PayPal lets you deposit checks through your phone camera, but only if you have a PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account

PayPal's mobile check deposit feature works like this: you photograph the front and back of a check using the PayPal app, submit it, and the money appears in your PayPal balance within one to three business days. You do not mail the check or visit a bank. The funds are then yours to spend, transfer to a linked bank account, or leave sitting in PayPal.

Not every PayPal account type has this feature. You need either PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus. If you have a standard PayPal account (the kind most people use for buying things online), you cannot deposit checks through the app. You would need to upgrade to one of these account types first.

The check must be made payable to you, and you must be the one depositing it. PayPal will not accept checks made out to someone else, even if they sign the back.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account to deposit checks; a standard PayPal account does not have this feature.
  • The process involves photographing both sides of the check with your phone and submitting it through the app, with funds arriving in one to three business days.
  • PayPal has daily and monthly deposit limits that vary by account age and history, so very large checks may need to be split across multiple deposits.
  • The check must be made payable to you personally, and you cannot deposit checks on behalf of someone else.
  • Once deposited, the money sits in your PayPal balance and you can transfer it to a bank account, use it to pay online, or send it to another person.

Upgrading to PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus

If you have a standard PayPal account, you can upgrade directly in the app. Open PayPal, go to your account settings, and look for the option to upgrade your account type. PayPal will ask you to confirm your legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number (the last four digits). This is standard verification for any account that handles deposits.

PayPal Cash is the basic version and is free. PayPal Cash Plus costs money per month but includes a debit card and higher transaction limits. For check deposits alone, PayPal Cash is sufficient. You only need Cash Plus if you want the physical card or plan to deposit very large amounts regularly.

The upgrade is when ready once you complete verification. You can start depositing checks the same day.

How to deposit a check through the PayPal app

Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Look for "Wallet" or "Money" depending on your app version, then find the option labeled "Deposit a Check" or "Mobile Check Deposit." Tap it to start.

You will see instructions to photograph the front of the check. Hold the check flat, make sure the entire check is visible in the frame, and take a clear photo. The app will tell you if the image is too blurry or if part of the check is cut off. Then photograph the back of the check the same way.

Review the check amount that appears on your screen to make sure PayPal read it correctly. If the amount is wrong, you can edit it manually. Then confirm the deposit. PayPal will show you a confirmation number and tell you when to expect the money (usually one to three business days).

Do not deposit the physical check anywhere else after you submit it to PayPal. Mark it "deposited" or destroy it so you do not accidentally try to cash it twice, which would be check fraud.

PayPal check deposit limits

PayPal sets daily and monthly limits on how much you can deposit through mobile check deposit. These limits depend on your account age, history, and verification status. A brand-new account might have a daily limit of $500 and a monthly limit of $2,500. An older account with a clean history might have limits of $5,000 per day and $20,000 per month.

PayPal does not publish exact limits publicly because they vary by account. If you hit your limit, you will see a message in the app telling you so. You can either wait until the next day or the next month (depending on which limit you hit), or you can contact PayPal to request a higher limit if you have a good account history.

If you need to deposit a check larger than your limit, you can split it across multiple days or ask the check writer for two checks instead of one.

What happens after the check is deposited

Once PayPal accepts your deposit, the money goes into your PayPal balance. You can see it there within one to three business days. From your balance, you have three main options: leave it there, transfer it to a linked bank account, or use it to pay for things online or send it to another person.

If you want the money in your actual bank account, go to your PayPal wallet, find the balance, and select "Transfer to Your Bank." Choose which bank account you want it to go to (you must have linked one first), and PayPal will move the money. This transfer usually takes one to two business days.

There are no fees to deposit a check or to transfer the money to your bank account if you have PayPal Cash. If you have PayPal Cash Plus, there is a monthly fee for the account itself, but no per-transaction fees for deposits or transfers.

Reasons a check deposit might be rejected

PayPal will reject a check if the image is too blurry to read, if the check is damaged or torn, or if key information is missing (like the amount or the signature). If this happens, you will see an error message in the app. You can retake the photos and try again.

PayPal may also reject a check if it is post-dated (dated in the future), if it is a duplicate of one you already deposited, or if it appears to be fraudulent. If you believe the rejection was a mistake, you can contact PayPal support through the app to dispute it.

If a check is rejected, the physical check is still yours. You can try depositing it again, or you can take it to a bank or check-cashing service instead.

Alternatives if PayPal check deposit does not work for you

If you do not want to use PayPal or if your account type does not support check deposits, you have other options. Most banks and credit unions offer mobile check deposit through their own apps, and the process is nearly identical to PayPal's. If you have a bank account, check your bank's app first — the feature may already be available to you.

Check-cashing services and retail stores like Walmart and grocery chains also cash checks in person. These typically charge a small fee (usually a few dollars) but give you cash or a store card when ready instead of waiting one to three days.

If you do not have a bank account, PayPal Cash is one of the simpler ways to deposit checks without one, since you only need a phone and a PayPal account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deposit a check that is made out to someone else?

No. PayPal requires that the check be made payable to you. Even if the other person signs the back, PayPal will reject it. The check must have your name as the payee.

How long does it take for the money to show up in my PayPal account?

PayPal typically shows the deposit within one to three business days. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days, so a check deposited on Friday may not appear until Tuesday. You will receive a notification when the money is available.

What if I accidentally deposit the same check twice?

PayPal's system is designed to catch duplicate deposits and will reject the second one. If somehow a duplicate does go through, PayPal will reverse one of the deposits once it detects the error. Contact PayPal support if you are unsure whether a duplicate went through.

Do I need to keep the physical check after I deposit it?

You should keep it for at least 30 days in case there is a dispute or the deposit fails. After that, you can destroy it or write "deposited" on it and file it. Do not try to cash the physical check anywhere else after depositing it through PayPal.

Can I deposit checks from a business account or a third-party check?

PayPal's mobile check deposit is designed for personal checks made out to you. Business checks, government checks, and third-party checks have different rules and may not be accepted. Contact PayPal support if you are unsure whether a specific check type is allowed.