Calculate exactly how much you'll receive or how much to charge to cover PayPal transaction fees.
Standard Goods & Services (2.99%)
International Transaction (4.49%)
QR Code – Over $10 (1.90%)
QR Code – Under $10 (2.40%)
Micropayments (5.00%)
Total Fee$3.48
You Will Receive$96.52
To receive $100.00, you should ask for:$103.59
How PayPal Fees are Calculated
PayPal typically charges a combination of a percentage-based fee and a fixed fee for every transaction. The standard rate for domestic goods and services is currently 2.99% + $0.49. If you are selling internationally, that rate increases to 4.49% + $0.49 to account for cross-border processing and currency conversion risks.
Understanding the Calculation Formulas
There are two ways to look at PayPal fees depending on whether you are the sender or the receiver:
The "Receive" Formula:Amount - ((Amount * Percentage) + Fixed Fee). This tells you what's left after PayPal takes their cut.
The "Invoicing" Formula:(Amount + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Percentage). This tells you how much to charge a client so that after the fee is deducted, you are left with your exact target amount.
Common PayPal Fee Rates (2024)
Service Type
Percentage
Fixed Fee
Standard (USA)
2.99%
$0.49
International
4.49%
$0.49
QR Code (>$10)
1.90%
$0.10
Tips to Reduce PayPal Fees
While fees are a part of doing business, you can minimize their impact by using PayPal Friends & Family for personal transfers (though this offers no buyer protection), utilizing Micropayments accounts if your average sale is under $10, or asking clients to pay via bank transfer/ACH where fees are significantly lower.
function updateFixedFee() {
var type = document.getElementById("ppType").value;
var fixedInput = document.getElementById("ppFixed");
if (type == "1.90") {
fixedInput.value = "0.10";
} else if (type == "2.40" || type == "5.00") {
fixedInput.value = "0.05";
} else {
fixedInput.value = "0.49";
}
calculatePP();
}
function calculatePP() {
var amount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ppAmount").value);
var percent = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ppType").value) / 100;
var fixed = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ppFixed").value);
if (isNaN(amount) || amount <= 0) {
document.getElementById("resFee").innerHTML = "$0.00";
document.getElementById("resReceive").innerHTML = "$0.00";
document.getElementById("resAsk").innerHTML = "$0.00";
return;
}
// Calculation for what you receive
var fee = (amount * percent) + fixed;
var receive = amount – fee;
// Calculation for what you should ask for (to get exactly 'amount')
var ask = (amount + fixed) / (1 – percent);
// Update UI
document.getElementById("resFee").innerHTML = "$" + fee.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("resReceive").innerHTML = "$" + receive.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("resAsk").innerHTML = "$" + ask.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Update the descriptive text for the 'Ask' box
var labelSpan = document.querySelector("#ppResults div:nth-child(3) span");
labelSpan.innerHTML = "To receive $" + amount.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ", you should ask for:";
}
// Initial calculation on load
window.onload = function() {
calculatePP();
};