routing information. PayPal will ask whether the account is checking or savings—choose the correct type or the verification will fail.
After you enter the numbers, PayPal deposits two amounts (usually between 1 and 99 cents each) into your bank account within two to four business days. Check your bank statement for those deposits, then return to PayPal and enter both amounts. Once you confirm them, your account is verified and ready to use for transfers.
If you enter the wrong routing or account number, the test deposits will go to the wrong bank and you'll have to start over. If you can't find your routing number, call your bank's customer service line—it's on the back of your debit card or on your bank's website.
Instant transfers cost money but arrive in minutes
PayPal offers instant transfers to a linked debit card for 1.5% of the amount you're sending. If you transfer $100, you pay $1.50 and the money lands in your debit card account within 30 minutes, usually much faster. This only works with debit cards, not savings or checking accounts, and only certain card networks may have access to—Visa and Mastercard usually work, but some regional or prepaid cards don't.
To use instant transfer, go to your Wallet, select Transfer Money, choose your debit card from the list, enter the amount, and confirm. PayPal will show you the fee before you complete the transfer. The money goes to your debit card's account, so you can use it immediately at stores or ATMs, even though it may take a few minutes to show up in your card's app.
Instant transfer is useful if you need cash today, but the fee adds up if you transfer frequently. For regular money movement, the free standard transfer is almost always the better choice.
What happens if a transfer fails or gets stuck
A transfer can fail for a few reasons: the bank account information is wrong, your bank rejected it, or PayPal flagged it as suspicious. If it fails, PayPal will send you a notification explaining why. The money returns to your PayPal balance within one to three business days—you don't lose it.
If the transfer is taking longer than three business days and you haven't received a failure notice, check your bank's website or app to see if it arrived. Sometimes a transfer lands but takes time to show up in your available balance. If it's been more than three business days and your bank says it never arrived, contact PayPal's Resolution Center with your transaction ID (you can find it in your PayPal activity history) and your bank's name. PayPal will investigate and either resend the money or credit your PayPal account.
Weekends and holidays pause the clock. If you transfer money on a Friday evening, the one-to-three-day window starts on Monday. If Monday is a holiday, it starts on Tuesday.
Why your transfer might be delayed or blocked
PayPal holds or reviews transfers for several reasons. If you're transferring a large amount for the first time, or if your account is new, PayPal may place a temporary hold while it verifies the transaction. This is a fraud prevention step and usually clears within 24 hours. You'll see a notification in your PayPal account explaining the hold.
Your bank can also delay a transfer. Some banks flag incoming transfers from digital payment services like PayPal and review them before crediting your account. This is rare but more common with smaller or regional banks. If your bank is reviewing the transfer, contact your bank's customer service—they can tell you whether it's held and when it will clear.
If you've recently changed your bank account information in PayPal, or if you're transferring to a different bank than usual, PayPal may ask you to verify the new account before the transfer goes through. This is another security step and usually takes a few minutes to complete in the app.
Transferring from a PayPal balance that includes holds or disputes
If you have an active dispute or a hold on your PayPal account, you may not be able to transfer money. PayPal freezes funds when a buyer or seller dispute is open, or when it's investigating a transaction. You can still see the money in your balance, but you can't move it until the dispute closes or the investigation finishes.
If you're blocked from transferring, check your Resolution Center to see if there's an open case. If there is, you'll need to wait for PayPal to close it—this usually takes 20 to 180 days depending on the type of dispute. If you believe the hold is a mistake, you can contact PayPal Support through the Resolution Center and ask them to review it.
Holds are different from limits. If PayPal has limited your account (usually for new accounts or after suspicious activity), you may be able to transfer money but only up to a certain amount per day or per month. Your account page will show any limits that apply.
Moving money from PayPal to a different bank account
You can link multiple bank accounts to PayPal and transfer to any of them. To add a second account, go to Settings, select Wallet or Bank Accounts, and add the new account the same way you added the first one—with routing and account numbers, and verification through two test deposits.
Once both accounts are verified, you can choose which one to transfer to each time you move money. This is useful if you have accounts at different banks or if you want to move money to a joint account instead of your personal one. The transfer process and timeline are the same regardless of which account you choose.
If you want to remove a bank account from PayPal, go to your Wallet, find the account, and select Remove or Delete. PayPal will stop letting you transfer to that account, but any transfers already in progress will still complete. Removing an account doesn't affect your PayPal balance or your ability to receive payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal on a weekend or holiday?
You can start a transfer anytime, but it won't process until the next business day. If you transfer on Saturday, the one-to-three-day clock starts on Monday. If Monday is a holiday, it starts Tuesday. Instant transfers to a debit card may process on weekends, but standard bank transfers never do.
What's the difference between a transfer and a withdrawal?
In PayPal's language, they're the same thing—both move money from your PayPal balance to your bank account. Some older PayPal pages use "withdrawal" and newer ones use "transfer," but the process and timeline are identical.
Do I have to transfer all my PayPal balance at once?
No. You can transfer any amount, as long as you have that much in your PayPal balance. You can transfer $5 today and $50 tomorrow. There's no minimum transfer amount, though some banks may reject very small transfers (under $1) as suspicious.
What if my bank account number changed?
Update it in PayPal's Wallet settings. Remove the old account and add the new one with your new routing and account numbers. You'll have to verify the new account with two test deposits again. Don't transfer to the old account number after you've closed it, or the money will be rejected and returned to PayPal.
Can I transfer money from PayPal to a credit card?
No. PayPal only transfers to bank accounts (checking or savings) or debit cards. Credit cards don't work because they're borrowing accounts, not deposit accounts. If you need to pay a credit card bill, transfer to your bank account first, then pay the credit card from there.