PayPal fee calculator (US)

How much does PayPal charge to receive a payment?

For a US business account, PayPal Checkout (and Venmo or guest checkout) costs 3.49% + $0.49 per payment, standard credit and debit card payments cost 2.99% + $0.49, Pay Later costs 4.99% + $0.49, and money sent to you for goods and services costs 2.99%. International payments add +1.50%. On a $100 PayPal Checkout payment the fee is $3.98; to receive $100 you would charge $104.13.

How the customer paysBuyer is outside the US (+1.50%)Payment amount ($)Amount you want to receive ($)

PayPal fee	$3.98
You receive	$96.02
Fee as % of the payment	3.98%
Charge this to receive $100.00	$104.13

US PayPal business account, payment received in US dollars. Excludes currency conversion, chargeback and dispute fees, instant transfer fees and any custom pricing. Check whether passing fees to customers is allowed where you sell before adding a surcharge.

Last verified October 22, 2026 against PayPal Merchant Fees (US). Fee change tracker · How we verify

PayPal US business rates

How you get paid	Rate
PayPal Checkout, Pay with Venmo, PayPal Guest Checkout	3.49% + $0.49
Standard credit and debit card payments	2.99% + $0.49
PayPal Pay Later	4.99% + $0.49
Send/receive money for goods and services	2.99%
Invoice paid by bank (ACH)	1% (capped at $10.00)
PayPal Point of Sale, card present	2.29% + $0.09
International (buyer in another market)	+1.50% extra

Invoices paid by PayPal, Venmo or card use the same rates as the matching row above. The fixed fee is $0.49 for payments received in US dollars; other currencies have their own fixed fee on PayPal's page.

Three things that catch people out

Refunds keep the fee. PayPal's fee page says there is no fee to refund a payment, but the fees you paid to receive it are not returned.
Small payments are fee-heavy. The $0.49 fixed fee is about 5% of a $10 sale before the percentage is added.
Bank-paid invoices are capped. Customers paying an invoice by bank cost you 1%, capped at $10, which is far cheaper than card on large invoices.

Recording PayPal fees

Record each sale at the full amount the customer paid, and the PayPal fee as a separate expense. Then match PayPal transfers to your bank account. This keeps your income figure correct and shows how much you pay in fees each month.

Questions

Is the PayPal fee 2.99% or 3.49%?

Both, depending on how the customer pays. Standard card payments are 2.99% + $0.49; payments through PayPal Checkout, Venmo or guest checkout are 3.49% + $0.49.

Does PayPal charge to send money to friends?

This calculator covers business (commercial) payments received into a US business account only. For personal transfers, check PayPal's personal account fee page.

How do I calculate what to charge to cover PayPal fees?

Add the fixed fee to the amount you want, then divide by 1 minus the rate. For PayPal Checkout: (amount + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651. Check local rules before adding a surcharge.

When were these rates last updated?

PayPal's US merchant fee page shows "Last Updated: October 1, 2026". We re-checked every rate on this page on the date shown above.

General information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rates change: check the linked official source before you rely on a number. Not yet reviewed by a CPA or EA.