Paypal Commission Calculator

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PayPal Fee & Commission Calculator

Standard is 2.9% or 3.49%
Standard is $0.30 or $0.49

Calculation Results

Total Fees: $0.00
You Receive (Net): $0.00

To receive exactly $0.00, you should ask for:

$0.00

function calculatePaypalFees() { var amount = parseFloat(document.getElementById('paypal_amount').value); var ratePercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('paypal_rate').value); var fixedFee = parseFloat(document.getElementById('paypal_fixed').value); if (isNaN(amount) || amount <= 0) { alert('Please enter a valid transaction amount.'); return; } if (isNaN(ratePercent)) ratePercent = 0; if (isNaN(fixedFee)) fixedFee = 0; var decimalRate = ratePercent / 100; // Scenario 1: Calculate fee for a given gross amount var totalFee = (amount * decimalRate) + fixedFee; var netReceive = amount – totalFee; // Scenario 2: Calculate how much to ask for to receive exact amount // Formula: (Target + Fixed) / (1 – Rate) var askAmount = (amount + fixedFee) / (1 – decimalRate); document.getElementById('res_total_fees').innerHTML = '$' + totalFee.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_net_receive').innerHTML = '$' + netReceive.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('target_amount_label').innerHTML = amount.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_ask_amount').innerHTML = '$' + askAmount.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('paypal_results_box').style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding PayPal Commission and Fees

When you use PayPal to process payments for goods and services, the platform charges a commission. This fee is typically deducted from the total amount sent by the customer before it reaches your balance. Our PayPal commission calculator helps you determine exactly how much you will lose to fees and how much you need to invoice your clients to receive a specific net amount.

How PayPal Fees are Calculated

The standard PayPal fee structure consists of two main components:

  1. Percentage Fee: A percentage of the total transaction value (commonly 2.9% for domestic or 3.49% for PayPal Checkout).
  2. Fixed Fee: A flat amount based on the currency received (typically $0.30 or $0.49 USD).

Formula for PayPal Commission

To calculate the fee on a payment you are sending or receiving, use the following math:

Total Fee = (Amount * (Fee Percentage / 100)) + Fixed Fee

Practical Examples

Example 1: Selling a $100 product
If your transaction rate is 2.9% + $0.30, the math looks like this:
– 2.9% of $100 = $2.90
– Plus $0.30 fixed fee = $3.20 total fee.
– You receive: $96.80

Example 2: Invoicing to receive exactly $1,000
If you need to end up with $1,000 in your pocket after fees, you cannot simply add 2.9% to $1,000. You must account for the fact that the fee is taken from the new higher total. Using our "Ask Amount" formula:
– ($1,000 + $0.30) / (1 – 0.029) = $1,030.18.
– You should invoice: $1,030.18

Common PayPal Fee Rates (2024 Estimates)

Transaction Type Standard Rate
Standard Goods & Services 2.99% + $0.49
PayPal Checkout 3.49% + $0.49
International Transactions Base Rate + 1.50%
QR Code (over $10) 1.90% + $0.10

How to Lower Your Commission Costs

  • Use Friends & Family: Only for personal transfers, as this offers no buyer protection and has zero fees for the recipient when funded by balance/bank.
  • Apply for Merchant Rates: High-volume sellers can sometimes negotiate lower percentages directly with PayPal.
  • Non-Profit Status: Registered 501(c)(3) organizations qualify for significantly lower rates (usually 1.99% + $0.49).
  • Account for Fees in Pricing: Use the "Ask Amount" feature of our calculator to bake the commission into your service price so your profit margins remain intact.

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