How to use the PayPal fee calculator
- Pick Fee on a payment to see what PayPal takes from money you receive, or What to charge to find the price that leaves you a set amount.
- Enter the amount and the payment type: PayPal Checkout and goods and services payments, invoices, card payments, Pay Later or a QR code in person.
- Tick International payment if the buyer is outside the US, and Instant transfer if you move the money to your bank right away.
- Add how many payments like this you get a month to see your fees for the month and the year.
PayPal fees in 2026 (US)
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout, goods and services | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| PayPal invoice | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Card payment (advanced checkout) | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Pay Later | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code in person (over $10) | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| International payment | +1.5% |
| Instant transfer to a bank | 1.75% (min $0.25, max $25) |
Personal accounts pay the same 3.49% + $0.49 when a buyer sends a goods and services payment. Fees can change, so check PayPal's merchant fees page before you set prices.
What PayPal takes at different amounts
| Payment | PayPal fee | You receive | Fee as % |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.84 | $9.16 | 8.4% |
| $25 | $1.36 | $23.64 | 5.4% |
| $50 | $2.24 | $47.76 | 4.5% |
| $100 | $3.98 | $96.02 | 4.0% |
| $250 | $9.22 | $240.78 | 3.7% |
| $500 | $17.94 | $482.06 | 3.6% |
| $1,000 | $35.39 | $964.61 | 3.5% |
The fixed $0.49 hurts most on small sales: on a $10 item it's almost a third of the fee. If you sell cheap items, bundle them or set a minimum order.
How to pass PayPal fees on to buyers
To keep a set amount after fees, divide by what's left after the percentage:
price = (amount you want + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349)
To keep $250, charge (250 + 0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = $259.55. Some states and card rules limit surcharges, so many sellers build the fee into the price instead of adding a separate "PayPal fee" line.
PayPal vs Stripe, Square, Venmo and Cash App
On a $100 online sale, PayPal Checkout costs $3.98, Stripe $3.20 and Square's free plan $3.60. Venmo business profiles cost $2.00 and Cash App for Business $2.75. The calculator shows the same comparison for your amount under the results. PayPal's higher fee buys a checkout many buyers trust, buyer and seller protection, and Pay Later options; for invoices to repeat clients, a cheaper processor or ACH bank transfer can save hundreds a year. Compare in detail with the Stripe fee calculator, the Square fee calculator and the Venmo and Cash App fee calculator.
Fees are a business cost: price for them
Processing fees come straight out of your margin. A 4% fee on a product with a 25% margin takes a sixth of your profit. Add fees to your cost per sale in the profit margin calculator, and read how to calculate reseller profit if you sell secondhand. Fees are deductible, so record them as an expense at tax time.
Track every fee and see your real profit
Till is a small business profit planner that records income and fees by source and shows your real profit and the tax to set aside. Flip does the same for resellers, item by item. Both have a free demo with sample data you can open in your browser.
PayPal US rates checked October 2026; an estimate, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PayPal charge for a $100 payment?
How much should I charge to receive $100 after PayPal fees?
Does PayPal charge for friends and family payments?
What is PayPal's international fee?
How much is a PayPal instant transfer?
Are PayPal fees tax deductible?
Written by
Finance Specialist & Editor, VaultlyApps
Emma Whitfield writes and edits the VaultlyApps money guides and free calculators. Her focus is US household finance — budgeting on a real paycheck, paying down credit card and student debt, emergency funds and savings goals, renting — and the money side of freelancing and small-business income, from pricing and profit margins to self-employment tax. Every guide is researched against primary sources such as IRS publications and the CFPB, every number is checked in our tested calculators, and tax content is reviewed each year when new IRS figures come out. Emma is not a licensed financial adviser or tax preparer; her work is general education, not personal advice.
Researched against primary US sources, checked against independent calculators and reviewed by a finance expert on our team. Written for US readers — general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Editorial policy · Disclaimer
