Calculate the breakdown of credit card processing fees for Visa transactions, including Interchange, Assessment, and Processor Markups.
Fee Breakdown
Interchange Cost (Visa)0.00
Assessment Cost (Network)0.00
Processor Markup Cost0.00
Fixed Transaction Fees0.00
Total Fees Paid0.00
Effective Rate0.00%
Net Deposited Amount0.00
Understanding Visa Processing Rates
When a merchant accepts a Visa card, the total fee paid is not a single number but a combination of several different rates. This structure is often referred to as "Interchange Plus" pricing. Understanding how to calculate these costs is essential for maintaining healthy profit margins.
Key Concept: The "Visa Rate" is primarily composed of the Interchange Rate (paid to the card-issuing bank) and the Assessment Fee (paid to the Visa network), plus your payment processor's markup.
The Components of the Calculation
This Visa Rate Calculator breaks down the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) into its four core components:
Interchange Rate (%): This is the largest portion of the fee. It is determined by Visa and varies based on the type of card (e.g., Rewards, Signature, Debit) and how the transaction is processed (e.g., card-present vs. online). A typical range is 1.51% to 2.40% for credit cards.
Assessment Fee (%): This is a flat percentage fee charged by Visa for the use of their network. As of recent standards, this is often around 0.13% or 0.14% for credit transactions.
Processor Markup (%): This is the profit margin your merchant service provider charges on top of the wholesale Visa rates. This is the only negotiable part of the equation.
Transaction Fixed Fee: A flat currency amount charged per authorization (e.g., 0.10 or 0.30) regardless of the transaction size.
How to Calculate Your Effective Rate
The effective rate is the total amount of fees paid divided by the transaction amount. While your contract might say "Interchange + 0.20%", your effective rate will be higher once the fixed transaction fees and assessment fees are added.
You may notice that the "Interchange Rate" input in the calculator above requires adjustment based on the card type. For example, a standard Visa consumer credit card might carry an interchange rate of 1.51% + 0.10, whereas a Visa Signature Preferred card (heavy rewards) might cost the merchant 2.40% + 0.10. Business and Corporate cards often have even higher interchange rates.
function calculateVisaFees() {
// Get input values
var amountStr = document.getElementById('salesAmount').value;
var interchangeStr = document.getElementById('interchangeRate').value;
var assessmentStr = document.getElementById('assessmentFee').value;
var markupStr = document.getElementById('processorMarkup').value;
var flatFeeStr = document.getElementById('flatFee').value;
// Parse floats
var amount = parseFloat(amountStr);
var interchange = parseFloat(interchangeStr);
var assessment = parseFloat(assessmentStr);
var markup = parseFloat(markupStr);
var flatFee = parseFloat(flatFeeStr);
// Validation
if (isNaN(amount) || amount 0) {
effectiveRate = (totalFees / amount) * 100;
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resInterchange').innerText = costInterchange.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resAssessment').innerText = costAssessment.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resMarkup').innerText = costMarkup.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resFixed').innerText = flatFee.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resTotalFees').innerText = totalFees.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resNet').innerText = netAmount.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resEffectiveRate').innerText = effectiveRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
// Show results container
document.getElementById('results').style.display = 'block';
}