Fees and take-home
PayPal Fee Calculator
Estimate PayPal transaction fees for US merchants across PayPal Checkout, Standard Card, and Advanced Checkout Card modes, with an optional international transaction share.
Formula
- Domestic fee per transaction = Amount * Mode rate + Mode fixed fee
- International fee per transaction = Amount * (Mode rate + 1.50%) + Mode fixed fee
- Total fees = Domestic share * Domestic fee + International share * International fee, multiplied by Number of transactions
- Net per transaction (blended) = Amount - Total fees / Number of transactions
- Effective fee rate = Total fees / Gross revenue * 100
Examples
- A $29 sale on PayPal Checkout has an estimated fee of about $1.50 (3.49% + $0.49) and leaves about $27.50.
- One hundred $49 PayPal Checkout sales produce $4,900 gross and about $220 in PayPal fees.
- An international PayPal Checkout sale adds 1.50% on top of the domestic rate, so a $29 charge runs about $1.94 instead of $1.50.
When to use this calculator
- Compare PayPal Checkout, Standard Card, and Advanced Checkout before choosing how to integrate.
- See how much international buyers add to your payment processing cost.
- Decide whether to absorb PayPal fees or build them into your product price.
Common mistakes
- Treating the Standard Card rate (2.99%) as the PayPal default; most PayPal wallet checkouts run at 3.49%.
- Ignoring the +1.50% international surcharge when most customers are outside the US.
- Assuming refunded sales return the original processing fee; PayPal does not refund the fee.
Frequently asked questions
What are PayPal's standard fees in the US?
PayPal's published US merchant fees include PayPal Checkout (wallet) at 3.49% + $0.49 per domestic transaction, Standard Card payments at 2.99% + $0.49, and Advanced Checkout Card at 2.89% + $0.29. International commercial transactions add 1.50% on top of the domestic rate. Always verify the current rate on PayPal's official fees page, since pricing can change.
How is a PayPal fee calculated on a sale?
Multiply the sale amount by the mode rate and add the fixed fee. A $29 PayPal Checkout sale is $29 * 0.0349 = $1.0121, plus $0.49, or about $1.50 in fees, leaving roughly $27.50. A $49 Standard Card sale is $49 * 0.0299 + $0.49, or about $1.96 in fees, leaving roughly $47.04.
What's the difference between PayPal Checkout and Standard Card?
PayPal Checkout is the wallet flow most online buyers use when they log in to PayPal or pay with a saved PayPal balance, and it runs at 3.49% + $0.49 in the US. Standard Card is the rate for guest credit and debit card payments processed through PayPal at 2.99% + $0.49. Advanced (Expanded) Checkout Card is a separate online card processing option at 2.89% + $0.29 and may require a different integration.
What about international cards?
PayPal adds 1.50% to the domestic rate for international commercial transactions. On PayPal Checkout, that means roughly 4.99% + $0.49 instead of 3.49% + $0.49. If a meaningful share of customers are outside the US, set the international transaction share input above 0 to get a more realistic estimate.
What about currency conversion?
When PayPal converts foreign currency into USD, it applies a currency conversion spread of about 3.00% to 4.00% on top of the transaction fee, depending on the specific case. This calculator does NOT include that spread because it varies by scenario. If you frequently receive payouts in foreign currency, add another 3% to 4% on the affected portion of revenue and check PayPal's official fees page for your exact case.
Do I get the PayPal fee back on refunds?
No. PayPal generally does not return the original processing fee when you refund a customer, so a refund effectively costs both the refunded amount and the fee already paid. If your product has a meaningful refund rate, factor that risk into your pricing rather than treating PayPal fees as fully recoverable.
What about PayPal Micropayments?
PayPal offers a separate Micropayments pricing tier (listed at 4.99% + a fixed fee on the US merchant fees page) intended for very low-priced transactions. It typically requires applying and meeting eligibility criteria, so it's not the default for most accounts. This calculator does NOT include Micropayments. If you sell items under about $10 in volume, check the official Micropayments terms directly to see if it would lower your blended fee.
Is PayPal cheaper than Stripe?
It depends on the buyer mix. Stripe's standard US domestic online card rate is 2.9% + $0.30, which is below PayPal Checkout's 3.49% + $0.49 and below PayPal's Standard Card at 2.99% + $0.49. PayPal can still be worth offering because some buyers strongly prefer the PayPal wallet, and losing those buyers entirely is more expensive than paying a higher rate. Use this calculator alongside the Stripe Fee Calculator to compare both at your specific volume.
Related calculators
Sources and assumptions
- PayPal Checkout / wallet (default): 3.49% + $0.49 per US domestic transaction.
- Standard Card payments: 2.99% + $0.49 per US domestic transaction.
- Advanced / Expanded Checkout Card: 2.89% + $0.29 per US domestic transaction.
- International commercial transactions add 1.50% on top of the domestic rate.
- Currency conversion spread (typically 3.00%-4.00%) is NOT included; PayPal Micropayments, Recurring Billing, marketplace fees, chargebacks, and dispute fees are also NOT included.
Rates checked:
Last updated:
This calculator estimates PayPal transaction processing fees only. Currency conversion spread (3.00%-4.00% depending on transaction type), the separate Micropayments pricing tier, recurring billing, payouts, chargeback or dispute fees, and other PayPal products may add costs. Always verify the current rate on PayPal's official fees page.