PayPal Fee Calculator
Accurately forecast your invoice margins. Find out exactly how much to charge to receive your expected target amount or learn what deductions apply to an incoming payment.
Transaction Breakdown
Amount to Ask For (Invoice)
$0.00
Amount You Receive
$0.00
The fee is calculated as 3.49% plus $0.49.
Features of the Fee Calculator
Designed for freelancers, small business owners, and non-profits who want full transparency into processor deductions.
Determine Invoice Targets
Toggle to "Target Amount" to reverse-engineer standard payment deductions so you can properly invoice a client without absorbing the fee deficit entirely.
Adjustable Thresholds
Update the percentage cuts instantly or replace the baseline transaction fee constants based on the customized or international tiers your business might face.
Visual Analytics
Watch deduction percentages change in real-time immediately after modifying thresholds. Our clean layout displays your gross amount alongside exactly what hits your balance.
Understanding Transaction Deductions
Handling Commercial Tiers
Online transaction providers universally classify transactions depending on how the card was scanned, if it was keyed-in manually, or if it traversed international corridors. Currently, the digital framework standard sits around 3.49% paired with an accompanying generic processing constant like $0.49. Factoring this carefully is critical for freelancers and B2B professionals.
Avoid "Receiving Less"
When dealing with small transactions (or high volume increments), it's highly recommended you structure your invoicing defensively. Charging a client precisely $100 knowing they aren't paying the cost associated translates to a 3.5%-4% loss right out of the gate. By checking upfront exactly how much more you need to bill, you maintain consistent, profitable invoice yields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does PayPal charge fees?
PayPal acts as a payment processor, handling risk, security, transaction routing, and customer protection. The fees are a standard processing charge, similar to those collected by Stripe, Square, or major merchant accounts.
What is the standard commercial transaction rate for PayPal?
Currently, standard commercial transactions normally charge exactly 3.49% + $0.49 per domestic US transaction as part of the digital payments update. Older standard rates were 2.9% + $0.30.
How do I invoice someone so I get exactly $100?
If you want exactly $100.00 to show up in your final balance, you can't just bill $100. Instead, you need to bill enough to clear the total cut. For the 3.49% + $0.49 rate, you’d ask for $104.12. Our calculator instantly determines this exact number for you!
Are international fees higher?
Yes, international commercial transactions incur an additional fee percentage (often about 1.5% extra plus a fixed fee based on currency pairs) to accommodate conversion metrics and cross-border risk.
Can I change the preset rates in this calculator?
Absolutely. Click the "Change fee rates" button to manually alter the percentage cut or the fixed amount. Alternatively, select built-in presets representing popular transaction tiers.
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