PayPal fees used by this calculator
For U.S. merchant accounts, PayPal lists 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout, 2.99% + $0.49 for standard credit and debit card payments, and 2.29% + $0.09 for QR code transactions.
Receiving an international commercial transaction adds 1.50% to the domestic rate. Rates checked September 12, 2026 against PayPal's official U.S. merchant-fees page.
Example: $100 through PayPal Checkout
At 3.49% + $0.49, the estimated fee is $3.98 and the estimated net payout is $96.02.
Example: $100 sent for goods and services
At the published 2.99% domestic goods-and-services rate, the estimated fee is $2.99 and the recipient keeps $97.01. Select “Send/receive goods and services” because this rate does not use the $0.49 fixed fee.
Example: $100 international PayPal Checkout payment
Adding the 1.50% international commercial-transaction fee raises the percentage to 4.99%. The estimated fee becomes $5.48, leaving $94.52.
How to reverse-calculate a PayPal fee
To receive a target amount after fees, use required charge = (desired net + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate). Select “Required charge” and the calculator applies the rate chosen above.
For example, to receive exactly $100 after the standard PayPal Checkout fee, the calculator estimates a required charge of $104.12. Rounding can leave a difference of one cent, so confirm the final amount before sending an invoice or payment request.
How much does PayPal charge for goods and services?
PayPal's published U.S. rate for sending or receiving money for goods and services is 2.99%. Other commercial payment types can use a percentage plus a fixed fee. Choose the payment type that matches how the customer actually pays rather than applying one rate to every PayPal transaction.
Who pays the PayPal transaction fee?
For the commercial transactions modeled here, the fee is deducted from the payment received by the merchant or seller. The customer normally sees the amount charged, while the recipient receives that amount minus PayPal's applicable fee.
What changes the PayPal fee?
The payment method, checkout product, currency received, sender and receiver markets, charity status, and any custom merchant agreement can change the fee. International commercial transactions can add 1.50%, and currency conversion is a separate cost that this calculator does not estimate.
Assumptions and limitations
- This calculator uses published U.S. domestic merchant rates in USD.
- Micropayments, donations, charities, invoicing variations, currency conversion, disputes, chargebacks, and custom pricing are not modeled.
- Your agreement or product integration can have a different rate. Verify the rate in your PayPal account.
Last reviewed: September 12, 2026 · See an issue? Request a correction.