Don't Lose Your Hard-Earned PTO
Many employees find themselves scrambling to use vacation days at year-end — or simply losing them when company policy doesn't allow rollover. This calculator helps you plan ahead: enter your remaining PTO and the deadline, and it will tell you how often to take a day off to use them evenly. For example, 10 days remaining with 100 workdays left means one day off every 10 workdays.
Using PTO strategically — for long weekends, medical appointments, or personal projects — reduces burnout and improves overall well-being. Planning a day off every few weeks is far better than a frantic pile-up in December. Remember to check your company's carry-over policy: some states like California require unused PTO to be paid out, while others allow use-it-or-lose-it rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your employer and state. Some carry over unused days, some pay them out, and others forfeit them. Check your employee handbook or HR for the exact policy.
Yes — enter your total PTO in 0.5-day increments. For example, if you have 5 full days and 2 half-days remaining, enter 6.