How many PTO days is normal?
In the US, 11 paid vacation days after one year is the private-industry average, rising to 16 after five years. There is no legal minimum. The UK and the EU set one.
How many PTO days is normal per year?
For US private-industry workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts average paid vacation at 11 days after 1 year of service, 16 after 5, 18 after 10 and 20 after 20 (March 2026). Federal law does not require any paid vacation. In the UK, most people on a 5-day week are entitled to at least 28 days a year, which can include bank holidays; EU law sets at least four weeks.
Average paid vacation days in the US, by years of service
| Years with the employer | Average paid vacation days, US private industry |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 11 |
| 5 years | 16 |
| 10 years | 18 |
| 20 years | 20 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026. Vacation days only, not sick days or public holidays. Checked October 26, 2026.
The most common amount after one year is 10 to 14 days: BLS found 32% of private-industry workers in that range in 2026 (BLS paid vacations fact sheet). So about two weeks is the normal US starting point.
Legal minimums in the US, UK and EU
| Where | Minimum paid time off | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | None. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for vacations, sick leave or holidays; it is up to the employer and employee. | US Department of Labor |
| United Kingdom | At least 28 days a year for most people on a 5-day week (5.6 weeks). The employer can count bank holidays as part of it. | GOV.UK, holiday entitlement |
| European Union | At least four weeks of paid annual leave. It cannot be swapped for pay except when the job ends. Many countries set more. | Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC, Article 7 |
Checked October 26, 2026. Some US states and cities require paid sick leave; that is separate from vacation. See minimum PTO by state for the 20 states and DC that require it.
PTO hours to days
If your PTO is given in hours, divide by the hours in your working day. On an 8-hour day:
| PTO hours | Days (8-hour day) | Weeks (5-day week) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 hours | 5 days | 1 weeks |
| 80 hours | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| 96 hours | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| 120 hours | 15 days | 3 weeks |
| 160 hours | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| 200 hours | 25 days | 5 weeks |
So 120 hours is 15 days, and 160 hours is 20 days, or four weeks. To count how many working days a trip uses once weekends and holidays are taken out, use the vacation days calculator.
What is normal on unlimited PTO?
There is no balance, so “normal” is whatever people actually take. In a March 2026 Patriot Software survey of 1,000 employed US adults, 66% said they would take 15 days or fewer under unlimited PTO, and 91% said it should include a mandatory minimum (Patriot Software). That is about what a fixed plan gives after one to five years.
If you run unlimited PTO, write the minimum down. The unlimited PTO policy template sets a floor of days and says how managers check it, and the unlimited PTO tracker guide covers keeping one record of who is away.
How many days should a small team offer?
Matching the US average means at least 11 vacation days plus public holidays for new hires, and more with tenure. If you hire in the UK or the EU, the law sets the floor there: 28 days in the UK, four weeks in the EU. Put the number in writing with the PTO policy template for small business. Whatever you offer, the days only help if someone covers the work: plan that in a vacation coverage plan.