Key takeaways
- PayPal Checkout costs 3.49% + $0.49 per US payment.
- Goods and services payments cost 2.99% with no fixed fee.
- International payments add 1.5%.
How the PayPal fee calculation works
PayPal charges a percentage of the payment plus, for most payment types, a fixed fee that depends on the currency you receive. Payments from another country add an extra percentage. The calculator works in both directions. It shows what you take home from a payment, and what you would need to ask for to take home the full amount.
The fixed fee makes small payments relatively expensive. On a $5 checkout payment, $0.49 alone is almost 10% of the money.
PayPal fees in 2026 (US accounts)
| Payment type | Rate |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Pay with Venmo | 3.49% + fixed fee |
| Invoices paid with PayPal or Venmo | 3.49% + fixed fee |
| Standard credit & debit card payments (incl. invoices, Apple Pay) | 2.99% + fixed fee |
| Send/receive money for goods and services | 2.99% |
| International commercial payments | +1.5% on top of the domestic rate |
Fixed fee by currency received
| Currency | Fixed fee |
|---|---|
| US dollar | $0.49 |
| British pound | £0.39 |
| Euro | €0.39 |
| Canadian dollar | C$0.59 |
| Australian dollar | A$0.59 |
Source: PayPal US merchant fees page, last updated October 1, 2026. Accounts registered outside the US have their own rate tables. Pick "Custom rate" and enter your country's rate from PayPal's fees page.
Worked examples
- $100 via PayPal Checkout: 3.49% × $100 + $0.49 = $3.98 fee. You receive $96.02.
- $100 goods and services payment: 2.99% = $2.99 fee. You receive $97.01.
- $100 international checkout payment: 4.99% × $100 + $0.49 = $5.48 fee. You receive $94.52.
- To receive exactly $100 via checkout: ($100 + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = ask for $104.12.
Tips to reduce PayPal fees
- Invoice larger amounts less often. One $500 invoice pays one fixed fee, while five $100 invoices pay five.
- Bill in the client's currency to avoid an extra currency conversion spread.
- Build the fee into your price using the "amount to ask" figure, rather than adding a surcharge. Surcharges can break card network rules and some state laws.
- Freelancers: work out your rate first with the freelance rate calculator, then gross it up for PayPal here.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the PayPal fee for $100?
For a US business receiving $100 through PayPal Checkout, the fee is 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98, so you receive $96.02.
A $100 goods and services payment sent directly to you costs 2.99%, or $2.99, leaving $97.01. If the payer is in another country, add 1.5%.
How do I calculate how much to ask for to cover PayPal fees?
Divide the amount you want to receive plus the fixed fee by one minus the percentage fee:
(amount + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349) for PayPal Checkout. To receive exactly $100 you should charge $104.12.
Simply adding 3.49% to the price is not enough, because the fee is also charged on the extra amount.
Does PayPal charge fees for friends and family payments?
Sending money to friends and family inside the US is free when it is paid from a PayPal balance or a linked bank account. Paying by card adds a fee for the sender.
Friends and family payments have no purchase protection, and PayPal does not allow them for selling goods or services. Businesses should use goods and services or checkout payments.
What is the PayPal fee for international payments?
PayPal adds 1.5% to its domestic commercial rate when the payer is in another country. An international PayPal Checkout payment to a US account therefore costs 4.99% plus a fixed fee.
If PayPal also converts currency, it adds a conversion spread on top. It is often cheaper to price and get paid in the buyer's currency.