Wondering how much PayPal charges? Enter a sale amount to see the fee and exactly how much you'll receive — for domestic and international Goods & Services payments, Friends & Family transfers, or your own custom rate.
Rates change over time — tick this box to enter the exact rate and fixed fee that currently apply to your account.
| Fee Component | Amount | How It's Calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage fee | $0.00 | $0.00 × 0.00% |
| Fixed fee | $0.00 | Flat fee per transaction |
| Total PayPal fee | $0.00 | $0.00 + $0.00 |
| You receive (net) | $0.00 | Gross minus total fee |
Situation: A US customer pays you $100.00 via Goods & Services (2.99% + $0.49).
Calculation: Percentage fee = $100.00 × 2.99% = $2.99. Total fee = $2.99 + $0.49 = $3.48.
Calculation: Net = $100.00 − $3.48 = $96.52.
Situation: A buyer abroad pays you $250.00 via Goods & Services (4.99% + $0.49).
Calculation: Percentage fee = $250.00 × 4.99% = $12.48 (rounded). Total fee = $12.48 + $0.49 = $12.97.
Calculation: Net = $250.00 − $12.97 = $237.03.
Situation: You want to pocket $100.00 from a domestic Goods & Services payment.
Calculation: Gross to charge = ($100.00 + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0299) = $100.49 ÷ 0.9701 ≈ $103.59.
Calculation: PayPal fee = $103.59 × 2.99% + $0.49 ≈ $3.59.
Rate = 0.0299 domestic, 0.0499 international, 0 for balance-funded Friends & Family
Fixed Fee = $0.49 (or $0.00 for balance-funded Friends & Family)
Amount = the total the buyer pays (price, shipping, taxes)
Example: to receive $100.00 net at 2.99% + $0.49 → ($100.00 + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0299) ≈ $103.59.
The calculator guards against division by zero — if the rate reaches 100%, no gross amount can produce a positive net.
| Transaction Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Goods & Services — Domestic | 2.99% + $0.49 | Standard US rate for selling goods and services |
| Goods & Services — International | 4.99% + $0.49 | Cross-border payments (e.g., US account receiving from abroad) |
| QR code payments | 1.90% + $0.10 | In-person QR code transactions in the US |
| Card-present (legacy) | 3.49% + $0.49 | Older in-person card reader rate |
Rates vary by country, currency, and account type, and change over time. Always confirm the current fee schedule in your PayPal account.
Balance- or bank-funded personal payments cost 0%, but offer no buyer or seller protection. Never use them for goods or services.
US QR code transactions cost just 1.90% + $0.10 — noticeably cheaper than 2.99% + $0.49 for face-to-face sales.
International payments add PayPal's conversion spread (~3–4% above mid-market) on top of the 4.99% cross-border fee. Invoice in your home currency where possible.
PayPal adjusts its fee schedule periodically. Re-run your pricing whenever rates change so your margins stay intact.
PayPal doesn't charge one flat rate for everything. For US accounts, the standard fee for receiving a Goods & Services payment is 2.99% plus a fixed $0.49 per transaction. Cross-border (international) payments cost more — 4.99% plus the fixed fee — because PayPal covers additional cross-border processing costs. Personal payments between friends and family are free when funded from a PayPal balance or linked bank account, but cost 2.99% + $0.49 when funded with a card. The fixed fee is why small transactions carry a higher effective rate: on a $10 sale, 2.99% + $0.49 is roughly 7.9% of gross.
2.99% + $0.49. The default rate when you sell goods, services, or digital products to buyers in the same country. Includes buyer and seller protection.
4.99% + $0.49. Applies to cross-border payments, such as a US account receiving money from abroad. Currency conversion adds roughly 3–4% on top.
0% when funded by a PayPal balance or bank account; 2.99% + $0.49 when funded by a card. For personal transfers only — no buyer or seller protection.
1.90% + $0.10 for US QR code payments and 3.49% + $0.49 for the legacy card-present rate. Lower-cost options for in-person sales.
Because PayPal's fee is a percentage plus a flat amount, the smallest transactions get hit hardest in relative terms. To receive exactly N after fees on a domestic Goods & Services payment, charge (N + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0299) — to pocket $100.00 you'd charge about $103.59. The reverse mode in this calculator does that math in one click, a habit worth building for freelancers and small businesses that invoice through PayPal.
Example: to receive $100.00 net at 2.99% + $0.49 → ($100.00 + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0299) ≈ $103.59.
⚠️ Disclaimer: PayPal fee rates change periodically and vary by country, currency, and account type. This calculator uses standard US PayPal rates (2.99% + $0.49 domestic, 4.99% + $0.49 international, 0% Friends & Family funded by balance or bank) and is provided for educational purposes only. Always confirm the current fee schedule in your PayPal account before pricing, and remember that currency conversion spreads are not included in the results. Figures are estimates, not financial advice.