PayPal Fee Calculator
Find out how much PayPal keeps from a payment, or how much to invoice so you receive an exact amount after fees. The percentage and fixed fee are editable because rates vary by country and change over time.
For 'How much to ask', enter the amount you want to end up with.
Optional, for totals
Cross-border payments often add about 1.5%; leave 0 for domestic.
How to use the PayPal Fee Calculator
- Choose a mode: the fee on a payment you receive, or how much to ask for.
- Enter the amount and pick your currency.
- Check the rate: keep the default 3.49% + 0.49, pick a preset, or type the rate from PayPal's fee page for your country.
- Add an international fee if the buyer is in another country.
- Press Calculate fee to see the fee, what you receive and a table of fees at other amounts.
PayPal fee formulas
- Fee = payment × percentage rate + fixed fee
- You receive = payment − fee
- Amount to ask for = (amount you want + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate)
- Effective rate = fee ÷ payment × 100. The fixed fee makes small payments relatively expensive.
Example at 3.49% + $0.49: to receive $50 you ask for (50 + 0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = $52.32. The fee is $52.32 × 3.49% + $0.49 = $2.32, leaving exactly $50.00.
Fees at 3.49% + $0.49 (example)
| Payment | Fee | You receive | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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% |
| $500 | $17.94 | $482.06 | 3.6% |
| $1,000 | $35.39 | $964.61 | 3.5% |
These figures only illustrate the formula. PayPal publishes different rates for each country and payment type and updates them from time to time, so confirm the current rate before pricing invoices.
Frequently asked questions
How is the PayPal fee calculated?
PayPal charges a percentage of the payment plus a fixed fee per transaction. With 3.49% + $0.49, a $100 payment costs $100 × 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98, so you receive $96.02.
How much should I ask for to receive an exact amount?
Divide the amount you want plus the fixed fee by one minus the percentage rate. To receive $100 at 3.49% + $0.49: (100 + 0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349) = $104.13. Simply adding 3.49% to your price is not enough, because the fee is also charged on the fee.
What are PayPal's fees right now?
Fees depend on your country, the payment type (online checkout, goods and services, invoices, card payments), the currency and whether the payment is cross-border. Common US rates have been around 3.49% + $0.49 for checkout and 2.99% + $0.49 for goods and services, but always check PayPal's current merchant fee page and type the exact rate here.
Does PayPal charge extra for international payments?
Usually yes. Payments from buyers in other countries typically add an extra percentage (often about 1.5% for US accounts), and converting currencies adds a separate conversion spread. Enter the extra percentage in the international fee field.
Are personal payments to friends and family free?
Domestic personal payments funded by a PayPal balance or bank account are usually free, while card-funded or cross-border personal payments carry fees. Personal payments are not covered by purchase protection, so do not use them for sales.
Is this calculator affiliated with PayPal?
No. It is an independent calculator that runs entirely in your browser. It estimates fees from the rate you enter and is not financial or tax advice.