The PayPal fee calculator shows the exact fee deducted from any PayPal transaction and how much you actually receive. Works for Goods & Services, invoices, and all PayPal payment types.
Understanding PayPal Transaction Fees
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 per Goods & Services transaction. On a $250 sale, you receive $241.28. For freelancers and small businesses doing $5,000/month, that's ~$174/month in PayPal fees — worth optimizing.
PayPal vs. Stripe vs. Square
For online payments: Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) is cheaper than PayPal (3.49% + $0.49) for most transactions above $5. On a $100 transaction, Stripe takes $3.20 vs PayPal $3.98 — saving $0.78 per transaction, or $78 per 100 transactions. For in-person payments, Square (2.6% + $0.10) beats both.
FAQ
What are PayPal's current fees?
PayPal Goods & Services (domestic): 3.49% + $0.49. PayPal Checkout (website): 3.49% + $0.49. Standard credit/debit cards: 2.99% + $0.49. Invoicing: 3.49% + $0.49. Friends & Family: free from bank/balance, 2.9% from card.
Can I avoid PayPal fees?
The only way to avoid fees is for the sender to choose 'Friends & Family' — but this offers no buyer protection and violates PayPal's terms for business transactions. For lower fees, consider Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) or Square (2.6% + $0.10 in-person).
How do I charge enough to cover PayPal fees?
Formula: (desired_amount + $0.49) / (1 - 0.0349). To receive $100 net: ($100 + $0.49) / 0.9651 = $104.13. This ensures you receive exactly $100 after PayPal deducts its fee.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, completely free.