How to Move Money From PayPal to Your Bank Account

The basic steps to transfer PayPal funds to your bank

To move money from PayPal to your bank account, you log into PayPal, go to your Wallet, select your bank account, and request a transfer. PayPal sends the money to the bank account you've linked — the same way you'd move funds between any two accounts you own. The transfer usually takes one to three business days, though the exact timing depends on your bank.

You don't need to do anything special to prepare. PayPal doesn't charge a fee for standard transfers to a linked U.S. bank account. The only requirement is that you've already connected your bank account to PayPal and verified it — a step PayPal asks you to do when you first set up your account, or you can add a bank later if you haven't yet.

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 in PayPal before you can transfer money to it.
• PayPal offers an when ready transfer option that moves money the same day, but charges a small fee (usually 1% of the amount, with a minimum).
• The transfer appears in your bank account as a deposit from PayPal, and you can see it pending in both PayPal and your bank during the process.

How to link your bank account to PayPal if you haven't already

If you've never connected a bank account to PayPal, you'll need to do that first. Log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app, go to Settings (the gear icon), select Wallet, and choose "Link a bank account." PayPal will ask for your bank's routing number, your account number, and the account type (checking or savings). You can find both numbers on a check, or call your bank's customer service line.

After you enter the information, PayPal will verify the account by depositing two small amounts — usually a few cents each — into your bank account within one to two business days. Your bank will show these deposits in your transaction history. PayPal will then ask you to confirm the two amounts. Once you do, the account is verified and you can transfer money to it.

This verification step is a security measure. It proves you own the bank account and prevents someone from linking an account that isn't theirs. You only have to verify once per bank account.

The step-by-step process to transfer money

Open PayPal and log in. On the home page or in the menu, select Wallet (on mobile, tap the wallet icon at the bottom). You'll see a list of your linked payment methods — cards, bank accounts, and any other accounts you've connected.

Find your bank account in the list and tap or click on it. A menu will appear with options. Select "Transfer money" or "Withdraw." PayPal will then ask how much you want to transfer. Enter the amount and confirm. Review the details — the amount, the receiving bank account, and the expected arrival date — then tap or click "Transfer Now" or "Confirm."

PayPal will show you a confirmation screen with a reference number. You can take a screenshot or write down this number in case you need to check on the transfer later. The money will leave your PayPal balance when ready and show as pending in both PayPal and your bank account.

Standard transfers versus when ready transfers

PayPal offers two ways to move money to your bank: a standard transfer and an when ready transfer. The standard transfer is free and takes one to three business days. The when ready transfer moves the money the same day, usually within minutes, but PayPal charges a fee — typically 1% of the amount you're transferring, with a minimum fee (often around $0.25) and a maximum (often around $25, though this varies).

Which one you choose depends on how quickly you need the money. If you're moving money for a bill due in a few days, standard is fine and costs nothing. If you need it today — for example, to cover an unexpected expense — when ready transfer gets it to you right away, but you'll pay a small percentage of the amount.

Not all PayPal accounts have when ready transfer available. If you don't see the option in your Wallet, your account may not be may be able to access yet, or you may need to add more information to your PayPal profile first.

What happens after you request the transfer

Once you confirm the transfer, PayPal removes the money from your PayPal balance right away. In your PayPal transaction history, you'll see the transfer listed as pending. Your bank account will also show the incoming transfer as pending — the exact label varies by bank, but it usually says something like "Pending deposit from PayPal" or "ACH transfer in progress."

During the one- to three-day window, the money is in transit between PayPal's bank and your bank. You can't cancel the transfer once it's started, so make sure the amount and receiving account are correct before you confirm. If you made a mistake, contact PayPal's customer service, though they may not be able to stop a transfer that's already in motion.

When the transfer completes, the pending status disappears from both PayPal and your bank, and the money is fully in your account. You'll receive a confirmation email from PayPal. At that point, you can spend the money normally — write a check, use your debit card, or transfer it elsewhere.

Troubleshooting transfers that don't arrive on time

Most transfers arrive within the stated timeframe, but delays do happen. If your transfer hasn't shown up after three business days, first check that you requested it on a business day. Transfers requested on a Friday evening or over a weekend don't start processing until Monday. Holidays also pause the clock.

Log into PayPal and check your transaction history to confirm the transfer went through and shows a completion date. If PayPal shows it as completed but your bank hasn't received it, contact your bank's customer service with the reference number from PayPal. The bank can trace the incoming transfer and tell you where it is.

If PayPal shows the transfer as still pending after four or five business days, or if it shows as failed, contact PayPal's customer service through the Resolution Center in your account. Have your reference number and the date you requested the transfer ready. PayPal can investigate whether the transfer was rejected by your bank (which sometimes happens if the account information was entered incorrectly) or if there was a problem on PayPal's end.

Limits on how much you can transfer

PayPal sets limits on how much you can transfer in a single transaction and over a period of time. These limits vary based on your account history, how long you've had your account, and how much you've transferred before. New accounts typically have lower limits than established ones.

You can see your transfer limit by going to your Wallet and attempting to transfer money — PayPal will show you the maximum amount available. If you need to transfer more than your limit allows, you can request a limit increase through your account settings, though PayPal may ask you to wait a certain amount of time or provide additional information before raising it.

Business accounts and personal accounts may have different limits. If you use PayPal for business, check whether your account type affects how much you can move to your bank at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PayPal charge a fee to transfer money to my bank account?

Standard transfers to a linked bank account are free. when ready transfers, which move the money the same day, charge a fee of about 1% of the amount (with a minimum and maximum). PayPal shows you the exact fee before you confirm, so you know the cost upfront.

Why is my transfer taking longer than three business days?

Delays usually happen because the transfer was requested on a weekend or holiday, which pauses processing. Bank system issues or incorrect account information can also slow things down. Check your PayPal transaction history to see the status, and contact your bank if PayPal shows the transfer as completed but you haven't received it.

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

No. Transfers from PayPal go only to bank accounts linked to your own PayPal account. To send money to someone else, use PayPal's "Send money" feature, which lets you transfer funds to another PayPal user's email address or phone number.

What if I entered the wrong bank account number when I linked my account?

If you haven't transferred money yet, go to your Wallet, find the bank account, and delete it. Then link the correct account and verify it with the two small deposits. If you've already transferred money to the wrong account, contact PayPal's customer service right away with the transfer reference number — they may be able to recover the funds, though this depends on the bank and how long ago the transfer occurred.

Can I transfer money from PayPal to a savings account instead of checking?

Yes. When you link your bank account, PayPal asks whether it's a checking or savings account. You can link either type and transfer to whichever you choose. The process is the same.