Military Leave Calculator
Calculate your military leave balance at separation, compare sell-back vs terminal leave options, estimate sell-back pay, and find your last day of work. All calculations run in your browser — no data stored.
How the Military Leave Calculator Works
Service members earn 2.5 days of leave per month (30 days per year). When separating from the military, you have three options for your accrued leave: take terminal leave (paid time off before your separation date), sell it back (receive a lump-sum payment for unused days, up to 60 days maximum), or a combination of both. This calculator helps you compare these options to make the best financial decision.
The calculator projects your total leave balance at separation by adding your current balance to the leave you will accrue between now and your ETS date. It then calculates the monetary value of selling back leave versus taking terminal leave, factoring in your base pay rate.
Key Formulas
Leave at Separation = Current Balance + (Months Remaining × 2.5) − Leave Used
Sell-Back Value = (Base Pay ÷ 30) × Days Sold (max 60 days)
Last Day of Work = ETS Date − Terminal Leave Days
Note: Sell-back pay is taxable income. Terminal leave is regular pay — you remain on active duty and receive full pay and benefits until ETS.
Terminal Leave vs Sell-Back
Terminal leave means you stop working but remain on active duty. You continue to receive full base pay, BAH, BAS, and health benefits (TRICARE) until your ETS date. This is often the better financial option because you receive your full compensation package, not just base pay. You can also start a civilian job while on terminal leave, effectively double-dipping on income.
Sell-back gives you a lump-sum payment for unused leave days, but the payment is calculated using only your base pay divided by 30 — it does not include BAH, BAS, or other allowances. Additionally, sell-back pay is taxable income and may push you into a higher tax bracket. The maximum you can sell back over your entire career is 60 days.
Tips for Maximizing Your Leave Value
- Take terminal leave whenever possible — you keep all benefits and can start a new job
- Plan ahead — start accruing leave months before separation to maximize your balance
- Combine both options — sell back some days and take terminal leave with the rest
- Factor in benefits — BAH alone can be worth more than the sell-back value per day
- Check your LES — verify your actual leave balance on your Leave and Earnings Statement
Important Considerations
Leave sell-back is limited to 60 days over your entire military career, regardless of how many days you have accumulated. If you have previously sold back leave during a reenlistment, that counts toward the 60-day lifetime cap. Leave beyond 60 days that is not used as terminal leave is simply lost — use it or lose it.
During terminal leave, you are still considered active duty. This means you must maintain military standards, can be recalled in an emergency, and continue to accrue leave (though any leave accrued during terminal leave is typically forfeited). Your DD-214 separation date remains your original ETS date, not your last day of physical work.