PayPal Fee Calculator

Compute PayPal merchant fees across every transaction type. Forward: amount → fee. Reverse: desired net → what to charge. Fees last updated 2026-04.

How PayPal fees work

PayPal takes a percentage plus a fixed fee. Rates vary by transaction type (checkout, invoicing, micropayment, etc.).
Reverse lookup tells you how much to charge a buyer so that you receive a specific net amount after fees.
Cross-border sales add a 1.5% international surcharge. Currency conversion adds another 4%.

Mode:

Compute fee Reverse lookup

Amount the buyer pays ($)

The total transaction amount PayPal processes.

Transaction type

Micropayments (4.99% + $0.09) are cheaper than standard G&S for sales under ~$12.

Advanced options International, currency conversion, custom rates

International buyer (+1.5% surcharge)

Cross-border currency conversion (+4%)

Custom percent rate (decimal)

e.g. 0.035 for 3.5%. Overrides the rate table above.

Custom fixed fee ($)

PayPal merchant fees in plain English

PayPal charges a percentage plus a flat fee on every transaction, and both numbers vary by type. Standard checkout (Goods & Services) is 2.99% + $0.49. Invoicing is slightly higher at 3.49%. Micropayments flip the ratio at 4.99% + only $0.09 — better for anything under ~$12 total.

The reverse lookup feature is the hidden gem. If you want to be paid exactly $100 after fees, you need to charge $103.59 — this calculator solves that algebra for you for any transaction type. International transactions add 1.5% to the rate; cross-currency adds another 4% on top.

Frequently asked questions

What's a 'micropayment' account and is it worth it?

A PayPal account setting that swaps the standard 2.99% + $0.49 fee for 4.99% + $0.09. The break-even point is around $12 — below that, micropayments save money. Above $12, standard rates win. It's a single account-wide setting, so it's only worth flipping if the majority of your transactions are small.

How does the international fee actually apply?

If the buyer's PayPal account is registered outside the US, PayPal adds 1.5 percentage points to the percentage fee (so domestic 2.99% becomes international 4.49%). If the transaction also crosses currencies, PayPal adds another ~4% in currency conversion markup on top — these fees compound, not add.

Why does the reverse-lookup math work?

Because PayPal's fee is linear: `fee = amount × percent + fixed`, so solving for `net = amount − fee` gives `amount = (net + fixed) / (1 − percent)`. This calculator uses that closed-form math, so the 'charge' price is exactly right — no bisection, no approximation.

Does PayPal charge fees for receiving money from friends?

Not from a US-to-US personal transfer funded from a bank account or PayPal balance. Fees apply when the sender uses a credit/debit card (2.9% + fixed) or when the payment is classified as goods & services (2.99% + $0.49). Buyers who get goods-and-services protection pay the fee on top of the sale amount OR the seller absorbs it — depending on the invoice structure.

Can I negotiate a lower rate?

Yes, if you process significant volume. PayPal's 'Merchant Rate' program kicks in around $3,000/month and offers custom pricing starting around 2.2% + $0.30. Call their business services line with recent transaction history to negotiate.