MarketFees / PayPal fee calculator
PayPal Fee Calculator
PayPal’s US rate for a Goods & Services payment or invoice is 3.49% plus a fixed $0.49. That fixed part is why small payments lose a bigger share. Enter an amount to see the fee, or use the reverse box to find what to ask for.
PayPal rate 3.49% + $0.49 per Goods & Services payment (US) · checked September 2026
PayPal fees
- Buyer pays you
- $100.00
- PayPal fee (3.49% + $0.49)
- −$3.98
- Payout
- $96.02
$3.98 total fees
4.0% of the sale
PayPal fees at a glance
| Payment type (US) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services, invoices, PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Card payments (Advanced / Standard card fields) | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code in-person, over $10 | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Friends & Family from bank or balance | Free |
| International commercial payment | +1.50% |
| Currency conversion | 3%–4% above the base exchange rate |
Source: PayPal “Merchant fees” and “Consumer fees” pages (US).
How the PayPal fee is calculated
For a commercial payment PayPal takes a percentage of the full amount the buyer sends, then adds a fixed fee in the currency received. On $100 that is $3.49 + $0.49 = $3.98, and you get $96.02.
If the payer’s account is in another country, an international commercial transaction fee of 1.50% is added to the percentage. If you also convert the money to another currency, PayPal applies its own exchange rate with a spread built in.
Friends & Family transfers funded from a bank account or balance are free, but they carry no Seller or Purchase Protection. Using them to sell goods breaks PayPal’s terms and leaves both sides unprotected.
Why a PayPal fee hurts more on cheap items
Drag the price. The percentage part of the fee stays the same, but any fixed charge is spread over fewer dollars, so the share of the sale you lose climbs as the price falls.
On a $10.00 sale PayPal takes $0.84, which is 8.4% of the money.
The fee-on-the-fee trap
You want a set amount to land in your account.
Target: $200.00
The obvious move: add the percentage and the fixed fee on top.
But the fee is charged on the new, bigger total, so it grows too.
The fix: divide by what is left after the percentage.
Ways to keep more on PayPal
- To receive an exact figure, divide instead of adding: (amount + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349). The fee-on-the-fee explainer above shows why adding 3.49% is not enough.
- Bundle small invoices. Two $10 invoices pay $1.68 in fees; one $20 invoice pays $1.19.
- Check whether a card processor is cheaper for your volume: Stripe and Square online rates are 2.9%–3.3% + $0.30.
Questions sellers ask
How much is the PayPal fee on $100?
For a US Goods & Services payment, $3.98 (3.49% of $100 plus $0.49), so you receive $96.02.
How much should I charge to receive $100 after PayPal fees?
Ask for $104.13. The formula is ($100 + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651.
Who pays the PayPal fee, buyer or seller?
The person receiving a Goods & Services payment pays it. When a friend sends money with a credit card, the sender pays a 2.9% card fee instead.
Is PayPal Friends & Family really free?
Yes, when it is funded from a bank account or PayPal balance inside the US. There is no protection for either side, so it should not be used for sales.
Does PayPal charge to withdraw money?
A standard transfer to a linked bank is free. Instant transfer costs 1.75% of the amount, with a $0.25 minimum and $25 maximum.