How to Move Money From PayPal to Your Bank Account

PayPal gives you four ways to move money to a bank account, and the method you choose depends on how fast you need the money and whether you want to pay a fee

The most common route is a standard transfer, which takes one to two business days and costs nothing. If you need money the same day, PayPal offers an when ready transfer for a flat fee of around $0.25 to $2.00, depending on the amount. You can also withdraw cash at an ATM using a PayPal debit card if you have one, or transfer to a linked prepaid card. The steps are nearly identical across all methods — you log into PayPal, choose your bank account or card, enter the amount, and confirm.

Before you transfer anything, PayPal requires you to link and confirm a bank account. This confirmation step takes a few days because PayPal deposits two small amounts into your account, and you have to log back in and enter those amounts to prove you own the account. Until that's done, you cannot move money out.

Key Takeaways

• A standard transfer to a linked bank account takes one to two business days and has no fee.
• when ready transfers cost $0.25 to $2.00 depending on amount and move money within 30 minutes, but are only available if you have linked a debit card or bank account for at least 14 days.
• You must link your bank account and confirm it by entering two small deposit amounts before you can transfer money for the first time.
• PayPal does not transfer on weekends or federal holidays, so a transfer requested Friday evening may not arrive until Tuesday.

How to link and confirm your bank account the first time

Go to your PayPal account settings and select "Linked banks and cards" or "Wallet." Click "Link a bank account" and enter your routing number and account number — both appear on the bottom left of a check, or you can find them by logging into your bank's website. PayPal will ask for your bank's name and your account type (checking or savings).

Within one to two business days, PayPal deposits two amounts under $0.25 each into your account. Log back into PayPal, go to your linked bank account, and click "Confirm." Enter the two amounts PayPal deposited. Once you confirm, the account is active and you can transfer money when ready.

If you do not see the deposits after three business days, check that you entered your routing and account numbers correctly. You can delete the unconfirmed account and try again. Some banks take longer to process small deposits, particularly if they are credit unions or online-only banks.

Standard transfers: no fee, one to two business days

Log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app. Click "Transfer money" or the money icon, then select "Transfer to your bank." Choose the bank account you want to use from the dropdown menu. Enter the amount and click "Transfer now."

PayPal will show you the expected arrival date before you confirm. Standard transfers arrive within one to two business days, but this clock starts only on business days — a transfer you request on Friday evening will not arrive until Tuesday at the earliest. Transfers requested on a weekend or federal holiday (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) do not begin processing until the next business day.

There is no fee for standard transfers, and PayPal does not charge your bank account anything either. The money comes directly from your PayPal balance.

when ready transfers: $0.25 to $2.00 fee, arrives within 30 minutes

when ready transfers move money to a linked debit card or bank account within 30 minutes, but you pay a small fee. The fee depends on the amount you transfer — PayPal's current structure charges around $0.25 for transfers under $10, $0.75 for $10 to $200, and $2.00 for amounts over $200, though these amounts can change.

You can only use when ready transfer if you have had a debit card or bank account linked to PayPal for at least 14 days. This is a security measure to prevent fraud. If you just linked your account today, you will have to wait two weeks before when ready transfer becomes available.

To request an when ready transfer, go to "Transfer money," select "Transfer to your bank," and choose your linked debit card or bank account. Enter the amount and look for the option that says "when ready" or shows the fee. Confirm the transfer. The money will arrive in your account within 30 minutes on any day PayPal processes transfers — including weekends and most holidays.

Using a PayPal debit card to withdraw cash

If you have a PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account with a debit card, you can withdraw money at any ATM that accepts Mastercard. There is no fee for withdrawals at MoneyPass ATMs (a network of over 40,000 machines), but other ATM operators may charge their own fees — usually $2 to $3 per withdrawal.

The money comes out of your PayPal balance when ready. You do not need a separate bank account to use this method, which makes it useful if you do not have a traditional bank or prefer not to link one. However, PayPal debit cards are not available in all states, and you have to meet PayPal's requirements to open a Cash or Cash Plus account.

What happens if your transfer fails or takes longer than expected

A transfer can fail if your bank account information is incorrect, your bank rejects the deposit, or your PayPal account is limited or under review. PayPal will send you a notification explaining why the transfer did not go through, usually within one business day. The money returns to your PayPal balance automatically.

If a standard transfer does not arrive within three business days, log into PayPal and check the transaction history to confirm the transfer was sent. If it shows as completed but the money is not in your bank account, contact your bank — sometimes deposits are delayed on their end, or they may have flagged the transfer as suspicious. Have your PayPal transaction ID ready when you call.

when ready transfers that do not arrive within 30 minutes are rare, but if yours does not show up, check that you selected the correct bank account or debit card. If the transfer shows as completed in PayPal but is missing from your account, contact PayPal's resolution center and provide your transaction ID and the date and time of the transfer.

Transferring to someone else's bank account

PayPal does not allow you to transfer money directly to another person's bank account. You can only transfer to a bank account that is linked to your own PayPal account. If you want to send money to someone else, you can use PayPal's "Send money" feature to transfer to their PayPal account, email address, or phone number — they will then have the option to transfer it to their own bank account.

Some third-party services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) allow you to send money from PayPal to another person's bank account internationally, but these involve additional fees and steps beyond PayPal's built-in transfer tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money from PayPal to a bank account that is not in my name?

No. PayPal requires that the bank account you link belongs to you. If you try to link an account in someone else's name, PayPal will ask for verification and may close your account if you cannot prove ownership. The confirmation deposits are one way PayPal verifies this — they go into the account holder's name.

What is the maximum amount I can transfer at one time?

PayPal does not publish a single maximum transfer amount — it depends on your account history, how long you have been a customer, and whether your account has any limitations. New accounts typically have lower limits than established ones. Check your PayPal account settings under "Transfer limits" to see your personal limit, or contact PayPal if you need to transfer more than the displayed amount.

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

Transferring money from PayPal to your bank account is not a taxable event by itself — you are moving money you already earned or received. However, the money that was in your PayPal account in the first place may be taxable depending on how you earned it. If you received it as payment for goods or services, it is income. If it was a refund or personal transfer from a friend, it is not. Keep records of where the money came from.

Why does PayPal show a different amount available to transfer than my total PayPal balance?

PayPal holds some money for pending transactions, disputes, or holds related to your account activity. Only the amount shown as "available" can be transferred. If you have recent sales, refunds, or open disputes, PayPal may be holding part of your balance temporarily. The hold is usually released within a few days once the transaction settles.