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 then sends the money to the bank account you've linked — usually within one to three business days, though the exact timing depends on your bank. You don't pay a fee for standard transfers to a U.S. bank account, but PayPal offers a faster option called when ready Transfer that costs between 25 cents and $2 per transaction.

The money has to go somewhere before you can transfer it. If you received a payment, sold something, or got a refund, that money sits in your PayPal balance. You can only transfer what's actually there — you can't transfer money that hasn't arrived yet or money that's on hold.

Key Takeaways

• Standard transfers from PayPal to your bank account are free and take one to three business days.
• You must have a bank account linked to your PayPal account before you can transfer money.
• PayPal holds some payments for up to 21 days, so you may not be able to transfer money when ready after receiving it.
• when ready Transfer moves money within 30 minutes but costs 25 cents to $2 per transfer.
• If a transfer fails, PayPal returns the money to your PayPal balance within one business day.

Linking your bank account to PayPal

Before you can transfer money out, you need to tell PayPal which bank account to send it to. Go to Settings (the gear icon), select Wallet, then Add a Bank Account. PayPal will ask for your routing number and account number — both appear on the bottom left of a check, or you can call your bank to ask.

PayPal verifies the account by sending two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your bank. Your bank will show these deposits within one to two business days. You then log back into PayPal, go to Wallet, and confirm the two amounts. Once confirmed, the account is linked and you can transfer money to it.

If you already have a bank account linked and want to transfer to a different one, you can add a second account using the same process. PayPal lets you link multiple banks, but you can only transfer to one at a time.

When PayPal holds your money and why

Not all money in your PayPal balance is available to transfer right away. PayPal places holds on certain payments — usually for 21 days — to protect against fraud and chargebacks. A hold means the money is in your account but you can't spend it or transfer it until the hold lifts.

PayPal typically holds payments if you're a new seller, if a buyer paid with a credit card (rather than a bank transfer), or if the transaction looks unusual to PayPal's system. You can see which funds are on hold by going to your Wallet and looking at the "Available" balance versus your total balance. Only the Available amount can be transferred.

If you need the money before the hold ends, when ready Transfer will move your available balance when ready, but you'll pay the fee and you still can't touch the held portion.

Choosing between standard and when ready transfers

PayPal offers two ways to move money to your bank. Standard Transfer is free and takes one to three business days. when ready Transfer moves money within 30 minutes but costs 25 cents for transfers under $25, $1.50 for $25 to $200, and $2 for anything over $200.

Standard Transfer makes sense if you're not in a rush — you save the fee and the money arrives within a few days anyway. when ready Transfer is worth the cost if you need cash today or tomorrow and can't wait for the standard timeline. Both options transfer only your available balance, not money that's on hold.

To choose which type, go to your Wallet, select your linked bank account, and click Transfer Money. PayPal will show you both options and the fee (if any) before you confirm.

What to do if a transfer fails

A transfer can fail if your bank account information is wrong, if your bank rejects the deposit, or if there's a technical problem on PayPal's end. When this happens, PayPal returns the money to your PayPal balance within one business day — you don't lose it, it just comes back.

If you see a failed transfer, first check that your routing and account numbers are correct. Log into your bank's website to confirm, then go back to PayPal Settings and update the account information if needed. Try the transfer again with the corrected details.

If the transfer fails a second time, contact your bank directly. Ask them whether they're rejecting PayPal transfers or whether there's a problem with your account. Some banks flag transfers from payment apps as suspicious; your bank may need to whitelist PayPal on your account.

Timing and what to expect

Standard transfers arrive within one to three business days. This means if you request a transfer on a Friday, it may not show up in your bank account until Tuesday or Wednesday — weekends and bank holidays don't count. Your bank may also take an extra day to process the deposit once PayPal sends it.

when ready Transfers arrive within 30 minutes on business days between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern time. If you request an when ready Transfer outside those hours or on a weekend, it will process the next business day at 8 a.m.

Once the money reaches your bank, it's yours — PayPal has no further control over it. If you need to reverse a transfer, you'll have to contact your bank, not PayPal.

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 instead, which lets you transfer funds directly to another person's PayPal account or email address.

What if my bank account is outside the United States?

PayPal supports transfers to bank accounts in most countries, but the process and fees vary. Log into your PayPal account, go to Settings, and check which countries are supported for your account type. International transfers typically take longer and may have additional fees.

Do I have to transfer all my money at once?

No. You can transfer any amount up to your available balance. Enter the exact amount you want to move, and PayPal will transfer only that portion. The rest stays in your PayPal account.

What happens if I transfer money and then get a chargeback?

If a buyer disputes a transaction after you've already transferred the money to your bank, PayPal will deduct the chargeback amount from your PayPal balance. If your balance is too low, PayPal may ask you to repay the difference or may hold future transfers until the debt is settled.

Can I cancel a transfer after I've requested it?

For standard transfers, you can cancel within 30 minutes of requesting it. For when ready Transfers, you cannot cancel once the transfer has started. Check your transaction history to see the status — if it shows "processing" or "completed," it's too late to stop it.