Personal Finance Money transfer

PayPal instant transfer: Fees, limits and types

Adam Rozsa

02.05.22 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 5 minutes

PayPal instant transfer lets you send money from your PayPal balance to an eligible bank account in just a few minutes for an extra fee.

We’ll cover everything about PayPal instant transfers, including the PayPal instant transfer fee structure, limits and more.

Ready to get started with a PayPal instant bank transfer? Let’s dive right in.

But first, a word.

If you want to send money abroad fast for low fees, take a look at Wise. It takes just a few minutes to get a free account.

Table of contents:
How do instant transfers work with PayPal? PayPal instant transfer fees PayPal instant transfer limits Frequently asked questions

How do instant transfers work with PayPal?

A standard PayPal transfer takes about 1-3 days to reach a bank account.

However, if you have a PayPal balance, you can use instant transfers to move your money to your bank or debit card up to 30 minutes for an extra fee.

Maybe you sold something online and got paid via PayPal, or a friend sent you some money with PayPal to cover a split bill. If you need to withdraw the money to your bank account fast, an instant transfer might be the best option.¹

There are costs involved with using this withdrawal method, so make sure you read on to the fee section before you get started.

How to link your bank account or card to PayPal to do instant transfers?

If you’re shopping online or using PayPal to send money to family or friends - and don’t hold a current PayPal balance - you’ll need to link your PayPal account to your bank account or card to allow instant transfers from bank to PayPal.² ³

To add a credit or debit card to your PayPal account, take the following steps:

Create your PayPal account, or log in if you already have one

Go to Wallet if you’re on a computer, or Menu, and then Wallet if you’re using the app

Choose Link credit or debit card

Add the details of the card you want to use, following the on-screen prompts

Hit Link and you’re all done

To add a bank account:

Log into your PayPal account

Find the Wallet button if you’re using a computer, or click Menu, and then Wallet if you’re on a phone

Choose Link bank account

Add the account name and number, including routing number, following the on-screen prompts

Confirm the details and you’re ready to go

It’s worth noting that this process doesn’t mean you’re withdrawing money from your account or adding money to your PayPal balance. It just means your card or account is linked so the next time you use PayPal to make a payment or transfer, the amount will be deducted from the payment method you select.

How to transfer money from PayPal to bank account instantly?

So, if you’re withdrawing the money to your regular bank, you’ll have the option of a standard withdrawal or instant transfer. The standard withdrawal takes longer, but is usually fee-free - you’ll pay a charge to get your money faster with instant transfer.

Here’s how you can use instant transfer: ¹

Log into your PayPal account and hit the Balance button. This shows you how much you can transfer to your bank

Select Transfer Money

Select the option Transfer to your bank

Choose the account or card you want to withdraw your balance to. If you want to transfer your money to a different account you’ll need to link it, following the steps set out above, before you can proceed

Confirm how much you want to transfer, check you understand the costs, and tap Transfer to complete the transaction

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PayPal instant transfer fees

Is PayPal’s instant transfer free?

No, as we mentioned above, there are some charges you need to know about if you want to use PayPal instant transfer.

Here’s a run through of the key costs - full details are available online on the PayPal website.

Withdrawing money to your bank account

Withdrawal type	Fee and transfer time¹
PayPal instant transfer	For a faster withdrawal you can pay 1.75% of the withdrawal amount, for a fee of $0.25 - $25. Transfers to bank accounts usually happen within minutes, or up to half an hour for a transfer to a linked card
PayPal standard transfer	Free to arrange, a standard transfer takes 1 - 3 days to process

Fees effective from 17 June 2022

Other types of transfer

If you’re using PayPal as a way to send money to friends or family from your linked bank account or card, there are different fees depending on the transfer details. Here’s an overview.

Transfer type	PayPal fee⁴
Sending money to friends or family in the US	If you fund the payment using your linked bank account or PayPal balance - no fee If you fund the payment using your linked credit or debit card, or PayPal credit - 2.9% of transfer amount + a fixed fee based on the currency used
Sending money to friends or family with a PayPal account based outside of the US	If you fund the payment using your linked bank account or PayPal balance - 5% of transfer amount, from $0.99 to a maximum of $4.99 If you fund the payment using your linked credit or debit card, or PayPal credit - 5% of transfer amount, from $0.99 to a maximum of $4.99 + 2.9% of transaction amount + a fixed fee based on the currency used

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PayPal instant transfer limits

Is there a limit on PayPal instant transfers?

Yes. If you want to use the instant transfer service, there are some limits you need to know about:

Instant withdrawal type	PayPal instant transfer limit⁴
Instant transfer to a card	Up to $5,000 per transaction, $5,000 per day and $5,000 per week in total. Up to $15,000 per month
Instant transfer to a bank account	Up to $25,000 per transaction

Frequently asked questions

PayPal has resources online, including an FAQ section and community answers to specific questions. If you need personal advice, you can also notify the PayPal support team. Here are a couple of common issues and how to resolve them.

PayPal instant transfer pending: Why and what does it mean?

If you get a notification that your transfer is pending, or if it takes longer than you expect, it could be because it’s being checked by PayPal. Transfers are subject to review to help stop fraud, which can cause a delay.⁵

Other reasons your payment may be pending can be to do with your bank or card provider’s own processes. There’s advice online, and in the PayPal community forums which may help you troubleshoot in this situation.⁶⁷

PayPal instant transfer not working?

If you’re still struggling to get instant transfer to work it could be as a result of the following issues:⁸

A limitation or block on your PayPal account
Pending security checks
Your linked card or account may not allow transfers
PayPal may have blocked or delayed this transaction for your own security if there is a suspicion of fraud

You could try to use an alternative linked card or account to process the payment, or use a PayPal Cash Card. You’ll also be able to order a check to get your money. There are fees for some of these services, so be sure to look at the full terms and conditions online before you make a decision.

If you need to get in touch with someone at PayPal to ask questions about your account, or file a complaint, you can use the contact form available on the PayPal website.⁹

If you use PayPal regularly, instant transfer can be an easy way to send money to your bank account or linked card quickly. However, as we have covered above, there are fees you need to consider before you use the service.

Do a bit of research before you start using instant transfer to make sure it’s the best option available for you, and to avoid paying more than you need to for your PayPal balance withdrawal.

Sources:

All sources last checked on 2 May 2022

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.