How to Maximize Your PTO Before 2026 Ends

The last quarter of the year is nearly here, which means there’s only a few more months to use up the rest of your paid time off.

Data consistently shows Americans don’t take full advantage of all their paid vacation days, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

A 2025 FlexJobs survey of more than 3,000 US workers found that while most had PTO, many avoided using it. Forty-two percent of respondents took one to 10 days off, while 23% hadn’t taken a single vacation day in the prior year.

But just as workers aren’t leveraging their PTO, research also emphasizes the importance of doing so. Taking time off from work benefits health and well-being and reduces the risk of burnout, per the American Psychological Association.

There are officially less than 100 days left in 2026. Here’s what to know for those looking to maximize their PTO for the rest of the year — which is easier this year given that some major federal holidays fall near a weekend.

How to Maximize Your PTO Days

The easiest way to maximize your paid vacation days is by planning them around existing holidays and long weekends.

By gaming the calendar, workers can stretch one PTO day into four consecutive days off, for example.

There are 11 federal holidays in 2026, with four still remaining for the rest of the year.

If configured correctly, workers can turn 11 PTO days into a total of 27 days off for the rest of the year.

How Many Federal Holidays Are Left in 2026?

There are four federal holidays remaining in 2026:

• Columbus Day — Monday, Oct. 12
• Veterans Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11
• Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 26
• Christmas Day — Friday, Dec. 25

While not technically in 2026, New Year’s Day 2027 (Jan. 1) falls on a Friday, meaning the last workweek of the year is capped off by the holiday.

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Which Days to Request Off to Maximize PTO for the Rest of 2026

Although there are only four federal holidays left in 2026, you can request your vacation days around the holidays to turn 11 PTO days into a total of 27 days off for the rest of the year.

Here’s how:

• Columbus Day — Monday, Oct. 12
  • Request PTO for: Friday, Oct. 9
  • Consecutive days off: 4 days (Oct. 9-12)
• Veterans Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11
  • Request PTO for: Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10, or Thursday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13
  • Consecutive days off: 5 days (Nov. 7-11 or Nov. 11-15)
• Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 26
  • Request PTO for: Monday, Nov. 23, Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and, as needed, Friday, Nov. 27
  • Consecutive days off: 9 days (Nov. 21-29)
• Christmas Day — Friday, Dec. 25
  • Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 21, Tuesday, Dec. 22, Wednesday, Dec. 23 and, as needed, Thursday, Dec. 24
  • Consecutive days off: 9 days (Dec. 19-27)

New Year’s Day 2027 Can Help Stretch Your PTO

With New Year’s Day falling on a Friday, you can maximize your time off at the end of the year and into the first week of 2027 in two ways:

• Combine weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day
  • Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 21, Tuesday, Dec. 22, Wednesday, Dec. 23, Thursday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 28, Tuesday, Dec. 29, Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31
  • Consecutive days off: 16 days (Dec. 19-Jan. 3)
• Just New Year’s Day week
  • Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 28, Tuesday, Dec. 29, Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31
  • Consecutive days off: 10 days (Dec. 25-Jan. 3)

Contributing: Zach Wichter

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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