How often do Americans need vacations?

On average, Americans say they need a proper vacation every 110 days (15.8 weeks), according to a new study.

The findings, which came from a survey of 2,000 Americans, mean respondents are likely to need a vacation by April 20.

The survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Apple Vacations surveyed 2,000 Americans – 56% of respondents were currently employed, with 53% of those saying they currently have a PTO policy with a certain number of days off per year.

But while the need for a full shutdown is clear, the results found that only 18% of workers with access to PTO always use their full allotment.

In fact, only 20% said they used all of their PTO in the past year, and the average PTO respondent said they had five (5.4) PTO days left that they didn’t use or return.

No wonder many of them have reached their limit this year. Regardless of their employment status, 79% of respondents said they felt especially burned out.

When asked what factors contributed to their burnout, financial difficulties (40%), fatigue (37%) and mental health problems (34%) topped the list.

“Taking paid time off is more than taking time off from work,” said Dana Studebaker, vice president of consumer brand marketing, Apple Vacations. “It’s easy to let our PTO fill up and get on with busy lives, but it’s vital to make time for ourselves and make sure things don’t build up in the long run.”

The results showed that workers with PTO used less than 40% of their free time specifically for rest and relaxation (39.1%).

But how do respondents know they’re feeling burnt out? According to the survey, they are more likely to make mistakes at work (41%), they rely heavily on caffeine at work (36%) and they are more likely to have been angry with their colleagues (29%).

When asked if respondents would be willing to buy more PTO if it were an option, 66% said they would.

Of those willing to buy more paid vacations, the average amount respondents were willing to spend in one day was $187.

“Giving rest to the mind, body and spirit is priceless,” said Michael Lowery, head of global consumer business at Apple Vacations. “And the only real way to do that is to set aside time that allows you to completely disconnect from your to-do list and do the things you enjoy.”

The TOP nine things EMPLOYEES USE their PTO for:

1. holidays
2. Personal time at home
3. Doctor’s appointments
4. Accommodations
5. Family emergencies
6. Running tasks
7. Caring for children
8. Caring for relatives
9. Human improvements

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; survey was commissioned by Apple Vacations and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between October. 25 – 30, 2024.