PayPal fees in 2026 (US merchant rates)
PayPal’s fee depends on how the buyer pays you. A customer paying through PayPal Checkout on your website costs a different rate than a friend paying for goods with “send money”, and paying from abroad adds an extra percentage. The calculator uses PayPal’s published US merchant fees (page dated October 1, 2026).
| How you get paid | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout / Guest checkout / Venmo | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Send/receive money for goods & services | 2.99% |
| Standard credit & debit cards | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| PayPal Pay Later | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| Invoice paid by bank (ACH) | 1%, capped at $10 |
| QR code payments | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Advanced card payments | 2.89% + $0.29 |
| Virtual Terminal | 3.39% + $0.29 |
| Micropayments | 4.99% + $0.09 |
| International buyer | +1.50% |
| Currency conversion | 3–4% spread |
| Instant transfer to bank/card | 1.5% (min $0.50) |
The fixed fee depends on the currency: $0.49 USD, €0.39 EUR, £0.39 GBP, C$0.59 CAD and A$0.59 AUD.
How to calculate the PayPal fee
Fee = amount × percentage + fixed fee. For a $100 PayPal Checkout payment: 3.49% × $100 = $3.49, plus $0.49, so the fee is $3.98 and you receive $96.02. If the buyer is in another country, add 1.5% ($1.50) and you receive $94.52.
How much should I charge to receive an exact amount?
To pass the fee to your client, divide: amount to ask = (amount you want + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage). To receive exactly $500 with PayPal Checkout you need to ask for ($500 + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = $518.59. Choose “I want to get exactly…” in the calculator and it does this for you.
Ways to pay less in PayPal fees
- Invoices over $100: let clients pay by bank — 1% with a $10 maximum, instead of 3.49% + $0.49.
- Small sales under $10: ask PayPal about the micropayments rate (4.99% + $0.09), which is cheaper for low prices.
- Avoid instant transfers when you can wait: the standard transfer to your bank is free.
- Do not use Friends & Family for sales. It is free but against PayPal’s rules for business payments, and you lose seller protection.
The fee depends on how you are paid
PayPal charges different rates for different payment types: online checkout, goods and services payments, card payments, invoices, Pay Later, QR codes in person, micropayments and more. Choose the type and the currency to get the right fee.
Example: PayPal Checkout, $100
At 3.49% + $0.49, the fee is $3.98 and you receive $96.02 — an effective rate of about 4%. On small amounts the fixed part matters more: on a $10 sale the same rate takes $0.84, over 8%.
Get exactly the amount you need
Switch to “I want to get exactly…” to find out what to charge. To receive $100 with Checkout, ask for about $104.13. The formula is (amount + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage).
Ways to pay less
- Invoice in bigger amounts — the fixed fee hurts small payments.
- Check currency conversion: PayPal adds a margin when converting currencies; compare with receiving in USD and converting elsewhere.
- Friends & family payments are only for personal transfers — don’t use them for business sales, they have no buyer or seller protection.
Fees change from time to time and differ by country. Check PayPal’s fee page for your account before setting prices.