How This Calculation Works
Payment processors rarely bill a single number. A typical card payment carries a percentage fee, a fixed per-transaction fee, and sometimes extra percentages when the card was issued abroad or the money has to change currency. This calculator applies each layer separately, all measured against the amount the customer pays, so you can see which one costs you most.
Want the long version with worked examples? Read my guide: Stripe vs PayPal fees: which costs less on a $10, $40 and $500 sale?.
Using the reverse mode? I explain the formula and the shortfall from adding the fee to the price in how much to charge to receive an exact amount after Stripe fees.
Selling small items? See how fixed fees eat small orders, with Stripe, PayPal and eBay compared.
The full rate lists are in Stripe fees explained and PayPal merchant fees explained.
Total % = Processing % + International % + Conversion %
Fees = Charge × Total % ÷ 100 + Fixed fee
Net payout = Charge − Fees
Net profit = Net payout − Cost to deliver
Charge = (Target + Fixed fee) ÷ (1 − Total % ÷ 100)
With the default numbers, a $100 charge at 2.9% plus $0.30 costs $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20 in fees, leaving a net payout of $96.80. Now reverse it: to receive exactly $100 you need to charge ($100 + $0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $103.30. The processor keeps $3.30 and you receive $100.00. Simply adding 3.2% to your price ($103.20) would leave you about nine cents short, because the percentage fee also applies to the amount you added. If the same payment came from an international card that also needed conversion (1.5% + 1%), the total rate would rise to 5.4% and fees to $5.70.
Platform Fee Breakdown Table
US headline rates as checked on 20 October 2026 — confirm on the Stripe and PayPal pricing pages. Rates differ by country, card type and account, and both providers offer custom pricing at higher volumes.
| Fee type | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic cards | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~3.49% + $0.49 (PayPal Checkout) |
| International cards | +~1.5% | +~1.5% cross-border fee |
| Currency conversion | +~1% | ~3–4% above the base exchange rate |
| Invoicing | Card fee + ~0.4–0.5% per paid invoice | Standard commercial rate, no separate invoice fee |
| Micropayments | No standard micro rate; the fixed fee dominates | ~4.99% + $0.09 on request, where offered |
| Payouts | Standard payouts free; instant ~1.5% | Bank transfer free; instant ~1.5–1.75% (capped) |
| Chargeback / dispute | ~$15 per dispute | ~$20 per chargeback |
Figures are approximate and provided for comparison only.
How to Keep More of Every Payment
- Gross up with reverse mode. Adding the fee percentage to your price always falls slightly short. Use the reverse formula so the payout lands exactly where you need it.
- Avoid small charges. A $5 payment loses almost 9% to a 2.9% + $0.30 fee, while a $20 bundle loses about 4.4%. Set minimum orders or sell packs.
- Settle in the customer's currency. Holding a balance in that currency, or pricing locally, can remove the conversion layer, often the largest avoidable percentage.
- Offer bank payments for large invoices. Stripe's ACH Direct Debit is typically around 0.8% with a low cap, far cheaper than cards on a $2,000 invoice.
- Ask for custom pricing. Once monthly volume grows, both providers will often negotiate lower percentage rates.
- Prevent disputes. Clear statement descriptors, receipts and delivery proof reduce chargebacks, each of which can cost more than the fee on the original sale.