PayPal Fee Calculator

Enter an amount to see the PayPal fee and what you keep, or switch to reverse mode to find what to ask for so you receive an exact amount. Modes cover goods and services payments, sending money and invoices, and a comparison row shows the same sale at Stripe and Square standard online card rates (Square's Free plan rate). Every rate is an editable default taken from the vendor's standard published US pricing as of September 2026. Fees change and vary by country, account and product, so check the linked pricing page before relying on a number. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to We.Inc or anyone else.

How it works

  1. Choose a mode: receiving a goods and services payment, sending money, or being paid through a PayPal invoice.
  2. Enter the amount. The fee is the percentage times the amount plus the fixed fee, and the tool shows the fee and the amount you keep.
  3. Turn on reverse mode to enter the amount you want to end up with instead. The tool finds the price to ask for, rounded up to the cent so you are never short.
  4. Edit any rate. Defaults are PayPal's standard US rates as we understand them in September 2026, and each has a link to PayPal's fee page.
  5. Look at the comparison row to see the same amount at Stripe and Square standard online card rates. Those rates are editable too.

Worked example: a $250 freelance invoice

A designer sends a $250 invoice through PayPal. At 3.49% plus $0.49 the fee is $9.22 and she receives $240.78. To receive the full $250 she would ask for $259.55.

The same $250 paid by card through Stripe at 2.9% plus $0.30 costs $7.55, leaving $242.45, which is $1.67 more than PayPal, or about $20 a year at one invoice a month. Through Square online on its Free plan, at 3.3% plus $0.30, it costs $8.55 and leaves $241.45.

Small payments and the fixed fee

The fixed part of the fee matters most on small amounts. On a $5 digital download, 3.49% is only $0.17, but the $0.49 fixed fee brings the total to $0.66, over 13% of the sale. Bundling small items or setting a minimum order keeps that share down.

Tips

Frequently asked questions

How much is the PayPal fee for goods and services?

The default here is 3.49% plus $0.49 per payment, PayPal's standard US rate for commercial payments as we understand it in September 2026. On a $100 sale that is $3.98, so you keep $96.02. Check PayPal's fee page for your account, because rates vary by product and country.

Does sending money to friends cost anything?

Sending to friends and family in the US from a PayPal balance or bank account is normally free. Paying with a credit or debit card adds a fee, which defaults here to 2.9% plus $0.30. Both values are editable.

How much do I charge so I receive a set amount?

Add the fixed fee to the amount you want, then divide by one minus the percentage. To receive $200 at 3.49% plus $0.49 you ask for $207.75. Reverse mode does this and rounds up to the cent.

Are PayPal invoice fees different?

The default invoice rate is the same 3.49% plus $0.49 as a goods and services payment, because that is how PayPal lists it for standard US invoices as of September 2026. When the buyer pays an invoice by card or Apple Pay without a PayPal account, PayPal lists a lower 2.99% plus $0.49, so check the linked page and edit the rate if that applies.

Why compare with Stripe and Square?

Many sellers take card payments through more than one service. Seeing the same amount at each standard online rate helps you pick where to point buyers. The comparison uses standard published rates only; negotiated or promotional rates are not included.

Is this PayPal fee calculator affiliated with PayPal?

No. It is a free, independent calculator. Always confirm fees on PayPal's own pricing page.

Related: Payment Processing Fee Calculator, Etsy Fee Calculator, eBay Fee Calculator, Invoice Generator, Margin Calculator.

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