Federal leave accrual calculator
Project your 2026 annual-leave balance and potential use-or-lose hours.
- Rule snapshot
- Reviewed
- Primary sources
- OPM, 5 U.S.C., and current 5 CFR
- Privacy
- Inputs stay in this browser
Leave result
Results appear after you project.
How the projection works
It models the rest of OPM's 2026 leave year for a full-time employee.
- 01
Add remaining accrual
Use 4, 6, or 8 hours per full biweekly period; the 6-hour tier earns 10 in the final period.
- 02
Subtract planned leave
If planned use exceeds projected availability, the result stops with the shortfall.
- 03
Compare the ceiling
Hours above the agency-confirmed carryover ceiling are potential use or lose.
Boundaries before you plan
- Full-time standard biweekly accrual only; part-time, intermittent, temporary, and uncommon tours are excluded
- No reduction for nonpay status, partial pay status, transfer, separation, or a midyear accrual-rate change
- No advanced, donated, restored, sick, military, home, court, credit-hour, or compensatory-time balance
- The entered carryover ceiling must come from agency records; this planner does not determine ceiling eligibility
- Annual-leave requests remain subject to supervisory approval and agency scheduling procedures
Federal leave accrual questions
How much annual leave do full-time federal employees accrue?
OPM lists 4 hours per full biweekly pay period for employees with less than 3 years of service, 6 hours for employees with 3 to under 15 years, and 8 hours for employees with 15 or more years. The 6-hour category earns 10 hours in the final full pay period of the leave year. Eligible SES, SL, ST, and certain equivalent positions use the 8-hour rate.
How does this calculator estimate use-or-lose leave?
It adds the selected accrual for each remaining 2026 leave-year pay period, subtracts planned annual leave, and compares the projected year-end balance with the carryover ceiling entered from agency records. The amount above that ceiling is shown as potential use or lose.
When must 2026 use-or-lose annual leave be scheduled?
OPM lists November 28, 2026 as the deadline to schedule use-or-lose annual leave in writing for most employees. The 2026 leave year ends January 9, 2027. Some agency payroll schedules differ, so verify both dates and local procedures with your agency.
What annual-leave carryover ceiling should I enter?
Enter the ceiling shown or confirmed by your agency. OPM lists 240 hours for most employees stationed in the United States, 360 hours for qualifying employees stationed overseas, and 720 hours for members of the SES and SL/ST employees. Personal ceilings and special rules can differ.
Does this planner work for part-time or uncommon tours?
No. It supports the standard full-time 4-, 6-, and 8-hour biweekly categories only. Part-time accrual depends on hours in pay status, and uncommon tours use a separate proportional calculation. Intermittent and certain temporary appointments also have different rules.
Primary sources
Rules verified August 22, 2026. Your agency's leave record and schedule remain authoritative.