PayPal Fee Calculator
Quick answer
PayPal's goods-and-services rate is 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction in the US. On a $100 payment that is $3.48 in fees, so you receive $96.52. PayPal Checkout and invoicing cost more at 3.49% + $0.49, while micropayments use a different structure of 4.99% + $0.09 that works out cheaper on payments under roughly $12.
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Fee breakdown
When micropayments are cheaper
The crossover sits at about $12. Below that, the micropayment rate's smaller fixed fee ($0.09 rather than $0.49) outweighs its higher percentage. If most of your transactions are small, switching your account to micropayment pricing is one of the few genuinely free wins available.
Fees you may not be expecting
Currency conversion is charged on top of the rates here and is applied to the converted amount. Receiving payments from outside the US also adds a cross-border percentage. Refunds return the percentage portion but the fixed fee is generally not returned.
How PayPal bills these fees
- Standard US goods-and-services payments are 2.99% + $0.49; PayPal Checkout and invoicing are higher at 3.49% + $0.49.
- Micropayments (4.99% + $0.09) are cheaper below roughly $12, but you must apply to enable them.
- International payments and currency conversion are charged on top and are not included here.
Rates change. Confirm againstPayPal's official fee schedule before pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
For US goods-and-services payments, 2.99% plus a $0.49 fixed fee. PayPal Checkout and invoicing are charged at the higher rate of 3.49% + $0.49, and QR code payments are cheaper at 2.29% + $0.09.
Who pays the PayPal fee, the buyer or the seller?
The seller. PayPal deducts the fee from the payment before it reaches your balance, which is why the amount you receive is always less than the amount the buyer sent.
Are PayPal fees refunded if I refund a customer?
The percentage portion is generally returned, but the fixed per-transaction fee is usually not. That means a full refund still leaves you slightly out of pocket.
Can I pass PayPal fees on to the buyer?
Adding a surcharge specifically for paying by PayPal is against PayPal's terms in most regions. What sellers do instead is build the average fee into their pricing across the board.