Vacation Accrual Calculator

Vacation accrual is the process of earning vacation days incrementally as you work, rather than having all days available immediately. Most employers accrue vacation on a per-pay-period basis. For example, with 15 days per year paid biweekly, you earn 15 ÷ 26 ≈ 0.577 days every two weeks.

Front-loaded (lump-sum) vacation grants the entire year's balance on a set date, usually January 1st or your hire anniversary. Accrual-based vacation means you earn days gradually throughout the year. Front-loaded is simpler to administer and better for employees, but creates a liability risk for employers if someone leaves early in the year having taken all their days.

In most US states, once vacation is accrued it cannot be taken away (it is considered earned wages). However, some states allow use-it-or-lose-it policies where unused vacation expires at year-end. California, Colorado, and a few other states prohibit forfeiture of accrued vacation — employers must pay it out upon termination.

The average US worker receives about 10 days of vacation after year one, rising to 15 days after 5 years, and 20 days after 15+ years. This is significantly lower than most European countries where 20–30 days are common. Some tech companies now offer 20–25 days from day one or unlimited PTO.

Carryover policies vary by employer and state. Common policies include: no carryover (use-it-or-lose-it), limited carryover (e.g., max 5 days), and full carryover with a cap on total balance. Some employers also offer vacation buyout — paying cash for unused days at year-end.