PayPal Fee Calculator

The PayPal Fee Calculator shows exactly how much PayPal takes from a payment and how much you actually keep. PayPal's commercial fee has two parts — a percentage of the transaction plus a fixed per-transaction fee — so the real cost is rarely a round number. This tool also works in reverse: tell it the amount you want to net, and it calculates the exact amount to invoice or request so the money lands on your target after fees.

How PayPal Fees Work

For goods and services, PayPal charges a percentage of the payment plus a small fixed fee. The fixed fee is the part people forget: it does not shrink with the payment, so it quietly eats a large share of small transactions. Cross-border payments add an extra percentage, and card or PayPal Checkout payments often carry a higher rate than standard balance payments.

How to Invoice to Net a Target (Reverse / Gross-Up)

If you want to keep a specific amount, you cannot just add the fee percentage to your target — PayPal then charges its fee on the larger amount too, leaving you short. The correct gross-up divides by one minus the rate:

For example, to net 100.00 at a 2.99% + 0.49 fee, you must invoice (100 + 0.49) / (1 − 0.0299) = 103.59, not 103.48. The difference looks tiny on one payment but compounds across many.

Why Small Payments Lose the Most

Because the fixed fee is the same regardless of size, its effective rate explodes on small amounts. A 0.49 fixed fee is well under 1% of a 100 payment, but it is nearly 10% of a 5 payment before the percentage is even added. If you frequently take small payments, a micropayments plan with a lower fixed fee and higher percentage is usually cheaper.

Common PayPal Fee Rates

Rates differ by product, country, and currency and change over time. The figures below are widely-cited US examples to use as a starting point — always confirm the exact rate on your own PayPal account and edit the percentage and fixed fee in the calculator to match.

These rates are estimates for illustration and are not a quote from PayPal.

What Affects Your PayPal Fee

How to Use This Calculator

1. Choose a mode: "I received a payment" finds your fee and net; "I want to net a target" finds the amount to invoice.
2. Enter the amount and currency: Type the payment amount (or your target net) and pick your currency.
3. Set the fee rate: Choose a preset or enter the exact PayPal percentage and fixed fee for your transaction.
4. Click Calculate: See the fee, net amount, effective rate, an animated breakdown, and a step-by-step formula walkthrough.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are PayPal fees calculated?

PayPal commercial fees have two parts: a percentage of the transaction plus a fixed per-transaction fee. The total fee is Amount × the percentage rate, plus the fixed fee. For example, on a 100 payment at 2.99% + 0.49, the fee is 100 × 0.0299 + 0.49 = 3.48, leaving a net of 96.52.

How much should I charge to net a specific amount after PayPal fees?

To keep a target amount after a percentage fee and a fixed fee, divide by one minus the rate: Invoice = (Target + Fixed fee) / (1 − rate). Simply adding the fee percentage on top is not enough, because PayPal then charges its fee on the higher amount too, leaving you short.

What are the current PayPal fee rates?

PayPal rates vary by product, country, and currency and change over time. Common US examples include around 2.99% + 0.49 for goods and services, about 3.49% + 0.49 for card and PayPal Checkout payments, and 5% + 0.05 for micropayments. International payments add a cross-border fee. Always confirm the exact rate for your account, and edit the percentage and fixed fee in the calculator to match.

Why is the fee so high on small payments?

The fixed per-transaction fee does not shrink with the payment, so on small amounts it dominates. A fixed 0.49 fee is under 1% of a 100 payment but nearly 10% of a 5 payment. For frequent small payments, a micropayments rate with a lower fixed fee is usually cheaper.

Does PayPal charge a fee to receive money from friends and family?

Personal payments sent as friends and family from a bank balance are typically free within the same country. Fees generally apply to goods and services payments, card-funded payments, and cross-border transfers. This calculator is intended for commercial goods and services payments where fees apply.

Can I pass the PayPal fee on to my customer?

You can build the fee into your price using the reverse mode, which tells you the exact amount to invoice so your net equals your target. Whether you are allowed to add a visible surcharge depends on PayPal's policies and local law, so check the rules for your region before adding an explicit fee line.

Additional Resources

• PayPal - Wikipedia
• Payment Processor - Wikipedia