Free tool · US pricing
PayPal Fee Calculator
Pick how the buyer pays — PayPal Checkout, card, or QR code — then enter your average transaction value and monthly volume: fee split, monthly totals, blended effective rate, gross-up mode, and the annual fee cost on a subscriber base.
How PayPal fees work
PayPal doesn't have one rate — it has a schedule. The branded PayPal Checkout button costs 3.49% + 49¢, standard card payments 2.99% + 49¢, advanced (unbranded) card fields 2.89% + 39¢, and QR-code payments 2.29% + 9¢. International transactions add 1.5% on top. A PayPal fee calculator is mostly about picking the right row before doing the math:
This one also runs in reverse — enter the amount you want to keep and it returns what to invoice — and shows the recurring view: what those fixed fees add up to over a year of monthly billing versus one annual charge, the line item most fee tools skip.
fee = amount × percentage rate + fixed fee net payout = amount − fee
PayPal rates used by this calculator
| Payment method | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + 49¢ | The PayPal-branded button — pay with PayPal balance, bank, or card. |
| Card (standard) | 2.99% + 49¢ | Standard credit and debit card payments. |
| Card (advanced) | 2.89% + 39¢ | Advanced credit and debit — PayPal's unbranded card fields. |
| QR code | 2.29% + 9¢ | In-person QR-code payments. |
Rates as of September 1, 2026, from PayPal's published US pricing. International transactions add 1.5%.
How to calculate PayPal fees
- 1
Pick the payment method
PayPal's rate depends on how the customer pays — each method has its own percentage and fixed fee, shown in the rates table below.
- 2
Enter your average transaction value and monthly volume
Fixed fees apply to every transaction, so the calculator multiplies your average ticket size by your monthly transaction count — the fee split, monthly totals, and blended effective rate update live as you type.
- 3
Flip to gross-up mode when you need to net an exact amount
Enter the amount you want to keep and the calculator returns what to charge so the fee is covered.
- 4
Check the recurring view for subscriptions
If the amount is a subscription price, the recurring view shows what PayPal fees cost per year on monthly versus annual billing.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I calculate PayPal fees?
- PayPal charges a percentage plus a fixed fee that depends on how the buyer pays. PayPal Checkout (the branded button) is 3.49% + 49¢ — on a $100 sale that's $3.49 + $0.49 = $3.98, leaving $96.02. Standard card payments are 2.99% + 49¢ and advanced (unbranded) card fields are 2.89% + 39¢. Pick the method in this PayPal fee calculator to see the exact split.
- What are PayPal's merchant fees in the US?
- From PayPal's published merchant fee schedule: PayPal Checkout 3.49% + $0.49, standard credit/debit 2.99% + $0.49, advanced credit/debit 2.89% + $0.39, and QR-code payments 2.29% + $0.09. International commercial transactions add 1.5% on top of the base rate.
- How much should I invoice to receive $100 after PayPal fees?
- Use the gross-up mode: to net $100 through PayPal Checkout you'd charge $104.13. The formula is (target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate), rounded up to the cent — the calculator handles it for any method.
- What do PayPal fees cost on a recurring subscription?
- The 49¢ fixed fee applies to every billing cycle, so monthly billing pays it 12 times a year. The recurring view compares the annual fee cost of billing monthly versus one annual charge at the same total price — on small subscriptions the difference is mostly that fixed fee.
- Does PayPal charge extra for international payments?
- Yes — commercial transactions from outside the US add a 1.5% surcharge, and if currency conversion is involved PayPal applies a conversion spread on top (typically 3%–4%, disclosed during the transaction). Tick the international box in the calculator to include the 1.5%.
- Does PayPal return fees when I issue a refund?
- No. Since 2019 PayPal keeps the original transaction fee when you refund a sale — the buyer is made whole, but the fee you paid is not returned.