PayPal Fee Calculator
Determine exactly how much PayPal will deduct from your payments and see your net payout. You can also calculate the exact amount to invoice or charge a client in order to receive a target payout after fees.
Calculates the net payout you will receive from a total payment of $100.
You Receive (Net Payout)
from a $100.00 charge
How to Calculate PayPal Transaction Fees
Processing payments through PayPal involves merchant percentage rates plus fixed fees per transaction. Under PayPal's current US standard pricing structure, commercial transactions incur a rate of 3.49% plus a $0.49 fixed fee per invoice.
Using this calculator is simple: enter your invoice or transaction amount and select your processing category. Our tool instantly determines your exact net payout and also works backward to specify the precise gross billing amount needed to clear your target net earnings after fees.
The PayPal Fee Equations
To calculate what you will receive (Standard payout math):
Net Payout = Charge Amount - (Charge Amount x Rate Percentage) - Fixed Fee
For example, at 3.49% + $0.49 on a $100.00 transaction: ($100.00 x 0.0349) + $0.49 = $3.98 total fee. Your net payout is $96.02.
To calculate what you must invoice (Reverse charge math):
Gross Invoice = (Target Payout + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Rate Percentage)
For example, if you want to clear exactly $100.00 net after a 3.49% + $0.49 fee: ($100.00 + $0.49) / (1 - 0.0349) = $100.49 / 0.9651 = $104.12. You must charge $104.12.
Common PayPal Fee Reference Table
Here is a breakdown of standard US commercial processing fees (3.49% + $0.49) for typical payment amounts.
| Sale Amount | Standard Fee | Standard Net Payout | Invoice to Receive Sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.84 | $9.16 | $10.87 |
| $50.00 | $2.24 | $47.76 | $52.32 |
| $100.00 | $3.98 | $96.02 | $104.12 |
| $500.00 | $17.94 | $482.06 | $518.59 |
| $1,000.00 | $35.39 | $964.61 | $1,036.67 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I avoid paying PayPal transaction fees?
While standard commercial transactions incur merchant fees, personal transfers between friends and family using a linked bank account or PayPal balance are completely fee-free within the US. For commercial invoices, businesses frequently use reverse fee calculation to pass processing costs to clients or offer alternative payment options like ACH bank transfers.
What is the difference between PayPal standard and international rates?
International transactions carry an additional 1.50% cross-border processing fee on top of standard commercial rates, raising the percentage fee from 3.49% to 4.99% plus currency-specific fixed charges.
Are PayPal micropayments cheaper for low dollar sales?
Yes. For transactions under $10.00, PayPal offers a micropayments pricing structure (5.00% + $0.05). Because the fixed fee drops from $0.49 to $0.05, micro transactions retain significantly higher net margins on low-priced digital items.
How does PayPal pricing compare to Stripe?
Standard PayPal online invoicing rates (3.49% + $0.49) are higher than standard Stripe US card processing (2.90% + $0.30). However, PayPal offers brand recognition and embedded wallet convenience that can increase checkout conversion rates.
