Enter any transaction amount and instantly see the PayPal fee and how much you'll receive. Updated for 2026 — no sign-up required.
Calculate the exact fee PayPal charges and how much you'll receive after processing a payment.
PayPal does not have a single "standard" fee — the rate depends on how the payment is sent. For US businesses and freelancers, the most common rate is 3.49% + $0.49, which applies to PayPal Checkout on a website and to PayPal invoices and payment links. The calculator above uses that rate; the table below shows the surcharges that apply to international and converted payments.
| Payment Type | Rate (US) |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout (website / API integration) | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Standard invoice & payment links | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| International (cross-border) | + 1.5% additional |
| Currency conversion | + 3–4% spread |
Last verified: November 2026 — Always confirm at paypal.com/merchant-fees
For a $100 PayPal Checkout or invoice payment: $100 × 3.49% = $3.49 + $0.49 = $3.98 fee, netting $96.02. If the buyer is outside the US, the 1.5% international fee raises the fee on the same payment to $5.48.
To receive a specific net amount after PayPal fees, add the fixed fee to your target and divide by one minus the percentage: (target + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349). For example, to receive exactly $100.00: $100.49 ÷ 0.9651 = $104.12 gross invoice amount.
Many freelancers and sellers add a flat 3–4% to their prices to offset PayPal fees, or include a line item in their invoices that reads "Payment processing fee." Always check PayPal's official rates for your country — rates vary internationally.
PayPal Friends & Family (F&F) transfers have no fee for the sender or receiver — but they provide zero buyer or seller protection. Using F&F for business transactions violates PayPal's terms of service and can result in account suspension. Always use Goods & Services for business payments, even if it means paying the fee. Read the full comparison →
| Payment | PayPal fee | You receive | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $3.98 | $96.02 | 3.98% |
| $200 | $7.47 | $192.53 | 3.74% |
| $1,000 | $35.39 | $964.61 | 3.54% |
The fixed $0.49 matters most on small payments: on a $10 payment it alone is almost 5% of the amount. On large invoices the effective rate gets closer to 3.49%.
To receive a specific net amount, add the fixed fee and divide by one minus the percentage: (target + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349). To receive exactly $500: ($500 + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = $518.59. Check it: $518.59 × 3.49% + $0.49 = $18.59 in fees, leaving $500.00.
If the client pays from another country, add the 1.5% international fee to the percentage (4.99%), and if they pay in a different currency, expect a conversion spread on top. In those cases a bank transfer or a service such as Stripe may cost less – compare with the Stripe fee calculator.
In the US, PayPal Checkout and invoice payments cost 3.49% + $0.49. On a $100 payment the fee is $3.98 ($3.49 + $0.49), leaving you with $96.02. Other payment types have different rates, so check PayPal's merchant fees page for yours.
You can't eliminate PayPal fees on business payments, but you can offset them by adding 3-4% to your invoice total, or using alternative payment methods like bank transfer for large transactions.
Yes. International payments add a currency conversion fee of 3-4% on top of the standard transaction fee. The total cost for an international payment can reach 6-8% of the transaction amount.
Friends & Family (F&F) transfers are free within the same country when funded from a PayPal balance or bank account. However, F&F is prohibited for business transactions and provides no buyer or seller protection.