PayPal Fee Calculator

Which PayPal rate applies?

PayPal's US merchant fee table lists different prices for different ways a customer pays. The two figures that often look contradictory, 3.49% and 2.99%, are both current. Choose the transaction type in the calculator above before relying on an estimate. These are US merchant rates for domestic transactions, not a universal PayPal price.

These rows come from the official PayPal US merchant fees. The QR row uses PayPal's separate QR fixed-fee table. Fees for other PayPal products or individually negotiated arrangements can differ.

How the PayPal fee calculator works

For a regular transaction, multiply the amount charged by the percentage rate, add the fixed fee in the currency received, and subtract the result from the charge. The tool also shows the effective rate: the rounded fee divided by what the customer paid. That number makes the cost of a fixed fee visible on small payments.

To work backward, the unrounded starting formula is (target net + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − rate). The calculator then checks charge amounts one cent at a time to find the smallest amount that reaches your target after the estimated rounded fee. On US PayPal Checkout, a $100 target needs a $104.12 charge: an estimated $4.12 fee leaves exactly $100.00. The 1% ACH invoicing option also respects its $10 fee cap when calculating in reverse.

Currency and international payments

PayPal publishes a fixed fee based on the currency you receive: $0.49 USD, €0.39 EUR, £0.39 GBP, C$0.59 CAD, A$0.59 AUD, ¥49 JPY and S$0.69 SGD for standard commercial transactions. QR fixed fees use a different table. Changing the currency above loads the matching published fixed fee, and you can edit it for your own arrangement.

PayPal lists an additional 1.50% for receiving international commercial transactions. Turn that option on to include it in the percentage estimate. Currency conversion is a separate exchange-rate adjustment: PayPal lists a 4.00% spread for paying for goods in another listed currency and 3.00% for other conversions. Its actual effect depends on who converts and when, so the calculator does not treat that spread as a simple extra processing fee. Check the exchange rate shown for your transaction before quoting a cross-border price.

PayPal or Stripe for a $100 sale?

At published US domestic rates, PayPal Checkout estimates a $3.98 fee on $100, while a standard Stripe online card charge estimates $3.20. On $5, this calculator estimates $0.66 for PayPal Checkout and $0.45 for Stripe after cent rounding. The payment method, international status, and account terms matter more than a headline comparison. Try the Stripe Fee Calculator with the same amount and applicable options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I calculate PayPal fees?

Choose the payment type and currency, then multiply the charge by that type's percentage rate and add its fixed fee. For a $100 US PayPal Checkout payment, 3.49% of $100 plus $0.49 is $3.98, leaving $96.02. Invoicing Pay by Bank uses a 1% fee capped at $10 instead.

Is the PayPal fee 3%?

There is no single US commercial rate. PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout and Venmo are 3.49% plus a fixed fee; standard credit and debit card payments are 2.99% plus a fixed fee; Send/Receive Money for Goods and Services is 2.99% without that fixed fee. Match the rate to the payment type shown in your PayPal agreement or transaction.

How much is the PayPal fee for $5,000?

At the published US PayPal Checkout rate of 3.49% + $0.49, the fee on $5,000 is $174.99 and the net is $4,825.01. Other payment types and international transactions can change this amount.

What is the PayPal fee for $1,200?

For US PayPal Checkout at 3.49% + $0.49, the estimated fee is $42.37, leaving $1,157.63. A standard card payment at 2.99% + $0.49 would cost $36.37 instead.

How much should I charge to receive $100 after PayPal fees?

At the US PayPal Checkout rate of 3.49% + $0.49, charge $104.12 under this calculator's cent-rounding model. The estimated fee is $4.12 and the net is $100.00. Your actual PayPal rounding or account terms may differ by a cent.

Does PayPal charge for Friends and Family?

For a domestic personal payment funded by a PayPal balance or bank account, PayPal lists no fee. Card-funded domestic personal payments are 2.90% plus a fixed fee. Friends and Family is for personal transactions, not purchases or commercial sales.

Why is the effective rate higher on small payments?

The fixed fee applies once to each transaction. On a $5 US PayPal Checkout payment, the estimated fee rounds to $0.66, or 13.20% of the charge, even though the percentage component is 3.49%.